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It is a mitzva for every Jew to light candles at home on each of the eight nights of Ĥanuka, to commemorate the miracle of the oil. This is a way to thank God for leading us to victory over the Greeks, allowing us to liberate Jerusalem, and to purify the Temple.
The core requirement is for one candle to be lit in each home on each night of Ĥanuka. However, people treasure this mitzva so much they wish to go beyond the basic requirement. Accordingly, most follow the custom of lighting one candle on the first night and then adding a candle on each subsequent night. This parallels the miracle, which also grew over time. So, we light one candle on the first night, two on the second, and eight on the eighth. (This number does not include the shamash, which we will explain in the next section.)
One family member can light candles for all household members. Many Sephardim follow this custom, with the father lighting for everyone. Ashkenazim and a minority of Sephardim have each household member light their own menora. A married woman generally does not light, as she and her husband are considered one unit, so his lighting includes her. Nevertheless, a married woman who wishes to light may do so and recite the blessings.
Two blessings are recited each night before lighting: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us to light Ĥanuka candles,” and “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time.” On the first night, She-heĥeyanu is recited as well. Immediately after reciting the blessings, we light the candles. After that, many sing the traditional Ĥanuka songs Ha-nerot Halalu and Maoz Tzur.
All members of the household should gather together at candle-lighting time to publicize the miracle. This is especially important in families in which one person lights for everyone. If some family members are not at home at candle-lighting time, they should try to participate in the lighting wherever they are, and respond “Amen” to the blessings they hear there. Alternatively, they can call home and listen to their father recite the blessings. However, students living in a dormitory should light for themselves in their dorm room and recite the blessings.
If a person is a guest in someone else’s home and the host’s custom is for one person to light for the household, the guest fulfills the obligation through the host’s lighting. However, if the host’s custom is for everyone to light for themselves, each guest should light their own menora.
