December 20

Happy Hanukkah!!! 

 

 Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and to celebrate I fashioned a Menorah for myself and my roommate.I looked up the blessings and read them in English to us while lighting the candles. Neither of us is Jewish, well she is engaged to a Jewish guy, but we can both celebrate holidays from a variety of backgrounds.

Blessing for the Lighting of the Candles:

"Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights."

Blessing for the miracles of Hanukkah:

"Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time..."

Hanerot Halalu

"We light these lights for the miracles and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers, in those days at this season, through your holy priests. During all eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them except for to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations."