Lighting the menorah each night of Chanukah is one of the most beloved and visually striking mitzvos of the year, publicizing the miracle of the oil with growing light over eight nights. At Eichlers, we carry menorahs in oil, candle, and electric styles, in silver and decorative designs, suited to every home and family member.
Oil menorahs are widely considered the preferred style by many poskim, connecting most directly to the original Chanukah miracle of the small jug of oil that burned for eight days instead of one. Oil menorahs use small glass or metal cups filled with olive oil and a wick, requiring a bit more setup each night than a candle menorah but offering what many consider the most halachically ideal way to perform the mitzvah. Browse our candle accessories collection for the neironim glass cups and wicks needed for oil lighting.
Candle menorahs are fully kosher and widely used, offering a simpler and more convenient lighting experience than oil while still fulfilling the mitzvah completely. These menorahs hold standard Chanukah candles in designated branches, with most families using thinner, shorter-burning candles designed specifically for the eight-night lighting cycle. Candle menorahs are a practical choice for families who want a straightforward, mess-free option for nightly lighting.
Electric menorahs are used in specific settings where an open flame isn't practical or permitted, such as certain hospital rooms, dormitories, or other shared living spaces with fire restrictions. While most poskim hold that an electric menorah does not fulfill the mitzvah of menorah lighting in the same way as oil or candles, these menorahs serve as a meaningful display of pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle, in situations where a traditional flame menorah genuinely cannot be used. Consult your Rov regarding the appropriate use of an electric menorah in your specific situation.
Silver and silver-plated menorahs bring genuine elegance and lasting quality to Chanukah lighting, often becoming a treasured family piece used for decades and eventually passed down to the next generation. Decorative menorahs in other finishes, including brass, pewter, and artistic designs, offer a wide range of styles to suit different tastes, from classic and traditional through modern and contemporary interpretations of this beloved mitzvah item.
Many families give each child their own menorah from a young age, allowing every member of the household to participate personally in the mitzvah of lighting rather than watching from the sidelines. Children's menorahs are often smaller, more durable, and designed with kid-friendly themes or simple, sturdy construction suited to a child handling and lighting it with some assistance each night.
Consider whether you prefer oil or candles, your household's specific minhag, and how many family members will be lighting their own menorah each night. A well-made shamash holder matters as much as the menorah itself, since a wobbly or poorly fitted shamash candle is one of the most common frustrations during nightly lighting. Browse our candle accessories collection for shamash holders and other practical lighting accessories.
A beautiful menorah is one of the most meaningful and lasting Chanukah gifts, particularly appropriate for a newly married couple lighting in their own home for the first time, or as a child's first personal menorah marking their own participation in the mitzvah. Browse our full wedding gifts and Judaica collection for more ideas, or our bar mitzvah gifts collection for an older child.
A menorah is the centerpiece of Chanukah lighting. Eichlers carries everything else you need for the holiday as well.
Many poskim consider oil the preferred method, connecting most directly to the original Chanukah miracle. Candles are fully kosher and widely used as well, offering a simpler, more convenient lighting experience for many families.
Most poskim hold that an electric menorah does not fulfill the mitzvah in the same way as oil or candles. It serves as a display of pirsumei nisa in specific settings where an open flame isn't permitted. Consult your Rov for guidance on your particular situation.
Many families follow the minhag of each household member lighting their own menorah, particularly common in Ashkenazi practice, while other communities have one menorah lit on behalf of the entire household.
Look for a durable, sturdy design sized appropriately for a child to handle and light with some assistance, often available in kid-friendly themes that make the nightly mitzvah feel especially exciting for younger children.
Yes. A beautiful menorah is a meaningful and lasting gift for a couple lighting in their own home for the first time, often becoming a treasured piece used for decades. Browse our wedding gifts and Judaica collection for more ideas.
Oil menorahs require neironim glass cups, wicks, and oil, along with a stable shamash holder for the helper candle. Browse our candle accessories collection for everything needed.