Chanukah Customs

Lighting the Candles 

The preferred time for lighting the Chanukah candles is the first 30 minutes after tzeit hakochavim (3 stars are visible). Many, including Rabbi Arush, have the custom to light Chanukah candles first, and then pray Maariv (the evening prayer) afterwards. However, it is preferable for the family to light together, even if that means waiting for everyone to come home from work etc. 

It is technically allowed the light the Chanukah candles with any form of oil or candles that will burn cleanly. However, since the original miracle happened with olive oil, it is preferably to light the Chanukah candles with olive oil as well. 

The 30 minutes after lighting candles is a very special time. Everyone should sit in front of the candles during this time, including women. Although this time is often very hectic with dinner and bedtime for the children, nevertheless, this is a special time for women to refrain from work and enjoy the holiday.  

Preferably, this time should be spent in prayer, and just looking at the candles. There is plenty of time to eat doughnuts, fry latkes, and open presents – but first and foremost is basking in the special spiritual light of the candles! 

Rabbi Arush’s Customs

Rabbi Arush recites the following prayers:

• Psalms 20, 33, 100, 121 and 150.
• It is very good to say all 13 “Shir HaMaalot” (Psalms 120-134) as well.

Spend Time Looking at the Candles

Rabbi Arush says that looking at the candles has the power to rectify everything you saw that was immodest or improper (this is an especially important segula for men who inevitably struggle to properly guard their eyes). It is also a special time to ask for healing, and especially to heal the eyes. 

Culinary Customs 

Since the miracle happened with olive oil, it is customary to make fried foods on Chanukah. The most common among them are doughnuts, and latkes or  levivot  (potato pancakes).  Although doughnuts are usually jelly-filled and the latkes are served with applesauce or sour cream, it has become popular to go all out with different flavors of doughnuts and all sorts of variations of latkes.  

Additionally, the Rema writes that it is proper to eat cheese at Chanukah because of the miracle that was wrought through Yehudit, when she fed the enemy leader cheese and wine to make him sleepy, so that she could kill him. Many extend this custom to all forms of dairy. 

Breslev Israel is excited to feature a new section on recipes and cooking! We have many recipes for you to try this Chanukah: 

Purple Latkes 

Latke Sliders 

Zucchini Latkes with Tzatziki Sauce 

Sheet Pan Baked Latkes 

Classic Sufganiot 

Baked Sufganiot 

Dairy Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake 

          Apple Pie Latkes with Vanilla Cream 

          Philo Pastry and Greek Cheeses

Dreidel 

The game is played with a pot of gelt (gold-wrapped chocolate coins) or real coins. All the players start with some amount of money, plus the pot with a coin or two in the center of the players. The players spin in order, and act according to the letter that comes out on top: 

     ג Gimmel – “gimmee!” – Take all of the pot. 

     ה Hey – “half” – Take half of the pot. 

     נ Nun – “nothing” – Nothing happens. 

     ש Shin – “shucks!” – Put two coins into the pot! 

Whenever the game is declared over, the one with the most money in their personal pot, wins!