Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. To commemorate the event, each night during the eight-day festival a special prayer and special lighting ceremony is observed in which a candle-filled Menorah is lit by adding one new candle each night. Lighting the Menorah can be a very special part of the Hanukkah celebrations, and it begins with a special prayer that marks the start of the ceremony.
The prayer that is traditionally said before lighting the Menorah is known as the “Blessing over the Candles.” The prayer honors the Hanukkah story and the observance of the eight-day festival. While there are many versions of the prayer, they all share the intention of offering thanks to God and expressing the joy of the season.
The Bracha
The Hebrew word for the blessing is “Bracha” or “Blessing”. The traditional Bracha said before lighting the Menorah is:
- Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
This prayer translates as:
- “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with His commandments and commands us to light the Hanukkah lights.”
Other Versions of the Blessing
The traditional Bracha is often modified slightly by various Jewish communities and congregations to best reflect the beliefs or traditions of the community. For example, the prayer may be translated into English in order to make the prayer more accessible to non-Hebrew speakers. A common English translation of the Bracha is:
- Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.
In some cases, a second prayer may also be said. The additional prayer is intended to give thanks for the miraculous oil that burned in the temple for eight days. It is called the “Shehechiyanu” prayer and it is as follows:
- Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, she-hechiyanu, v’kiymanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.
This prayer translates as:
- “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.”
The lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah is an important and meaningful ceremony that allows us to commemorate the holiday and acknowledge its role in Jewish history. Prayers are often an important part of the ceremony, and there are several versions of these prayers that reflect the diverse practices of the worldwide Jewish community. By saying the blessings before lighting the Menorah, we are celebrating the Festival of Lights and expressing our appreciation for our precious traditions.
Related Products:
- What Is The Prayer For Lighting Hanukkah Candles?
- What Is The Prayer For Hanukkah?
- What Is The Prayer For The First Night Of Hanukkah?
- What Do You Say When Lighting Hanukkah Candles?
- Who Was The First President To Recognize Hanukkah With A Menorah Lighting?
- Which U.s. President Was The First To Recognize Hanukkah With A Menorah Lighting At The White House?
- What Time Is Hanukkah Candle Lighting?
- What Is The Hanukkah Prayer?
- What To Say When Lighting Hanukkah Candles?
- What Does The Hanukkah Prayer Mean?
- What Is The Hanukkah Prayer In English?
- What Does The Hanukkah Prayer Mean In English?
- When To Light The Menorah For Hanukkah?
- Hanukkah Menorah How To Light?
- What Time Is Candle Lighting For Hanukkah?
Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.