Askmoses-A Jews Resource
Why do we dip a finger into the leftover havdalah wine and dab it over the eyes?
Browse our archives

The Scholar is ready to answer your question. Click the button below to chat now.

Scholar Online:

Type in your question here:

What do we light first? Chanukah candles or Shabbat candles?

  

Library » Women & Judaism » Women's Mitzvot » Candle Lighting | Subscribe | What is RSS?

PRINT EMAIL COMMENT

Mrs. Esty Davidson: Welcome! I'll be with you in a moment...

menorahman: do we light Shabbat candles or Chanukah candles first?

Mrs. Esty Davidson: hi

Mrs. Esty Davidson: first chanukah candles

menorahman: thanks. couldn't find it on the site

Mrs. Esty Davidson: because shabbat candles usher the shabbat in and we may not light a flame on shabbat

menorahman: but if my wife lights the shabbat candles that brings in shabbat for me too?

Mrs. Esty Davidson: it brings it in for her, however, your chanukah candles are for her too

menorahman ok, thanks

menorahman: good shabbat

Mrs. Esty Davidson: you're welcome

menorahman: and chag sameach

Mrs. Esty Davidson: on motzei shabbat [Ed. Saturday night]

Mrs. Esty Davidson: it's Havdallah first and then the Menorah candles

Mrs. Esty Davidson: same logic

menorahman: for the same reason right?

Mrs. Esty Davidson: yes

menorahman: while it's still shabbat you can't light the menorah candles?

Mrs. Esty Davidson: right

menorahman: but hold on, don't you make havdallah in the Amidah prayer

Mrs. Esty Davidson: yes, but you're still not supposed to do proper work before havdallah

Mrs. Esty Davidson: it's better to do laundry after havdallah, for example

menorahman: lol, ok, i'll bear that in mind :-)

Mrs. Esty Davidson: :)

All names, places, and identifying information have been changed or deleted in order to protect the privacy of the questioners. In order to preserve authenticity, the chat sessions have been posted with a minimum of editing. Please excuse typographical errors, missing punctuation, and/or grammatical mistakes which naturally occur in the course of informal chat sessions.

ADD A COMMENT

Please email me when new comments are posted (you must be  logged in).

RELATED CATEGORIES

Holidays » Chanukah
Shabbat
Shabbat » Forbidden Activities
Shabbat » Candle Lighting
Holidays » Chanukah » The Laws
Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Chanukah
An eight day mid-winter holiday marking: 1) The miraculous defeat of the mighty Syrian-Greek armies by the undermanned Maccabis in the year 140 BCE. 2) Upon their victory, the oil in the Menorah, sufficient fuel for one night only, burned for eight days and nights.
Amidah
Highlight of every prayer, recited silently while standing. Weekday Amidah consists of nineteen blessings, Sabbath and holiday Amidah contains seven blessings.
Havdallah
Prayer signifying the end of the Sabbath or Jewish holiday. This "separation" prayer is recited after nightfall over a cup of wine.
Menorah
Candelabra. Usually a reference to the nine-branched candelabra kindled on the holiday of Chanukah.