This post was prepared for the public menorah lighting on the Taunton Green, 5786/2025. For more details on how to light your own Hanukkah lights, visit www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-candle-lighting-ceremony.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה. | Baruch ata Adonai, Elo-heinu melech ha-olam, v’tzi-vanu l’had-lik ner shel Chanukkah. |
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, sovereign of time and space, instilling in us the holiness of the mitzvot by commanding us to light the lights of Hanukkah.
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בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה | Baruch ata Adonai, Elo-heinu melech ha-olam, sh’asah nisim l’avoteinu bayamim ha-hem baz’man ha-zeh |
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, sovereign of time and space, accomplishing miracles for our ancestors from ancient days until our time.
On the first night:
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בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָּנוּ, וְקִיְּמָנוּ, וְהִגִּיָּענוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה | Baruch ata Adonai, Elo-heinu melech ha-olam, she-hecheyanu, v’kiyemanu, v’higi-anu laz’man hazeh! |
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, sovereign of time and space, granting us life, sustaining us, and enabling us to reach this day!
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הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אָנוּ מַדְלִיקִין עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶה | Hanerot halalu anu madlikin Al hanisim v’al hanifla-ot V’al hatshu-ot v’al hamilchamot, She-asita lavoteinu Bayamim haheim, bazman hazeh. |
We kindle these lights for the miracles and the wonders for the redemption and the battles which You performed for our forefathers In those days at this season.
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By Peter Yarrow
Light one candle for the Maccabee children
Give thanks that their light didn’t die
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand
And light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker’s time is at hand
Don’t let the light go out!
It’s lasted for so many years
Don’t let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears
Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suffering
The pain we learned so long ago
Light one candle for all we believe in
Let anger not tear us apart!
Light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart
Don’t let the light go out!
It’s lasted for so many years!
Don’t let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears
What is the memory that’s valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What’s the commitment to those who have died
When we cry out they’ve not died in vain
We have come this far, always believing
That justice will somehow prevail
This is the burning, this is the promise
And this is why we will not fail
Don’t let the light go out!
It’s lasted for so many years
Don’t let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears
Don’t let the light go out!
It’s lasted for so many years
(so many years!)
Don’t let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears
Don’t let the light go out!
Don’t let the light go out!
Don’t let the light go out!
