How to light a menorah:
There is, of course, a specific way to light a menorah. At sundown, the lights should be kindled, starting with the Shamash, or the 9th and "helper" candle. As you face the menorah, insert the candles from the far right, adding one more each night. The candles, however, are lit from left to right. On Shabbat, the Chanukah candles are kindled before the Shabbat candles.
One shouldn't use the menorah for anything else during the year, reserving it exclusively for Chanukah.
How to recite the menorah Blessings:
On each night of Chanukah, the following blessings are recited while lighting the menorah candles. On the first night only, the final blessing is recited as it is a blessing of joy and traditionally is part of festival commencement.
1. Baruch ata Adonai, Eluhenu melech ha'olam, asherkidshanu bmitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us through His Commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.
2. Baruch ata Adonoir, Eluhenu melech ha'olam, she'asa nisim la'avoteinu b'yuamim ha'heym bazman hazeh. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, in this season.
3. Baruch ata Adonai, Eluhenu melech ha'olam, shehecheyanu, v'kiyimanu, v'hegiyanu lazman hazeh. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, King of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for helping us reach this moment.
