On which side of the door should the Hanukkah menorah be placed?

The Hanukkah menorah should be placed on the left side of the door when it is being displayed at a doorway. This position puts it opposite the mezuzah, which is traditionally fixed on the right-hand doorpost.

The arrangement comes from Jewish legal tradition and is associated with the Talmudic discussion of Hanukkah lights. The menorah’s placement is meant to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, so it is traditionally positioned near an entrance facing the street or in a visible window when circumstances allow.

The Hanukkah lamp is technically a hanukkiah: it has eight places for the holiday lights plus a separate shamash, or helper light, used to kindle them. One additional festival light is lit on each successive night, producing eight nights of illumination.

The answer describes the doorway custom, not every modern household arrangement. Some families use a window instead, and safety or local conditions may determine the exact location. “Left side” is judged from the perspective of someone entering the home.