On Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, we light candles each night to celebrate the miracle which God performed for the Maccabees. We begin with one candle on the first night, and add one candle each night for eight nights. In addition, we light an extra candle each night, the shamash, which we use to light the other candles.

The candles should be added to the Menorah from the right to the left, but they are lit from left to right.

The following blessings are said each night with the lit shamash in hand, and the candles are lit immediately after reciting the blessings.

The first two blessings are sung every night, the third is added only on the first night. After lighting the candles, two songs are sung: Hanerot Hallalu and Ma'oz Tzur.

The First Blessing:


Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu be-mitzvotav ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Chanukah.

Praised are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.

 
 
 

The Second Blessing:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha-olam, she-asah nisim la'avoteynu, ba-yamim ha-hem, ba-zman ha-zeh.

Praised are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the universe, Who performed wondrous deeds for our fathers, in ancient days, at this season.


 

On the first night of Chanukah, the following special blessing is also recited:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha-olam, she-heche'yanu, ve-kiy'manu, ve-hig'anu la-zman ha-zeh.

Praised are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.



All of us here at VirtualJerusalem.com wish you a wonderful, fun Chanukah! Chag Sameach!