which way to light menorah

You place and add the candles from right to left , but you light them from left to right.

Basic rule

• On the first night, put one candle in the far right holder (as you face the menorah) plus the shamash (helper candle).

• Each new night, add that night’s candle to the left of the previous ones, so you’re loading candles from right to left.

• When lighting, you always light the newest candle first (the one furthest to the left) and then move toward the right.

So:

• Arrange candles: right → left.
• Light candles: left → right.

Quick step‑by‑step

1. Set the menorah safely on a sturdy, nonflammable surface, usually by a window or doorway.

2. Place that night’s candles from right to left (far right first, then each new one to its left).

3. Light the shamash (usually higher or set apart) and say the blessings. Use only the shamash to light the others.

4. Use the shamash to light the left‑most (newest) candle first, then the rest moving to the right.

5. Let them burn for at least about half an hour after nightfall.

Mini “why it’s done this way”

• Candles are added from right to left to follow Hebrew reading direction, which goes right to left.

• The newest miracle of the day is honored first, so that left‑most, newest candle gets lit before the earlier ones.

TL;DR:
Candles go in from right to left; you light them from left to right, always starting with the newest candle using the shamash.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.