סִדּוּר · Siddur

The Lighting of the Menorah

The Lighting of the Menorah is part of the Chanukah service of the traditional weekday siddur. The full Hebrew text with English translation appears below; open it in the free interactive siddur to follow along.

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The Chanukah lights are kindled each of the eight nights — one the first night, two the second, and so on — using a separate shamash. Each night recite the first two blessings; on the first night add the third (Shehecheyanu). Kindle the newest light first, from left to right.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה:

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

On the first night of Chanukah, add the following blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe,

שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ

who has granted us life, sustained us,

וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה:

and enabled us to reach this occasion.

After kindling the lights, say:

הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אָנוּ מַדְלִיקִין, עַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת, וְעַל הַנִּסִּים, וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת, שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, עַל־יְדֵי כֹּהֲנֶֽיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וְכָל־שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה, הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ הֵם, וְאֵין לָֽנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן, אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָן בִּלְבָד, כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל, עַל נִסֶּֽיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעוֹתֶֽךָ:

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.

Hebrew text follows the traditional vocalized siddur. Provided for personal prayer and study. Part of a family of free Jewish apps.