Chanukah (Hanukkah), which means rededication in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Hellenized Syrian-Greek armies. It also celebrates a miracle that happened during this time, where just a day's supply of oil allowed the eternal light in the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem to remain lit for eight days. Therefore, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah for eight days.
The hanukiah (or Hanukkah menorah) is a candle holder with nine branches. Traditionally, one candle is separated from the rest, usually by being higher than the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, one light (candle or oil) is lit on the right side of the menorah; on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first, but it is lit first, and so on, proceeding from placing candles right to left but lighting them from left to right over the eight nights. The candles are never lit directly - instead, the higher candle, (called a
shamash
, meaning "attendant") is lit first, and then used to light the rest of the candles. While the candles are lit, blessings are said over them.
Joyce Ish: Communications Committee