Hanukkah 2017 begins in the evening of Tuesday, 12 December ad ends in the evening of Wednesday , 20 December. Here, we bring you the traditional Hannukah Blessings as the Menorah is lit during this Jewish festival.
Hanukkah Blessings
Candles are added to the hanukkiyah (menorah) from right to left but are kindled from left to right.
The newest candle is lit first. (On the Shabbat of Hanukkah, kindle the Hanukkah lights first and then the Shabbat candles.)
Light the shamash (the helper candle) first, using it to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights. As you do, say or sing:
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season.
For first night only:
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higianu laz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.
Hanerot Halalu
We kindle these lights because of the wondrous deliverance You performed for our ancestors. During these eight days of Hanukkah, these lights are sacred; we are not to use them but only to behold them, so that their glow may rouse us to give thanks for Your wondrous acts of deliverance.
What is the correct way to light the Hanukkah menorah?
A menorah refers to a candelabrum, usually one with seven branches. A hanukiyyah is a menorah used specifically on Hanukkah, which includes eight branches, one for each day of the holiday, and one extra branch for the shamash (servant) candle that is used to light the other candles.
Blessings are recited over lighting the candles. One candle is lit for each night. The candle for the first night is put on the right side of hanukiyyah. On each subsequent night, an additional candle is placed to the immediate left of the previous night’s candle, and the candles are lit from left to right, so that the kindling begins with the newest light. Since these lights are holy, it is forbidden to make practical use of them; therefore, a special shamash (servant) candle is used to light the others.
