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The Hebrew word chanukah means "dedication" and marks an eight day winter celebration (from Kislev 25 - Tevet 2) that commemorates the victory of faith over the ways of speculative reason, and demonstrates the power of the miracle in the face of mere humanism. For more information about Chanukah, click here.

Chanukiah Lighting Procedures

The tradition is that on the first night of Chanukah one flame is lit, on the second night two, and so on until the eighth night when eight flames are lit. In this way we remember the 'growth' of the miracle.

The procedures for lighting the chanukiah (Chanukah menorah) are as follows. On the first night, set the first candle in the rightmost holder (as you face the chanukiah). Next, light the shamash (servant candle), recite the Hebrew blessings, and then light the first candle using the shamash. After kindling the first candle, set the shamash in its holder. Recite the Haneirot Hallalu (see below) and begin to celebrate!

On the second night, set the candles from right to left in the chanukiah. That is, beginning at the rightmost holder, put one candle, then put another candle in the holder to its left. Next, light the shamash, recite the Hebrew blessings, and then light the candles from left to right in the chanukiah (in other words, you begin lighting the newest candle first). Recite the Haneirot Hallalu and then celebrate! This sequence continues night after night, until the eighth night, when the entire chanukiah is lit up:




Note: If a day of Chanukah occurs on a Shabbat (i.e., Friday night), you light the Chanukiah candles before lighting the Shabbat candles.

Candle Lighting Blessing

When lighting the candles for Chanukah, the following blessing (Hadlakat Nerot Chanukah) is first recited:

Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who sanctifies us
with Thy commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Chanukah.

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav, vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel chanukah.

She'asah Nissim Blessing

The following blessing is recited to recall the miracle of the Chanukah season. She-ashah nissim la'avoteinu means "who makes miracles for our fathers." There is some controversy whether this blessing should be recited before or after the Chanukah candles have been kindled:

Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe,
who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this time.

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, she'asah nissim
la'avoteinu bayamim hahem, ba-zeman hazzeh.

The Shehecheyanu Blessing

On the first night of Chanukah (only), we add the following blessing:

Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and has brought us to this special time.

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
she-hecheyanu v'ki-yemanu v'higianu lazeman hazeh.

Hanerot Hallalu - the Closing Paragraph

After one candle has been kindled, the Hanerot Hallalu may be recited while lighting the other candles:

We kindle these lights (to commemorate) the miracles and wonders and the saving acts that You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, by Your holy priests. And all throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are holy, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to behold them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvation.

Haneirot hallalu anachnu madlikin al hanissim ve'al hanifla'ot,
ve'al hateshu'ot, ve'al hamilchamot, she'asita la'avoteinu
 bayamim hahem, bazeman hazeh al yedei kohanekha hakedoshim.
Vekhol sh'monat yemei Chanukah Haneirot hallalu kodesh hem.
Ve'ein lanu reshut lihishtamesh bahem ella lir'otan bilvad
kedei lehodot ulhallel leshimkha hagadol al nisekha ve'al
nifle'otekha ve'al yeshuatekha.

Note: On Friday night the Chanukah lights are lit before the Shabbat candles (and on Saturday night they are light during Havdalah). No practical use may be made of the Chanukah lights, such as the illumination of a room: they are sacred for the occasion.

Displaying the Chanukiah

It is an old custom to display the chanukiah where its lights will be visible from the outside. Note that if you place the chanukiah near a window, the candles should appear lit right to left from the point of view of the one seeing them from outside. Many families have multiple chanukiahs, one for each child of the household, and perhaps a larger one for the entire family.





A Messianic Blessing

During Chanukah candle lighting, you may wish to recite the statement of the LORD Yeshua that He is indeed the Light of the world:

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Anokhi 'or ha-olam, ha-holeikh acharai, lo yeileikh
ba-choshekh, ki-lo 'or ha-chayim.

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