Chanukkiah

The candelabra used to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Chanukkah candles is called a chanukkiah. Sometimes also called a menorah, it is lit in homes and synagogues during Chanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the holiday, in which one day's worth of oil for the Temple menorah burned for eight days. A chanukkiah has a spot for a candle for each of the eight nights and an additional one for the shamash, the candle used to light the others.

Sources

יהוה spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.” Aaron did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the lampstand, as יהוה had commanded Moses.—

The Sages taught in a baraita: The basic mitzva of Hanukkah is each day to have a light kindled by a person, the head of the household, for himself and his household. And the mehadrin, i.e., those who are meticulous in the performance of mitzvot, kindle a light for each and every one in the household. And the mehadrin min hamehadrin, who are even more meticulous, adjust the number of lights daily. Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree as to the nature of that adjustment…

Shabbat 21b:5-8

The Sages taught in a baraita: The basic mitzva of Hanukkah is each day to have a light kindled by a person, the head of the household, for himself and his household. And the mehadrin, i.e., those who are meticulous in the performance of mitzvot, kindle a light for each and every one in the household. And the mehadrin min hamehadrin, who are even more meticulous, adjust the number of lights daily. Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree as to the nature of that adjustment…

Shabbat 21b:5-7

Rava said: One must kindle another light in addition to the Hanukkah lights in order to use its light, as it is prohibited to use the light of the Hanukkah lights. And if there is a bonfire, he need not light an additional light, as he can use the light of the bonfire. However, if he is an important person, who is unaccustomed to using the light of a bonfire, even though there is a bonfire, he must kindle another light.

However, about the eight days of Chanukah established by the sages, the oil-Shemen-שמן comes from the Desire-Ratzon-רצון to the Sefirah of Understanding-Binah, and the Understanding-Binah is the secret of the Candelabrum-Menorah-מנורה and its lamps, as in the secret of the verse, “Toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” That is, the Menorah and the lamps-Neirot are for “opening the eyes of the blind.” Therefore, open your eyes and see that the eight days of Chanukah are the secret of the matter…

Sha'arei Orah, Eight Gate, Third Sefirah 103

בהעלתך WHEN THOU LIGHTEST [THE LAMPS] — Why is the section treating of the candelabrum put in juxtaposition with the section dealing with the offerings of the princes? Because when Aaron saw the dedication offerings of the princes, he felt distressed because neither he nor his tribe was with them in the dedication, whereupon the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “By your life! Your part is of greater importance than theirs, for you will kindle and set in order the lamps” (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Beha'alotcha 5; see also Nachmanides).

Rashi on Numbers 8:2:1

If one filled a bowl with oil and surrounded it with wicks — if he covered it with a vessel, each wick counts as one light. [If] he did not cover it with a vessel, it does not even count as one light, because it is like a bonfire.Rem"a: Therefore one should be careful to place the lights in a straight row and not in a circle, since that is like a bonfire. (Hagahot Maimoniot quoting Sefer Mitzvot Katan) It is permitted to kindle with candlesticks, since each light is separated greatly from the other…

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 671:4-5

One needs to be very diligent in kindling the Hanukkah lights. Even a poor man living off charity must lend or sell his clothes, and buy oil to kindle with.

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 671:1

Rava said: It is obvious to me that there is a fixed list of priorities. When a person is poor and must choose between purchasing oil to light a Shabbat lamp for his home or purchasing oil to light a Hanukkah lamp, the Shabbat lamp for his home takes precedence. That is due to peace in his home; without the light of that lamp, his family would be sitting and eating their meal in the dark. Similarly, if there is a conflict between acquiring oil to light a lamp for his home and wine for the sanctification [kiddush] of Shabbat…

For the commandment is a lamp,
The teaching is a light,
And the way to life is the rebuke that disciplines.

