Hanukkah Blessings

Process for Lighting Hanukkah CandlesEach year, candles are lit during the eight nights and days of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.  It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.  The animation to the left shows how the candles are to be lit each of the eight nights.  Below are blessings that should be recited during Hanukkah, as the candles are lit each night.

Menorah with Hanukkah Candles

Blessing over Candles
Hebrew Characters Hebrew and English Translations


Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha‘olam
asher kidishanu b‘mitz‘votav v‘tzivanu
l‘had‘lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amein)


Blessed are you, Lord, our God, Sovereign of the universe,
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and
commanded us to light the lights of Hanukkah. (Amen)

Blessing for Chanukah
Hebrew Characters Hebrew and English Translations


Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha‘olam
she‘asah nisim la‘avoteinu bayamim
haheim baziman hazeh. (Amein)


Blessed are you, Lord, our God, Sovereign of the universe,
Who performed miracles for our ancestors
in those days, at this season. (Amen)

Shehecheyanu (first night only)
Hebrew Characters Hebrew and English Translations


Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha‘olam
shehecheyanu v‘kiyimanu v‘higi‘anu
laz'man hazeh. (Amein)


Blessed are you, Lord, our God, Sovereign of the universe,
who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us
to reach this season. (Amen)