The Talmud on Observance of Hanukkah

The sages taught [in a baraita]: The [basic] mitzvah of Hanukkah [is each day to have] a light [kindled by] a person, [the head of the household, for himself] and his household. And the mehadrin, [i.e., those who are meticulous in the performance of mitzvot, kindle] a light for each and every one [in the household]. And the mehadrin min hamehadrin, [who are even more meticulous, adjust the number of lights daily. Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel disagree as to the nature of that adjustment]. Beth Shammai says: [On] the first day one kindles eight [lights and, from] there on, gradually decreases [the number of lights until, on the last day of Hanukkah, he kindles one light]. And Beth Hillel says: [On] the first day one kindles one [light, and from] there on, gradually increases [the number of lights until, on the last day, he kindles eight lights].

Ulla said: [There were] two amora’im in the West, [Erets Yisrael, who] disagreed [with regard to] this [dispute], R. Yosi bar Avin and R. Yosi bar Zevida. One said [that] the reason [for] Beth Shammai’s [opinion is that the number of lights] corresponds to the incoming days, [i.e., the future. On the first day, eight days remain in Hanukkah, one kindles eight lights, and on the second day, seven days remain, one kindles seven, etc.] The reason [for] Beth Hillel’s [opinion is that the number of lights] corresponds to the outgoing days. [Each day, the number of lights corresponds to the number of the days of Hanukkah that were already observed.] And one said [that] the reason [for] Beth Shammai’s [opinion is that the number of lights] corresponds to the bulls of the festival [of Sukkot: Thirteen were sacrificed on the first day, and each succeeding day one fewer was sacrificed (Numbers 29:12–31)]. The reason [for] Beth Hillel’s [opinion is that the number of lights is based on the principle]: One elevates [to a higher level] in [matters of] sanctity and one does not downgrade. [Therefore, if the objective is to have the number of lights correspond to the number of days, there is no alternative to increasing their number with the passing of each day.]

Rabbah bar Bar Ḥanah said [that] R. Yoḥanan said: There were two elders in Sidon, [and] one [of them] acted [in accordance with the opinion of] Beth Shammai, and one [of them] acted in accordance with [the opinion of] Beth Hillel. One gave a reason for his actions: [The number of lights] corresponds to the bulls of the Festival. And one gave a reason for his actions: [The number of lights is based on the principle:] One elevates [to a higher level] in [matters of] sanctity and one does not downgrade.

The sages taught [in a baraita]: It is a mitzvah to place the Hanukkah lamp at the entrance to one’s house on the outside, [so that all can see it]. If he lived upstairs, he places it at the window adjacent to the public domain. And in a time of danger, [when the gentiles issued decrees to prohibit kindling lights,] he places it on the table and [that is] sufficient [to fulfill] his [obligation].

Rava said: [One] must [kindle] another light [in addition to the Hanukkah lights] in order to use its light, [as it is prohibited to use the light of the Hanukkah lights]. And if there is a bonfire, he need not [light an additional light, as he can use the light of the bonfire. However,] if he is an important person, [who is unaccustomed to using the light of a bonfire,] even though there is a bonfire, he must [kindle] another light.

What is Hanukkah? The sages taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the days of Hanukkah are eight. One may not eulogize on them and one may not fast on them. [What is the reason?] When the Greeks entered the sanctuary, they defiled all the oils that were in the sanctuary [by touching them]. And when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame [them] and emerged victorious over them, they searched and found only one cruse of oil that was placed with the seal of the high priest, [undisturbed by the Greeks]. And there was [sufficient oil] there to light [the candelabrum for] only one day. A miracle occurred, and they lit [the candelabrum] from it eight days. The next year [the sages] instituted [those days] and made them holidays with [recitation of] Hallel and [special] thanksgiving [in prayer and blessings].