The comprehensive discussion of the Hanukkah lights found in this chapter, which, in effect, included all the halakhot of Hanukkah, underscored the role of the Shabbat lights. The conclusion was that, in virtually every matter, there is a contrast between Hanukkah lights and Shabbat lights. The objective of the mitzva to kindle the Shabbat lights is to illuminate. The mitzva of kindling the Hanukkah lights has no such practical objective; the mitzva is the act of kindling itself. The Shabbat lights are kindled so that the entire family can derive benefit from them…

Introductions to the Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat, Summary of Perek II 2

Lighting the Ḥanuka Candles / The Menora and the Shamash It is proper to beautify the mitzva by using a beautiful menora (ḥanukiya, candelabrum), each according to his means. Some go above and beyond and buy a menora made of gold or silver. One who does not have a menora may stick candles onto a flat surface and light them. Similarly, one may take small glass cups, fill them with oil and wicks, and light them. One should not, however, light the candles in disgraceful vessels, like sooty earthenware (SA 673:3, MB ad loc. 28, Kaf Ha-ḥayim ad loc. 60-62).

Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim 12:11:1-2

Accordingly, the Sages of that generation ordained that these eight days, which begin from the twenty-fifth of Kislev, should be commemorated to be days of happiness and praise [of God]. Candles should be lit in the evening at the entrance to the houses on each and every one of these eight nights to publicize and reveal the miracle.
These days are called Chanukah. It is forbidden to eulogize and fast on them, as on the days of Purim. Lighting the candles on these days is a Rabbinic mitzvah, like the reading of the Megillah.

Mishneh Torah, Scroll of Esther and Hanukkah 3:3

We kindle these lights on account of the miracles, the deliverances and the wonders which thou didst work for our fathers, by means of thy holy priests. During all the eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, neither is it permitted us to make any profane use of them; but we are only to look at them, in order that we may give thanks unto thy name for thy miracles, thy deliverances and thy wonders.

Siddur Ashkenaz, Festivals, Chanukah, Service for Lighting Chanukah Candles, Hanerot Hallalu 1

a calyx, of one piece with it, under a pair of branches; and a calyx, of one piece with it, under the second pair of branches, and a calyx, of one piece with it, under the last pair of branches; so for all six branches issuing from the lampstand.

Rabbi Yehuda says: If the flax was set on fire by the storekeeper’s Hanukkah lamp that he placed outside the entrance to his store, he is not liable, as in that case, it is permitted for the storekeeper to place his lamp outside. Ravina said in the name of Rabba: That is to say that it is a mitzva to place the Hanukkah lamp within ten handbreadths of the ground. As if it should enter your mind to say that he may place it above ten handbreadths…

Shabbat 21b:12-22a:1

Whoever is obligated to read the Megillah is also obligated to kindle the Chanukah lamp. On the first night, a person lighting [the lamp] recites three blessings. They are:
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the Chanukah lamp.
"...who wrought miracles for our ancestors...."
"...who has granted us life, sustained us...."
When a person who did not recite a blessing [on his own Chanukah lamp] sees a lamp, he should recite the latter two blessings…

Mishneh Torah, Scroll of Esther and Hanukkah 3:4

who made miracles for our ancestors in their days in this season.

Siddur Ashkenaz, Festivals, Chanukah, Service for Lighting Chanukah Candles, Blessings on Chanukah Candles 5

This is why it is necessary to illuminate and light the Chanukah candle next to the entrance—i.e., illuminate the glory and return it to the source of fear until peace is merited and “the whisperer who separates close friends” is eliminated and destroyed. And this is: “until people stop walking about in the street.” Those who engage in slander and gossip, who slander with their mouths, are [stopped and] eliminated; and peace is increased in the world.

Likutei Moharan 14:12:5

You shall make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its base and its shaft, its cups, calyxes, and petals shall be of one piece. Six branches shall issue from its sides; three branches from one side of the lampstand and three branches from the other side of the lampstand. On one branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals, and on the next branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals; so for all six branches issuing from the lampstand…

Exodus 25:31-34

Hanukkah lamp, Italy. Late 16th or early 17th century

Hanukkah lamp, Italy. Late 16th or early 17th century

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Lighting of the Menorah

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