חֲנֻכָּה
The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication.” We celebrate Hanukkah each year during the eight days from Kislev 25 through Tevet 2 (Evening of Dec 2 through evening of Dec 10th) to remember the re-dedication of the Holy Temple after it was recovered from the Syrian-Greeks during the second century BCE. The Holy Land had been captured by the Selucids who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs. A small band of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated the Greeks and drove them from the land.
Once they reclaimed the Holy Temple, they rededicated it to the service of G*d. The original Altar had been defiled by the Greeks, so the builders replaced it with a new one. When they began to rededicate the altar, they only had one cruse of olive oil to fuel it for the eight days needed to collect and prepare new oil under conditions of ritual purity. Miraculously, the one cruse of oil lasted the entire eight days. For this reason, the Menorah is lit progressively over the eight days of Hanukkah to celebrate the re-dedication miracle every year.
Hanukkah Blessings
First Night:
* Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech Ha-olam Asher Kiddeeshonu Be-mitzvasov Vi-tsivonu Lehadlik Ner Shel Chunukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melek Ha-olam She-asa Nissim La-avoteynu Ba-yamim Ha-hem Ba-zzman Ha-zzeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.)
* Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melek Ha-olam Sha-hekheeyonu Ve-keeyeemonu Ve-heeggee’onu La-zzman Ha-zzeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.)
Hanukkah Blessing — Second night.
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem
ba-zeman ha-zeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.)
Hanukkah Blessing — Third Night:
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem
ba-zeman ha-zeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.).
Hanukkah Blessing — Fourth Night:
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem
ba-zeman ha-zeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.)
Hanukkah Blessing — Fifth Night:
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem
ba-zeman ha-zeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.)
Hanukkah Blessing — Sixth Night:
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
she-asa nisim la-avotenu ba-yamim ha-hem
ba-zeman ha-zeh.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe,
Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.)
Hanukkah Blessing — Seventh Night:
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
( Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
Hanukkah Blessing — Eighth Night:
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
(Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)
* Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam
asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik
ner shel Hanukah.
( Blessed are you, Lord our G*d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.)