Guidelines for Hanukkah candle lighting by Noahides

Introduction

If you’re a Gentile who’s observant of Torah’s Seven Noahide Commandments, you may be interested in lighting Hanukkah candles. If so, you can very easily buy or make a Hanukkah menorah lamp (see below). Your intention for doing this should not be to fulfill the Rabbinical commandment, which is only for Jews. Rather, it should achieve the practical objective of publicizing the One G-d’s open miracles.

G-d’s miracles were seen in His physical and spiritual redemption of the Jews who were oppressed by the Greek empire. This happened in Judea in the second century B.C.E. Publicizing these miracles can be done by safely (!) lighting the Hanukkah candles in a place like a window sill, where they can be seen at night by people who are walking or driving by. This publicizing can also be done by speaking about this message to your family and other people. The objective is to educate and remind them about the truth and greatness of the One G-d.

As verified by Rabbi Moshe Weiner (author of The Divine Code), Noahides may light Hanukkah candles with that intention and for that purpose. It can be done in the same manner as the Jewish custom, but without reciting the associated Jewish blessings. (For Gentiles, those blessings would be false statements said in G-d’s Name, G-d forbid. The blessings testify that the person lighting the candles is commanded to kindle the lights of Hanukkah. The blessings also state that G-d did those miracles for “our fathers”. Both of those statements apply only to Jews.)

Suggested readings and Psalms that a Noahide can say after lighting Hanukkah candles are listed below.

Jews should refer to Orthodox Jewish sources to learn their obligatory procedure and blessings for kindling their Hanukkah lights on weeknights, and before and after their Sabbath.

In 20’24, Hanukkah starts Wednesday, December 25, at sundown. Hanukkah ends Thursday, January 2, 20’25, at sundown.

• A proper Hanukkah menorah has 8 candle holders positioned in a straight row at the same height. Another holder for a “shamash” (“servant”) candle is positioned near but higher than the Hanukkah lights. It is lit first, and can then be used to kindle the row of Hanukkah lights.
• The flames of the Hanukkah lights should begin burning at the same height.
• The Hanukkah lights should be able to burn after nightfall. (Nightfall starts at about 20-30 minutes after sunset, depending on the location).
• On the first night, one Hanukkah light is kindled on the right side of the menorah. Then on the second night, add a second light to the left of the first and kindle the additional light first. On each night add another candle to the left, and light from left to right. This is done on each night for 8 nights.
• The following statement, abridged for Noahides, is appropriate to be said after kindling the lights each night. (Other similar versions may be said as well.) “We kindle these lights to commemorate the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You [G-d] have performed in those days at this time through Your holy Kohanim priests, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvations.”

Noahides can mark the days of Hanukkah in some other customary ways

• Recite certain Psalms (any of chapters 30, 33, 67, 91, 133), and read about the history and messages of Hanukkah.
• Attend public lightings of Hanukkah menorahs that are taking place near you (contact your local Chabad Center for information about times and places).
• The following recitation, adopted from the Jewish traditional liturgy (version of the Ari Zal), can be said at any time during the days of Hanukkah (especially at the end of your prayer of thanks after eating a meal):

“We praise You, G-d, for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You performed in those days, at this time: In the days of Matisyahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, the wicked Hellenic government rose up against the people of Israel to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will. But You, in Your abounding mercies, stood by them in the time of their distress.

You waged their battles, defended their rights, avenged the wrong done to them, delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, and the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the wanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with Your Torah. You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, and effected a great deliverance and redemption for the people of Israel to this very day.

Then the Israelites entered the shrine of Your Holy House, purified and rededicated Your sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courtyards, and instituted these eight days of Hanukkah to give thanks and praise to Your great Name.”

Giving charity and gifts of money

It’s a good thing to give extra charity during Hanukkah to a proper charitable institution or cause, or to needy individuals. It’s good to have a charity box or can (a “pushka“) in your home, that you can drop coins into frequently and then give them to a proper charity when it is filled up.

Parents can give small gifts of money (Hanukkah “gelt”) to their children on some or all of the days. This is useful for teaching them to put part of their money (for example 10%) into a charity box at home, to be given later to a proper charity. (Note: We recommend not to give gifts specifically as “Hanukkah presents”. This recent development distorts the true message of Hanukkah. Rather, gifts can be given just as at any other time.)

Traditional foods for Hanukkah

It’s especially customary during Hanukkah to enjoying some Hanukkah recipes for oil-fried or dairy foods. The oil-fried foods are eaten to remember the miracles of the small jug of pure oil for the menorah in the Temple. The first miracle was that the jug was found after the Greek army retreated from Jerusalem. It had only enough oil to burn in the menorah for one day. Then miraculously, the oil burned for 8 days.

The dairy foods are eaten to remember the military victory of the Maccabee priests (Kohanim, descended from Aaron) over the Greeks. This is because Jerusalem was retaken by the Maccabee brothers through of the heroic act of Yehudit (or Yehudis), their righteous sister. (She came to the Greek general and fed him a feast of cheese and wine. When he fell asleep, she dealt to him the end he deserved, and the leaderless Greek army panicked and retreated.)

Links to more Hanukkah insights

What Is Hanukkah?

Four-part Audio Series on the historical events of Hanukkah

Lesson from Hanukkah to Publicize the 7 Laws of Noah

Expanded-edition video of the Rebbe’s talk on Thanksgiving and Hanukkah

A Miraculous Story for the Fifth Night of Hanukkah

Video lesson: The Kabbalistic Spin on the Hanukkah Dreidel