12/20/2019
Chanukah Candles
This Sunday, December 22, is the first night of Chanukah!
Why We Light the Menorah
Some 2100 years ago the Land of Israel came under the rule of the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus, who issued a series of decrees designed to force his Hellenistic ideology and rituals upon the Jewish people. He outlawed the study of Torah and the observance of its commands, and defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem with Greek idols.
A small, vastly outnumbered band of Jews waged battle against the mighty Greek armies, and drove them out of the land. When they reclaimed the Holy Temple, on the 25th of Kislev, they wished to light the Temple’s menorah (candelabrum), only to discover that the Greeks had contaminated virtually all the oil. All that remained was one cruse of pure oil, enough to last one night—and it would take eight days to procure new, pure oil.
Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted eight days and nights, and the holiday of Chanukah was established.
To commemorate and publicize these miracles, we light the Chanukah menorah (also known as a Chanukiyah) on each of the eight nights of Chanukah. This year, we start lighting the menorah on Sunday night December 22nd, 2019.
The Lighting of The Menorah
1. Arrange the lights on the menorah. Ensure that there is enough oil, or that the candles are big enough, for the lights to burn for half an hour. On the first night, set one candle to the far right of the menorah. On the following night, add a second light to the left of the first one, and then add one light each night of Chanukah - moving from right to left.
2. Gather everyone in the house around the menorah.
3. Light the shamash candle. Then hold it in your right hand (unless you are left-handed).
4. While standing, recite the appropriate blessings.
5. Light the candles. Each night, light the newest (left-most) candle first and continue lighting from left to right.
The Blessings
Before lighting the Chanukah candles, we thank G‑d for giving us this special mitzvah, and for the incredible Chanukah miracles:
בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה ' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר של חֲנוּכָּה
Baruj ata Adonai Elohenu melej haolam, Asher kideshanu bemitzvotav, Vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Januca.
בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה 'אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם
בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruj ata Adonai Elohenu melej haolam, Sheasa nisim laavotenu, Baiamim hahem bazman haze.
On the first night of Chanukah, (or the first time on Chanukah you perform this mitzvah), add the following blessing:
בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה 'אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְמָנוּ וְהִגִּעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruj ata Adonai Elohenu melej haolam, Shehejeianu vekiymanu Vehigianu lazman haze.
CHANUKAH SAMEACH!!
