Hanukkah 5772 - December 20 - 28, 2011
Hanukkah begins on Tuesday night, December 20,
and continues for eight days.
The final candles are lit on Tuesday night, December 27
(see the bottom portion of this page for more information on the Hanukkah holiday)
The Macabeats: "Candlelight"
The Holiday of Hanukkah
Lighting Hanukkah Lights
On Friday evening, the Hanukkah candles should be lit immediately before the
Shabbat candles. On Saturday evening, the Hanukkah candles should be lit after Havdallah.
Place the candles in the chanukiah from right to left, beginning with one the first night and adding one more each night. Light the shamash (the highest candle) first. Say the Hanukkah brakhot. Then use the shamash to light the other candles, from left to right.
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kid-shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Chanukah.
Praised are You Adonai our God, who rules the universe, instilling in us the holiness of mitzvot by commanding us to light the lights of Hanukkah.
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, she-asah nissim la’avoteinu
ba-yamim ha-hem uva-z’man ha-zeh.
Praised are You Adonai our God, who rules the universe, accomplishing
miracles for our ancestors from ancient days until our time.
On the first night, add:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, she-heheyanu v’kiy’manu
v’higi-anu la-z’man hazeh.
Praised are You Adonai our God, who rules the universe, granting us life,
sustaining us, and enabling us to reach this day.
After lighting it is traditional to read the prayer Haneirot Halalu, which declares
these candles holy, used to commemorate the miraculous victories of Hanukkah
and not to provide light for everyday use. Haneirot Halalu is found on page 308
of Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals. Here is a meditation based on
this prayer:
We kindle lights to recall the great and wonderful deeds done by You, Lord our
God, through the Maccabees. May the light of these candles remind us to look
to You, source of our help. We remember those who came before us who made
every sacrifice to keep the light of Your truth burning brightly. May we and our
children be inspired by their example so that Israel may continue to be a light to
the world in the ways of righteousness and truth.
Amen.
Additional Resources:
MyJewishLearning.com - Hanukkah
Hazon - Hanukkah and the Environment
JewishEncyclopedia.com - Online Jewish Encyclopedia
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