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The mitzva is to light the Ĥanuka candles when it gets dark, because the miracle is publicized when the candles are visible. This time starts with tzeit (the emergence of stars), which in Israel is about twenty minutes after sunset. The candles can be lit from tzeit until the last workers head home. That time used to be half an hour after tzeit, and ideally is still the range of time within which candle lighting should be done. However, when necessary, candles can be lit as late as 9 PM.
A person should not eat before lighting, not even a light meal. If there is a compelling reason to eat, one should arrange with a friend or family member to remind them to light later. Having done this, one may eat before lighting.
People unable to light before 9 PM may still light all night long. If at least one household member will still be awake when they arrive home, or if there is a chance someone outside will see the candles, they may even recite the blessings. Once dawn has arrived, a person who has not lit has forfeited the mitzva for that night.
Someone who needs to go somewhere before tzeit can light early – up to forty minutes before sunset in Israel. However, candles must be used which will stay lit until half an hour after tzeit, which in Israel means they will need to last for an hour and a half.
When some members of the family are at home at tzeit and others will get home later, those at home should light at the ideal time (tzeit), and those coming home later should light when they get home. However, if the family prefers to light together, then as long as they will still be able to light before 9 PM, they can wait and light together. If they choose to do this, no one may eat before lighting.
On Friday, Ĥanuka candles should be lit twenty minutes before sunset, followed immediately by the lighting of the Shabbat candles. The Ĥanuka candles must stay alight until half an hour after tzeit, which in Israel means they will need to last an hour and a quarter.
