Hanukkah Lights
Looking for some info on Hanukkah? Here is a little bit of content, including prayers for lighting of the candles. Hanukkah, (Chanukka), is also known as the Festival of Lights. It’s an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd Century BCE.
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December.
The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the Hanukiah, or Hanukkah Menorah, one on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a shamash, (meaning guard or servant) is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, usually higher or lower than the others.
Hanukkah is mentioned in the books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. 1 Maccabees states: “For eight days they celebrated the re-dedication of the altar. Then Judah and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the re-dedication… should be observed… every year… for eight days. (1 Mac.4:56-59)” According to 2 Maccabees, “the Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the feast of Booths.”
Lighting the Lights
Hanukkah lights should burn for at least one half hour after it gets dark. The custom of the Vilna Gaon observed by many residents of Jerusalem as the custom of the city, is to light at sundown, although most Hassidim light later, even in Jerusalem. Many Hasidic Rebbes light much later, because they fulfill the obligation of publicizing the miracle by the presence of their Hasidim when they kindle the lights.
Blessings over the candles
Typically three blessings (Brachot singular Brachah) are recited during this eight-day festival. On the first night of Hanukkah, Jews recite all three blessings, on all subsequent nights, they recite only the first two.
The blessings are said before or after the candles are lit depending on tradition. On the first night of Hanukkah one light (candle, lamp, or electric) is lit on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first candle and so on, proceeding from right to left each night.
The First Blessing
Sung all eight nights just prior to lighting the candles:
Blessed are You,
Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu Melech ha’o'lam
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav
v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir (shel) chanukah
The Second Blessing
Sung all eight nights just prior to lighting the candles:
Blessed are You,
Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors,
in those days, at this moment.
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu Melech ha’o'lam
she-asah nisim la-avoteinu,
bayamim haheim, (u)baz’man hazeh.
The Third Blessing
Sung only on the first night just prior to lighting the candles:
Blessed are You,
Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who has kept us in life, sustained us,
and brought us to this moment.
Baruch atah Adonai
Eloheinu Melech ha’o'lam
sheh’heh’cheh’ya’nu veh’ki’yeh’ma’nu
veh’he’g'a’nu laz’man ha’zeh.
Hanerot Halalu
While the lights are kindled the Hanerot Halalu prayer is subsequently recited.
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.
Hanneirot hallalu anachnu madlikin ‘al hannissim ve’al hanniflaot ‘al hatteshu’ot ve’al hammilchamot she’asita laavoteinu bayyamim haheim, (u)bazzeman hazeh ‘al yedei kohanekha hakkedoshim. Vekhol-shemonat yemei Hanukkah hanneirot hallalu kodesh heim, ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtammesh baheim ella lir’otam bilvad kedei lehodot ul’halleil leshimcha haggadol ‘al nissekha ve’al nifleotekha ve’al yeshu’otekha
Source: Wikipedia