We recite the Shehechiyanu blessing with broken hearts, our voices breaking for all who have not yet returned and all of those who are no longer. We recite the blessings for the miracles of those days, and cry out against the human actions, the decisions in the hands of our leaders, all that is still not happening in this time. When we recite “Who sanctified us with the mitzvot and commanded us to kindle the light,” every candle in our menorah will also be a light of hope, of perseverance, of the highest moral demand, a light of salvation, a light that strives to embrace and illuminate the dimmed and downcast souls of our sisters and brothers in suffering and captivity, of every innocent person whose soul-light is threatened by this war – Ner Adonai nishmat adam – The light of the Eternal, the soul of a person. Every person.
Blessing for lighting the candles:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.
Baruch are You Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who makes us holy with mitzvot, commanding us to light a Chanukah candle.
Blessing for the miracles:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם – בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Blessed are You Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who wrought miracles for our ancestors in those days at this season.
When lighting the first candle we also recite the Shehechiyanu: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Blessed are You Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this moment.
Counting the days
since Shemini-Atzeret, October 7th, may be included here: with the 1st candle – today it is 447 of captivity and war; 2nd candle – 448, 3rd candle – 449, 4th candle – 450, 5th candle – 451, 6th candle – 452, 7th candle – 453, 8th candle – 454.
“Hanerot halalu,” These candles which we light this Chanukah are for true brotherhood and sisterhood, for responsibility, for perseverance, and for our insistence on the value of the life of every human being. If we do not do this ourselves, in these days and in this time, we will have no right to be ourselves anymore, there will be no point to any of the miracles and wonders that our fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, and we ourselves, fulfilled in our days.
We have come to expel darkness. We hold in our hands the light of love and of peace. Each of us is a small light, but together we are a powerful light.
Together we will increase the light in the world and bring everyone home, even during these days of Chanukah. Everyone – now!