You place the candles right to left, but you light them left to right, starting with the newest candle each night.

Quick scoop

  • When you face the menorah, put the first night’s candle in the far right holder.
  • Each new night, add that night’s candle to the left of the existing ones (so you’re filling it in from right to left).
  • When lighting, light the shamash (helper candle) first, then use it to light the left‑most candle (the newest one) and move toward the right.

So in simple terms:

  • Set up: add candles from right to left.
  • Lighting: light from left to right, always lighting the newest night’s candle first.

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