Place the candles in the menorah as you see. The one that is in the taller position (or separated from the other candles) is the Shamash.
Use the Shamash to light the candle. To best publicize the miracle, the Menorah is ideally lit outside the doorway of your house, on the left side when entering. If this is not practical, then the Menorah should be lit in a window facing the public thoroughfare.
Someone who lives on an upper floor should light in a window. If for some reason the Menorah cannot be lit by the window, it may be lit inside the house on a table; this at least fulfills the mitzvah of “publicizing the miracle” for the members of the household.
Since the mitzvah occurs at the actual moment of lighting, the Menorah must be lit in a proper place. Moving the Menorah to a proper place after lighting does not fulfill the mitzvah.
The Menorah should preferably be lit immediately at nightfall. It is best to wait, however, until all the members of the household are present. This adds to the family atmosphere and also maximizes the mitzvah. However, the Menorah can be lit late into the night, so long as everyone is still awake to see it.
The Menorah should remain lit for at least 30 minutes.
On Friday night, the Menorah should be lit 18 minutes before sundown. Then the Shabbat candles should be lit. The reason for this is because you can not light anything during Shabbat.
Blessing the candles
Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.
Second Blessing
Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem ba-zeman ha-zeh.
Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.
Please note that this page contains the name of G-d. If you print it out, please treat it with appropriate respect.