CHANUKAH BLESSINGS

Each night, candles are placed in themenorah, also called the chanukiah (a nine-branched candelabra), from right to left. The shamash (taller helper) candle is lit first each night. Then the blessings are recited, after which the shamash is used to light the other candles, moving from left to right so that the newest candles is lit first each night. According to theTalmud, the chanukiah is placed in front of the house or a window for all to see, unless such exposure might

be endangering (Babylonian TalmudShabbat21b).

Kavannah/Intention before lighting candles:

נר אלהים נשמת אדם The light of God is the human soul. —Proverbs 20:27

Read aloud: As we light each candle, we remember the souls whose light has been extinguished too soon because of police violence. As we create more and more light each night of Chanukah, we commit ourselves to working for police accountability and an end to the systemic racism that has led to the death of too many divine lights.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵנוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲׁשֶר קִדְּׁשָנוּ בְּמִצְווֹתָיו וצְִוּנָו

לְהַדְלִיק נרֵ שֶל חֲנכָֻּה

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai, E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam, a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav, ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-liknerCha-nu-kah.

Blessed are You, Source of All Light, who makes us holy through your mitzvot, and who instructs us to kindle the Chanukah light.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵנוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶעָשָׂה נסִִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיּמִָים הַהֵם בַּזּמְַן הַזּהֶ

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai, E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam,

she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem ba-zman ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, Soure of All Light, who performed miracles for our ancestors in their days at this time.


Service Section: Lifecycle & Milestones 
Source: ritualwell.org