Hanukkah

This year, 2016, Hanukkah will begin with the first candle on Saturday evening, December 24th and end with the eighth candle on Saturday evening, December 31st. There are three community-wide celebrations this year for MKT. On Saturday night, December 24th, JFSA will have their annual Menorah Lighting at Opportunity Village. On Sunday December 25th we will have Chinese food and a movie beginning at 5:00 PM. On Monday, December 26th, we will have the Henderson Jewish community Menorah Lighting at the District at 5:30 PM.

Directions for Candle lighting:

On the first night, the light to the extreme right is kindled. On each subsequent night, a new light is added to the left of the previous night’s lights. The new light is always kindled first, the one to its right second, and so on.

The Hanukkah lights must burn for at least half an hour each night and should be kindled as soon as possible after nightfall. On Friday before the beginning of the Shabbat the Hanukkah lights are kindled first, then the Shabbat candles.

Before kindling the lights, say the following Blessings:

Baruch atta ado-nai elo-heinu melech ho’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe whose mitzvoth add holiness to our lives and who gave us the mitzvah to light the lights of Chanukah.

Baruch atta ado-nai elo-heinu melech ho’olam sheasa nissim laavoteinu, baya-mim hahem, bazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who accomplished miracles for our ancestors in ancient days, at this season.

Say the following Blessing on the first evening only:

Baruch atta ado-nai elo-heinu melech ha’olam she’hechyanu v’kimanu v’higi’-anu lazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, for granting us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this day.

On all nights add:

Haneirot halolu anu madlikin al hanisim v’al hanifla’ot v’al hatshuot v’al hamil-chamot sheasita l’avoteinu ba yamim ha’-haim bazman hazeh al yedei kohanecha hakadoshim, v’chol shmonat y’mei chanukah haneirot halolu kodesh heim, v’ein lanu r’shut l’hishtameish bahem ela lirotam bilvad, kdei l’hodot u’lehallel l’shim-cha hagadol al nissecha v’al niflotecha v’al y’shuotecha.

These lights we kindle to recall the wondrous triumphs and the miraculous victories wrought through your holy kohanim for our ancestors in ancient days at this season. These lights are sacred through all the eight days of Hanukkah. We may not put them to ordinary use, but are to look upon them and thus be reminded to thank and praise You for the wondrous miracle of our deliverance.

Happy Hanukkah!!!