Service for Lighting the Menorah at Home - December 1998

"The lights of Hanukkah are a symbol of our joy. In time of darkness, our ancestors had the courage to struggle for freedom to be themselves, freedom to worship in their own way. Theirs was the victory of the weak over the strong, the few over the many, and the righteous over the arrogant. It was a victory for all ages and all peoples. Let the lights we kindle shine forth for the world. May they illuminate our lives, even as they fill us with gratitude that our faith has been saved from extinction time and again."

Baruch ata Ah-do-nai Eh-lo-hat'nu Melech Ha'olam, asher kid'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav vetzi-va-nu- l'had-lik nayr shel Hanukkah
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.

Baruch ata Ah-do-nai Eh-lo-haynu Melech Ha'olam, she'asa ni'sim Ia'avotaynu ba'ya'mim ha'haym ba'zyman ha-zeh
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in days of old at this time of the year.

(On the first night only)

Baruch ata Ah-do-nai Eh-lo-haynu Melech Ha'olam, she-he-che-ya-nu, v'ki'y'ma'nu, v'hi'gi'a'nu la'zman ha'zeh
Blessed are you, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to celebrate this season.

CREATING HANUKKAH TRADITIONS (Try one of these or create your own)

In today's world, it is sometimes difficult to separate the commercialism of the holidays with the true spirit of Hanukkah. Below are some ideas for you to consider so you might enrich your Festival of Lights.

1. Select a theme for each night. When lighting candles, do an appropriate activity relating to that theme:

a. Family: Share old pictures, stories, and traditions.
b. Miracles: Cut pictures out of magazines and make a collage of miracles.
c. Jerusalem: (Where the first Hanukkah took place) Use picture books from the library to share Jerusalem Of Gold pictures. Draw your own skyline.
d. Tzedakah: Decide as a family a special tzedakah project you can do together and/or dedicate a night when "gift money" is used for "tzedakah gelt."

2. Put aside one can of food for each candle during Hanukkah and donate them to a Food Shelf.

3. Celebrate Jewish tradition by selecting eight important Jewish items in your home (from cookbooks to candlesticks). Place each one near the chanukiah each night and share why it is important.

4. Give your children, family members and friends a "gift of love" each day of Hanukkah (a thought, letter, special outing).

5. Write your own Hanukkah songs, poems, or stories - keep them from year to year!

6. Because this is a holiday of light, eat one meal by candlelight.

7. Tradition tells us we should light one chanukiah for every family member. Let each member of your family have or make their own.

8. Keep an empty chanukiah next to your lit one in commemoration of those Jews who are not yet free to light their own.

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