Rabbis Shammai and Hillel, Shammai famously argued about many points of practice, including the lighting of the hanukkiah.  Shammai maintained that we should start with all eight candles and light one candle less each evening to mark the days of Hanukkah left to come. Hillel insisted that we should light an additional candle to symbolize the days already fulfilled as well as increase our experience of holiness and not diminish it.  Looks like Hillel won that one…

Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Barbara