by Grace Araujo Kolman

Created on: November 22, 2009

"Blessed is the match consumed in kindling flame.

Blessed is the flame that burns in the heart's secret places.

Blessed is the heart with strength to stop beating for honor's sake.

Blessed is the match consumed in kindling flame."*

This is one of the many traditional blessings of the Jewish liturgy.

In the first night of Hanukkah, one places the candles in the Menorah from right to left, and kindles from left to right. Then this blessing is said:

"Ba-ruch a-ta A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu

me-lech ha-o-lam, she-hecheyanu,

v'ki-y'manu, v'higi-anu

la-z'man hazeh."

"We praise You, Eternal One, Sovereign God of the universe,

for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to

reach this season."

Then in the subsequent days, for seven more nights, once again, the family all together, places the candles in the Menorah from right to left, and kindles from left to right. Then this blessing is said:

"Ba-ruch a-ta A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu

me-lech ha-o-lam, a-sher

ki-d'sha-un b'mitz-vo-tav v'tzi-va-un

l'had-lik ner shel Chanukah"

"We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe:

You hallow us with Your Mitzvot,

and command us to kindle the Hanukkah lights."

Then the family can have a small celebration with latkes, songs and more prayers, like the ones below:

1. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light."

2. "Though I fall, I shall rise; though I sit in darkness, God shall be a light to me.

3. "For You light my lamp; the everlasting God makes bright my darkness.

4. "Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; for the one who is gracious, compassionate, and just.

5. "God is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?

6. "For the Mitzvah is a lamp, and Torah is light.

7. "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and God's splendor shall dawn upon you."

8. "O House of Jacob, come, let us walk by the light of our God.

Then, after reciting these verses, the following is sung:

"We kindle these lights in remembrance of the wondrous deliverance You inspired our ancestors to struggle for and to attain. During the eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred, we are not to use them but only to gaze upon them, so that their glow may rouse us to give thanks for Your wondrous saving power." *

Every year when Jewish families kindle Hanukkah candles, in every single part of the world, they are linked by an everlasting faith, by Hebrew prayers, and by the eternal love for the eternal God.

* All the prayers in this article are from the New Union Prayer Book - Gates of Prayer. New York, 1975.

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