On Friday, Nov. 30, the first night of Chanukah, three blessings are recited immediately prior to the lighting of the candles (not while lighting them). The third blessing -- She-he-ch-ya-nu -- is recited on the first day or the beginning of each holiday in the Jewish year. On all other nights, we recite only the two other blessings.

Chanukah candles are placed on the right side of the Chanukiah. So on the first night of Chanukah, we have one candle on the right side, on the second night two candles on the right side, etc., until finally on the eighth night, the Chanukiah is full. We light the newest candle first, therefore, we always begin by kindling the candle at the left and proceed towards the right.

On the Friday nights of Chanukah, Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, we always make sure that we light the Chanukah candles before sundown and before the Sabbath candles are lit. It is better not to light the Chanukah candles at all on Friday night than to light them after dark which is a violation of the Sabbath laws.

Jewish law requires that on every night of Chanuka, the candles must burn at least one half hour after dark. Because on Friday night we must light the Chanukah candles before Sabbath candlelighting time, it is traditional to use larger candles, such as Shabbat candles or tall tapers for the Chanukiah itself.

For Chanukah, you may light either an oil or a candle menorah, the only requisite being that whichever type of light is used, that the light be clear and bright. There has been a great deal of discussion as to the use of an electric Chanukiah, but because it is not definite as to whether or not an electric menorah fulfills the obligation to the lighting of Chanuka lights, it is best to avoid the use of such a Chanukiah except for purely decorative purposes as opposed to a religious use.

On the Saturday night of Chanukah, in this case, Dec. 1, Chanukah lights must be lit after it is pitch dark, that is after the conclusion of the Sabbath following Havdalah in the home and just before it in the synagogue.

In general, on a weekday night other than Sabbath night, the Chanuka candles are to be lit approximately at dark. If, however, one is not at home or this time is inconvenient, they can be lit any time during the entire night. If one has to leave his home prior to dark and may not return for the rest of the evening, he may light the Chanukah candles about an hour before dark provided that Chanukah lights will burn for a short period of time after dark.

The Chanukah candles are to be lit simply for religious reasons and are not to be used for any secular purposes, such as lighting other objects, used for reading lights, etc. However, this limited use of the light applies only during the first half hour of their burning as the rabbis of old determined that the required burning time of a Chanuka candle is one-half hour and after that time they may be used for any other purpose or even extinguished.