When lighting the Hanukkah menorah on the first night, there are three blessings to recite. On all other nights, there are only two. Here is the text of all three blessings in Hebrew, transliteration, and English translation.
You can download a printable PDF of the blessings recited over the Hanukkah menorah by clicking here. We’ve also embedded recordings of each blessing so you can learn one of the most common traditional tunes. Happy Hanukkah!
First Blessing
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִידְשָׁנו בְּמִצוֹתָיו וְצִיוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חַנֻכָה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
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Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy through your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Second Blessing
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Praised are you, lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors at this season.
Third Blessing
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָּנוּ, וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיָּענוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah adonai elohenu melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh
Praised are you, lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.
Click here to download a printable PDF of the blessings recited over the Hanukkah menorah.
Want more information about lighting the Hanukkah menorah? Click here for everything you need to know about where to place your menorah, what time to do the ritual, and which direction to light.
Learn more about the basics of Hanukkah from Mayim Bialik and Kveller.com.
Explore Hanukkah’s history, global traditions, food and more with My Jewish Learning’s “All About Hanukkah” email series. Sign up to take a journey through Hanukkah and go deeper into the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah
Pronounced: KHAH-nuh-kah, also ha-new-KAH, an eight-day festival commemorating the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. Falls in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds with December.
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menorah
Pronounced: muh-NOHR-uh, Origin: Hebrew, a lamp or candelabra, often used to refer to the Hanukkah menorah, or Hanukkiah.
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