The most important observance associated with Hanukkah is the
kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the Menorah or Hanukkiya, a seven- or nine-branch candelabrum. On each night one more light is kindled, beginning with one candle on the first night of Hanukkah and ending with eight on the final evening. The lighting is accompanied by the chanting of
appropriate blessings and the singing of songs.
The ninth branch is reserved for the shamash, the servant light,
which is lit first and used to kindle the other lights of the Menorah.
In a broader sense, however, the Hanukkah light symbolizes the light of religious, national and cultural freedom won by the Maccabees for their people. It gave new force to the faith that had waned under the influence of Hellenism and Jewish culture began to flourish again. Also the Hebrew language, which had been largely supplanted by Greek, came into its own once more.
Click here for information and recordings of the blessings...