{"id":2712,"date":"2026-08-25T08:44:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T05:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/menorah-candle-count\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T08:44:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T05:44:51","slug":"menorah-candle-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/menorah-candle-count\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Candles in a Menorah? The Full Answer, Including the Shamash and the Whole-Holiday Count"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tsh-art\">\n<style>.tsh-art{--tg:#57665A;--tgd:#2A3530;--tgold:#D2B58C;line-height:1.75}.tsh-art .tsh-lead{font-size:1.07em;color:#3B4A3F}.tsh-art h2{color:#2A3530;border-inline-start:4px solid #D2B58C;padding-inline-start:12px;margin-top:1.7em;line-height:1.35}.tsh-art .tsh-cta{margin:2em 0 1.2em;text-align:center}.tsh-art .tsh-btn{display:inline-block;background:#57665A;color:#F7F3E8!important;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none!important;font-weight:700;margin:6px 6px;transition:background .2s ease}.tsh-art .tsh-btn:hover{background:#2A3530;color:#D2B58C!important}.tsh-art details{border:1px solid #E3E0D6;border-radius:10px;background:#F7F5EF;padding:12px 18px;margin:0 0 12px}.tsh-art details summary{font-weight:700;color:#2A3530;cursor:pointer}.tsh-art details p{margin:10px 0 2px}.tsh-art .tsh-more{background:#F7F5EF;border:1px solid #E3E0D6;border-radius:10px;padding:14px 20px;margin-top:1.6em}.tsh-art .tsh-more b{color:#2A3530}.tsh-art .tsh-more a{font-weight:600;margin-inline-start:4px}<\/style>\n<p class=\"tsh-lead\">It is one of the most common questions before the holiday, and happily it has an orderly answer: a menorah has nine places, eight for the mitzvah candles and one for the shamash. But behind the simple number hide a few more questions worth answering to the end: why eight, what exactly the shamash does, how many candles to buy for the whole holiday, and what all this means for choosing a menorah. It is all here.<\/p>\n<h2>Nine places: eight candles and a shamash<\/h2>\n<p>A standard Hanukkah menorah holds nine candles: eight commandment candles in a single row, at a uniform height, plus the shamash, the \"servant\" candle used to light the rest. The shamash must be distinguished from the row, positioned higher than it or set aside, so that it is clear it is not one of the commandment candles. This distinction is not a decoration: it is part of the rules that make a menorah kosher for lighting.<\/p>\n<h2>Why exactly eight candles<\/h2>\n<p>The eight candles correspond to the eight days of the miracle: the small cruse of oil found in the Temple after the Hasmonean victory was enough for one day, and burned for eight. On each evening of the holiday one candle is added, the custom of Beit Hillel fixed as halacha: in matters of holiness one ascends and does not descend. So the light grows from evening to evening, from a single candle on the first evening to eight full candles on the last, a picture that tells the miracle without words.<\/p>\n<h2>The calculation for the whole holiday: 44 candles<\/h2>\n<p>How many candles need to be bought? The calculation is simple and lovely. On the first evening: one candle and the shamash, two. On the second: two and the shamash, three. And so on to the eighth evening: eight and the shamash, nine. The total: 2 up to 9, that is, exactly 44 candles for one menorah for the whole holiday. That is why a standard box of Hanukkah candles holds 44. When several menorahs are lit at home, one for every family member as the widespread mehadrin custom, multiply: two menorahs, 88 candles; three, 132. It always pays to buy one spare box for candles that break or go out.<\/p>\n<h2>The order of placing and lighting: right, left and up<\/h2>\n<p>The numbers join a ceremony with a fixed order. The candles are placed from the right end of the menorah: on the first evening a candle in the rightmost branch, and every evening a candle is added to its left. Lighting goes in the reverse order: first the new, leftmost candle, then onward to the right. The shamash is lit first, with it all the others are lit, and it returns to its raised place. The blessings, two every evening and three on the first, are set out with full vowel points in the<a href=\"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/hanukkah-candle-lighting-guide\/\">Hanukkah candle lighting guide<\/a> at Tshura, including Hanerot Halalu and the customs for all eight evenings.<\/p>\n<h2>What this means for choosing a menorah<\/h2>\n<p>The rules behind the number determine how a kosher menorah looks: eight branches in a straight line at a uniform height, a distinct shamash, and reasonable spacing between the candles so the flames do not merge. These are exactly the principles kept in all the models of the <a href=\"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/product-category\/judaica\/menorahs\/\">menorahs<\/a> collection at Tshura: natural stone menorahs in different designs, from the walls of Jerusalem to clean modern lines, all with a straight row and a distinct shamash, at prices of \u20aa500 to \u20aa700. And since stone is a heavy, stable, heat-resistant material, the candles sit in it safely, evening after evening.<\/p>\n<h2>Short questions that come with the number<\/h2>\n<p>May fewer than eight be lit on the last evening? Not as a first choice: the custom is to add every evening. What if a candle goes out early? The essential thing is that it burned at lighting time for the required half hour after nightfall; many relight it without a blessing. Can oil be used instead of candles? Certainly, olive oil is the most mehudar, and each branch simply takes a cup of oil and a wick instead of a candle. The numbers stay the same: eight lights and a shamash.<\/p>\n<h2>The difference between a chanukiah and a menorah: nine versus seven<\/h2>\n<p>A common confusion worth clearing up: a menorah and a hannukiah are not the same vessel. The menorah, that of the Holy Temple, has seven branches and is an ancient symbol that also appears on the national emblem. The hannukiah was born later, in memory of the miracle of Chanukah, and therefore has nine places: eight for the days of the miracle and a shamash. A seven-branched menorah is not kosher for lighting Chanukah candles, and conversely, a hannukiah is not a \"menorah\" in the Temple sense. In many homes, the two vessels live side by side quite nicely: the seven-branched menorah as a decorative item and symbol all year round, and the hannukiah as the holiday's ritual object. Those looking for the former will also find a stone seven-branched menorah in the gift collection, as a piece of Jewish art for the wall and shelf.<\/p>\n<h2>Candles or oil: which is better and what it changes for the numbers<\/h2>\n<p>Both customs are fully kosher. Wax candles are the simple, common solution, one box and the whole holiday is set. Olive oil is the original hiddur, in memory of the cruse of oil itself, and many use it at least on one evening. For the numbers nothing changes: the same eight lights and a shamash, only each branch takes a small cup with oil and a wick instead of a candle. The burning requirement is also the same: the light should burn at least half an hour after nightfall, so the oil is filled, or candles are chosen, to last that long. A good menorah accepts both ways, and the family is free to move between them from year to year.<\/p>\n<p>And one more number worth knowing: half an hour. That is the minimum time the lights must burn after nightfall, and it is the practical key to buying candles: standard Hanukkah candles are calculated exactly for it. On the Friday evening of Hanukkah the order flips a little: Hanukkah candles are lit before Shabbat candles, earlier than usual, so for that evening longer candles or well-filled oil cups are chosen, to last from the early lighting until half an hour after nightfall. And on the Saturday night of the holiday, most homes make havdalah first and then light Hanukkah candles. A few small numbers, one half-hour measure, and all eight evenings pass orderly and calm.<\/p>\n<h2>In short<\/h2>\n<p>A menorah has nine places: eight mitzvah candles for the eight days of the miracle, and a distinct shamash used for lighting. The whole holiday takes 44 candles per menorah, a candle is added each evening from the right and lit from the left. And anyone these numbers send searching for a new menorah that will hold them beautifully will find at Tshura stone menorahs, each one of a kind.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tsh-cta\"><a class=\"tsh-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/product-category\/judaica\/menorahs\/\">Tshura menorahs<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details>\n<summary>How many candles are in a menorah?<\/summary>\n<p>Nine places: eight mitzvah candles in one row at a uniform height, and a distinct shamash used for lighting. Each evening a candle is added, from one candle on the first evening to eight on the last.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How many candles are needed for the whole holiday?<\/summary>\n<p>Exactly 44 candles for one menorah: two on the first evening up to nine on the eighth. That is exactly why a standard box of Hanukkah candles holds 44.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What is the difference between a chanukiah and a menorah?<\/summary>\n<p>The Temple menorah has seven branches and is an ancient symbol; the chanukiah carries nine places, in memory of the eight days of the miracle plus a shamash. A seven-branched menorah is not used for lighting Hanukkah candles.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"tsh-more\"><b>Further reading:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/menorah-for-kids\/\">Menorah for children<\/a>&nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/special-menorahs\/\">Special menorahs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How many candles a menorah holds, why nine places, how many candles the whole holiday takes and what the shamash does. All the answers in one place, simple and clear.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":228,"label":"\u05de\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"\u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4","author_link":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/author\/libat\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":228,"name":"\u05de\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd","slug":"articles","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":228,"taxonomy":"category","description":"\u05d4\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05d9\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05de\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc \u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4: \u05de\u05d6\u05d5\u05d6\u05d5\u05ea, \u05d7\u05e0\u05d5\u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea, \u05e4\u05de\u05d5\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05de\u05ea\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea. \u05d9\u05d3\u05e2 \u05de\u05e2\u05e9\u05d9 \u05dc\u05e6\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc\u05e7\u05e6\u05d9\u05d4.","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":228,"category_count":19,"category_description":"\u05d4\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05d9\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05de\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc \u05ea\u05e9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4: \u05de\u05d6\u05d5\u05d6\u05d5\u05ea, \u05d7\u05e0\u05d5\u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea, \u05e4\u05de\u05d5\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05de\u05ea\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea. \u05d9\u05d3\u05e2 \u05de\u05e2\u05e9\u05d9 \u05dc\u05e6\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc\u05e7\u05e6\u05d9\u05d4.","cat_name":"\u05de\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd","category_nicename":"articles","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tshura.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}