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The first Chanukah candle is to be lit on Sunday night, December 25.

The history of the Festival of Lights is always inspiring, and worth re-learning. When the Greek empire was split up after the death of Alexander of Macedonia in 323 B.C.E., the rulers of Palestine made continuous attempts to force our people to give up their own faith and to adopt Greek ideas and customs. However, it wasn't until the advent, in 175 B.C.E., of King Antiochus in Syria that force was employed to impose Greek customs and ways of life. These acts naturally precipitated an uprising which was led by the Hasmonean family in Modin. Under the leadership of Judah of Maccabee, after several years of valiant fighting, they successfully drove the Syrians out. On the 25th of Kislev, in the year 165 B.C.E. they made their entrance into the Temple and rededicated it to the service of G-d. Upon entering the Temple, they found one cruse of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. With this oil they rekindled the Menorah. Miraculously the oil (sufficient for only one day) burnt for eight days which was time enough to prepare fresh oil. In commemoration of the miracle, we light candles on Chanukah.

How the lights are to be lit

The preferred way to perform the Mitzvah is to use pure olive oil as was used in the menorah in the Temple. If this is not possible, ordinary candles may be used.

On the first night, the light on the extreme right of the menorah is kindled. The following night add the one immediately to the left of it and kindle it first, and so on for eight nights.

The lights are to be placed in a straight row; none higher or lower than the others. There should also be sufficient space between one light and the next, so that each can be seen clearly and there is no possibility of their joining together.

It is customary to have an additional light which acts as a "Shammash", or attendant light, with which to kindle the others. The Chanukah lights themselves may not be used for any other purpose but the fulfillment of the Mitzvah, while one may derive benefit from the AShammash@. The appropriate blessings to be recited when lighting the candles can be found in the Siddur (Birnbaum Siddur, p. 709). Following the kindling "Hanerat Halalu" and "Maoz Tzur" are sung.

Where lights are placed

The menorah should correctly be placed near a window or doorway in order that the commemoration of the miracle should be made public (pirsum hanes).

Proper time for kindling

The lights should be lit immediately upon the appearance of the stars. If one fails to do so, one may still perform the Mitzvah through the remainder of the night provided the members of the household are still awake. The lights should burn for at least half an hour, during which time no work should be done. The obligation of Chanukah falls on both men and women.

Other Chanukah Customs

1. Potato Alatkes@ and other milk foods are eaten.
2. A popular game is played with a "dreidel" (a square spinning top containing the four Hebrew letters: nun, gimel, hey, shin). The letters stand for "nes gadol haya sham" - "a great miracle happened there".
3. Children are given a present of "Chanukah-gelt" (Chanukah money).

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