Before kindling the lights, recite:
- Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Cha-nu-kah.
Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah.
A Quick Thought: The first blessing we say, "Who has sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanuka light," should be the guiding principle in our lives -- to fulfill G-d's commandments.
- Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-o-so Ni-sim La-avo-sei-nu Ba-yo-mim Ho-heim Bi-z'man Ha-zeh.
Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.
A Quick Thought: The second blessing, "Who wrought miracles for our forefathers in those days at this season," should also guide us in that if we find it difficult, in the natural order of things, to do a mitzva, we should not feel discouraged, for G-d performed miracles for our ancestors and performs miracles for us.
The following blessing is said only on the first evening (or the first time one kindles the lights this Chanukah):
- Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.
Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.
A Quick Thought: A third blessing (said only the first time one lights the menora), "Who has kept us alive and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season," encourages us to fulfill the mitzvot with joy and thanksgiving to G-d.
After Kindling The Lights, Haneiros Hallalu Is Recited.
Translation of Haneiros Hallalu:
We kindle these lights (to commemorate) the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, through Your holy kohanim. Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvations.
A Quick Thought: After the Chanuka menora lighting, the evening service containing the "Al HaNissim" prayer is recited.
- This prayer emphasizes that although we are "weak" and "few" we are a holy nation; G-d not only performs miracles for us but "miracles, deliverance, mighty acts, salvations, wonders...a great salvation and deliverance."
- "Al HaNissim" further teaches that although we have to do what we can in the natural way, we must also have absolute trust in G-d, for success is from G-d.
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