Chanukah Stuff

Happy Chanukah!

 

 

The Festival of Lights begins on Tuesday evening, December 4 and ends at sunset on Wednesday, December 12.

 

Temple Beth Or wishes all of our members and friends a joyous Chanukah. We hope that you will join us for our special Shabbat in Chanukah celebration on December 7. You are invited to bring a chanukiyah (Chanukah menorah) and candles.

 

 

Below are general guidelines for lighting the menorah and saying the blessings at home. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Rabbi Rebecca Lillian at RebeccaLillian@aol.com.

 

 

Ritual for lighting the Chanukah candles:

For each night of  Chanukah, there is one candle plus the shamash, or “servant” candle, increasing by one candle per night. Candles should be placed in the menorah from right to left as the holiday progresses.

Light the shamash first, and then recite the blessings. On the first night of Chanukah, there are three blessings. On the remaining seven nights, there are two.

 

1. On each night, say:

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Chanukah.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who makes us holy through mitzvot, sacred tasks, such as lighting the Chanukah candles.

2. Followed by:

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she'asah nisim lavotaynu bayamim hahaym bazman hazeh.

3. On the first night only, add:

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she-he-cheyanu vekimanu vehigiyanu lazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and helped us to reach this day.

 

Using the shamash to light the other candles, lighting from left to right. In other words, the left most candle stands for the current night of Chanukah, and you begin there each night.

After you have lit the candles, you might wish to meditate on the following prayer, called Hanerot Hallalu.

We light these candles to remind us of the miracles and wonders that You performed for our ancestors in ancient days, through the agency of the holy priests. These flames are sacred and unique to the Chanukah festival, and so we don’t use them as simple light to work or read by.  Instead, we will simply gaze at them in wonder, recalling Your reputation as a God who makes miracles, does wonders, and delivers our people.