Laws and Customs

Laws and Customs for Chanukah

-Every night of Chanukah the Menorah should burn for at least a half hour into the night, or until 5:35 pm. Therefore, standard wax Chanukah candles that burn for 30-45 minutes should be lit no earlier than 5:05 pm.

-The Chabad custom is to light the Menorah at sundown, (12/14) 4:29 pm and (12/21) 4:32 pm, making sure it will burn until 5:35 pm. Because of this custom, larger candles or olive oil should be used.

-On Friday, December 19, Chanukah candles should be lit before we light Shabbat candles at 4:13 PM. Ideally we should daven Mincha beforehand. Candles may be lit as early as 3:37 pm (Plag Haminchah). Regular Chanukah candles cannot be used in our Menorah on Friday afternoon, since they must last until 5:35 PM (a half an hour after nightfall). Shabbat candles or olive oil should be used in the Menorah instead.  Under no circumstances can the Menorah be lit after sundown, 4:31 pm. Give yourself extra time to set up the Menorah.  

-On Saturday night, December 20, the Menorah is lit after Shabbat ends at 5:17 pm. Havdala is recited first and then the Menorah is lit.

-The V’Al HaNissim is added to all Chanukah prayers, as well as in Grace after Meals.

-The complete Hallel is said every day of Chanukah. In Israel, 8 of the 18 days during the year when the complete Hallel is said, are Chanukah.

-Chanukah is connected with the term Chinuch, education. It is a time that we traditionally tip our children’s teachers for doing a great job educating our children and teaching them Torah.

-Chanukah is a time for family. At least on a few of the nights of Chanukah, the family should spend time together, sharing the miracles and stories of Chanukah.

-To educate our children about the importance of Tzedakah and to give them some spending money, Chanukah gelt is given.

-The Rebbe discussed the importance of giving Chanukah gelt every night of Chanukah and he mentioned that husbands should give their wives Chanukah gelt as well.