View Categories

Siman 676 – The order of the berachos and the lighting

  1. The one lighting on the first night says 3 berachos :
    1. “….l’hadlik ner shel Chanuka…..”
    2. “….she’ossoh nissim…….”
    3. “….shehecheyanu …v’higiyonu lizman hazeh” – lamed with a chirik. (ShA 1 – MB 1)
  1. If you didn’t recite the Shehecheyanu on the first night, wait to say it before lighting on the second night. If you only remembered after the lighting, wait again until before lighting the next night. (ShA 1 – MB 2)
  1. All berachos should be said just prior to lighting. If you already lit some lamps, you can still say all 3 berachos before you light the next. However, if you already lit all of the lamps, you can only say the last 2 berachos. (Rama 2 – MB 4)
  1. Shehecheyanu is recited only once on Chanuka. Therefore from the second night and on, say only the first 2 berachos. (ShA 2)
  1. Someone who will not be lighting on the first night of Chanuka (and no one will be lighting for him at home) should say the last 2 berachos upon seeing someone else’s ner Chanuka. (ShA 3)
  1. If you will be lighting at home, do not say any berachos beforehand when seeing someone else’s ner Chanuka. (MB 5)
  1. If your wife lights for you at home do not say any berachos wherever you are. The following night, omit the Shehecheyanu. (MB 6,7)
  1. After lighting the first lamp, begin saying Hanairos Hallalu while you finish lighting the rest. (ShA 4 – MB 8)
  1. Another acceptable option is to begin Hanairos Hallolu only after all of the lamps are lit. (MB 8)
  1. After the words Hanairos Hallolu (which have 8 letters) there are 36 words corresponding to the number of nairos Chanuka. (MB 8)
  1. The lamps of the menorah should always be filled on the right side (except for on the eighth night. However, the berachos and lighting should begin on the extra new lamp which is placed furthest left. Proceed to light from left towards your right. (ShA 5)
  1. The above method is regardless of which side of the doorway you may be lighting on, or if you are not lighting in a doorway at all – you always make the beracha on the newest lamp. However the Gr”a holds to always light the original lamp first (not the additional one) and it should always be placed closest to the doorway. Then proceed to light the lamps moving away from the doorway. Either way is acceptable. (MB 9,11 – ShaH 14)
  1. According to Shulchan Aruch, the shliach tzibbor stands with his back to the south wall of the shul, facing north. He lights the additional lamp first, and then proceeds lighting towards his right. According to the Gr”a, the shliach tzibbor stands facing south, always lighting the eastern-most lamps first and proceeding towards his right. (ShaH 21)
  1. No matter which method you choose, it would be best to place the menorah in the doorway itself so that all of the lamps are considered within a tefach of the doorway. Just be sure not to open the door during the first half hour, so the lamps do not blow out (MB 9)
  1. Situate yourself so that your hand does not need to pass by any other mitzva lamps on the way to light the first one. (MB 11)