How High Should the Menorah Be Placed?

Shailoh of the Week by Rabbi Zvi Nussbaum

Rabbinic Coordinator, Kosher Hotline Administrator for the Orthodox Union

The Shulchan Aruch in 671:6 states that preferably the menorah should be placed above 12 inches (3 tefachim) and lower than 40 inches (10 tefachim) but never higher than 20 amot (40 feet). The Mishna Berurah explains that according to the majority of the poskim, being that the main display of the menorah nowadays is for one’s family, there is no preference of lighting below 40 inches. Additionally, the poskim discuss that if one lives in a high-rise building, although his window may be higher than 40 feet, he may still light at that height if there is a high-rise building on the opposite side of the street.

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