The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 671) addresses the case of one who fills a large utensil with oil, and places wicks inside the utensil in circular fashion, which he plans to light as the Hanukah candles. According to Halacha, lighting in this fashion does not fulfill the obligation of Hanukah candles; in fact, one is not even considered to have lit a single candle, as required according to the minimum standard of this Misva. The reason, as the Shulhan Aruch explains, is that such an arrangement resembles a bonfire, as opposed to a series of candles. One must therefore ensure to arrange the candles separately and in a straight line, as opposed to a circle.
It is preferable to use olive oil for Hanukah candles, since the miracle of the Menora involved olive oil. Furthermore, there is a custom to add water beneath the oil, in order to symbolize the Jews’ triumph over the enemy gentile nations. The oil symbolizes Am Yisrael, and the water represents the enemy nations. It is therefore appropriate on Hanukah, which celebrates the Jews’ victory over their oppressors, to place some water underneath the oil as a symbol of our triumph over tyranny.
As we know, one must add an extra candle (the "Shamosh") from which he may derive personal benefit. Since Halacha forbids deriving personal benefit from the Hanukah candles, one must add another candle so that if he does make use of the candles, he will be considered as making use of the extra candle. Even if one does not intend on using the Hanukah candles, he must nevertheless add an extra candle to demonstrate that the others were lit specifically for the Misva, and not for light.
Nowadays, it is customary to light the Hanukah candles inside the home (as opposed to Talmudic times, when the Hanukah candles were lit outside, near the entrance to the home). If a person lives on a ground floor, it is clear that he should light the Hanukah candles near a window, as they will certainly be visible to pedestrians outside. The question arises, however, as to whether somebody who lives in a high apartment should light by his window. Halacha disqualifies Hanukah candles lit higher than twenty Amot (approx. 40 feet), since at this height they are not visible to the public. Seemingly, then, those who live in high-rise apartments should not light Hanukah candles by the window. In truth, however, even in such a case one may light near the window, since these windows are generally visible to people living in adjacent apartment buildings or buildings across the street. In such a situation, then, lighting even at a height of above twenty Amot achieves "Pirsumeh Nisa" (publicizing the miracle), and one may therefore light by a window even in a high apartment.
It is preferable to position the candles at least three Tefahim (handbreadths) from the ground, and no higher than ten Tefahim. Therefore, one should not place the Hanukah candles directly on the floor. When we speak of these heights, we refer to the height of the flame itself (as opposed to the candle); the flame should, ideally, be positioned between three and ten Tefahim from the ground. One may place the candles on a window sill that is higher than ten Tefahim, since they will be visible by people outside. However, if one has the option of placing the candles on a window sill that is within ten Tefahim of the floor, he should preferably place the candles on that window sill, rather than a sill higher than ten Tefahim.
