When To Light The Menorah On Erev Shabbat?

Halacha Moment
Dec 3, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

The Daily Halacha Moment - Menorah On Erev Shabbat 🕎

‎״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

What should one light first on Erev Shabbat?

How should one light the menorah on Erev Shabbat?

Answer:

On Erev Shabbat, the Chanukah lights are kindled before the Shabbat lights. [1]

Since lighting the Shabbat candles generally signifies the acceptance of Shabbat, one must ensure that the Chanukah lights which may not be lit once Shabbat has begun are lit beforehand. This order allows a person to fulfill both mitzvot properly without compromising either one.

If one, whether a man or a woman, mistakenly lit the Shabbat lights before lighting the Chanukah lights, the Chanukah lights may still be lit, provided that Shabbat was not yet accepted at that moment. In such a case, the individual may proceed to light the Chanukah menorah immediately, ensuring that the mitzvah is not lost due to an error in order.

However, if one explicitly accepted Shabbat through the lighting of the Shabbat candles—or through a verbal acceptance—then that individual may no longer light the Chanukah lights. In such a situation, another member of the household who has not yet accepted Shabbat should light the Chanukah lights instead. [2]

Furthermore, one must ensure that there is sufficient oil in the menorah at the time of lighting for the flames to burn for at least thirty minutes after tzet hakochavim (nightfall). Since the menorah is lit earlier than usual on Erev Shabbat, special care must be taken to add extra oil or use longer candles so that the required minimum burning time is fulfilled.

Therefore, one should be careful not to light the menorah too early, as lighting significantly before sunset may result in the fire extinguishing too soon. The optimal time to light the menorah on Erev Shabbat is approximately fifteen minutes before shkiyah (sunset), balancing both halachic requirements—lighting before Shabbat and ensuring a proper burning duration. [3]

Sources:

[1]. Shulchan Aruch 679 §1. See also Ben Ish Chai, Vayeshev 1:20, which states that even for Kabbalistic reasons, the Shabbat lights should not be lit before the Chanukah lights, even if a man is lighting the Chanukah lights and the woman is lighting the Shabbat lights.

[2]. Mishnah Berurah §1 and Kaf HaChaim §3. Chazon Ovadia, Chanukah, p. 176 says that according to the Shulchan Aruch, lighting the Shabbat lights is not necessarily enough for one to accept Shabbat. If one verbally accepted the Shabbat through his lighting, though, then he may not perform melachah, and should ask someone else to light the Chanukah lights for him. See also Ohr LeTzion, vol. 4, 43:8 and Teshuvot HaRishon LeTzion, vol. 1, p. 126.

[3]. See Mishnah Berurah §2, which states that at least one of the lights that were lit should still be burning by tzet hakochavim for one to fulfill the mitzvah. See also Chazon Ovadia, Chanukah, p. 71, which states that if one realizes that he did not put enough oil, he should extinguish the lights, add oil, and then relight them without a berachah. See also Yalkut Yosef, Chanukah, p. 544 and Ohr LeTzion, vol. 4, 43:8.

📲 The Daily Halacha Moment is written exclusively for this broadcast so when forwarding please include the link! 😊

R' Netanel Aminov

Founder Of The Halacha Moment

🌟 Today's Halacha Moment is dedicated:

🕯 Leiluy Nishmat:

Mishael Ben Frecha

Efrat Bat Aushra

Faradj Goel Ben Batia

🤒 Refuah Shelema:

Chana Bat Sima Feiga

💯 Hatzlacha:

Aminov Family