HANEIROT HALALU / These Special Candles
A Service for Lighting the Chanukah Candles
Rabbi Lewis John Eron, Ph.D.
Chanukah 2018 / 5779
Opening Meditations
Today we gather to honor those who strive for freedom.
We honor those like Eliezar the Priest and Hannah and her seven sons, martyrs to the cause of freedom.
We honor those like Mattathais who perish on the way to freedom.
We honor those like Eliezer, his son, who die in the struggle to freedom.
We honor those like Judah the Maccabee who lead us in the fight for freedom.
We honor our ancestors who gave us the dream of freedom.
As we summon each other to prayer:
בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ.
בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
Barchu et Adonai hamevorach!
Baruch Adonai hamevorach leolam vaed!
Let us jointly praise the Eternal – the Blessed One!
Blessed is the Eternal for ever and ever!
READINGS
First Night – AL HANISSIM
We thank you for the wonders, the heroic acts, the victories, and the miracles, which You performed for our ancestors in those days at this season. In the days of the priest Mattathias, the son of Yochanan the Hasmonean and his sons, the kingdom ruled by Antiochus oppressed your people by making them forget Your Torah. But in their great time of need, You showed your great mercy when You stood up for them. Your heard their plea and judged their case. You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak and the many into the hands of the few. You made your fame great throughout the world by enabling your people to emerge victorious on that day. Afterwards, they entered into the holy heart of Your house and cleansed Your Temple and lit the lights in Your sacred courts. They established Chanukah, our eight-day festival of dedication, to thank You and honor Your name.
Second Night – THE FIRST CHANUKAH – (Adapted from 2 Maccabees, chapter 10)
When Judah the Maccabee and his followers, with God leading them on, recovered the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, they begin to restore their sacred shrine to the worship of God. So it happened that they finished purifying Temple on the anniversary of the very same day when the holy place had been first profaned by the Greeks the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev. Judah the Maccabee and his followers and all the Jews celebrated the purification of the Temple for eight days. They rejoiced just as they would have rejoiced on the Festival of Sukkot which took place only a few months earlier had they not been wandering around like wild beasts in the mountains and caves. Then Judah and the Maccabees all voted that the entire Jewish people should celebrate these days commemorating the rededication of the Temple, Chanukah, every year forever.
Third Night – HOW TO LIGHT THE CHANUKIYAH – (Talmud, Shabbat 21b)
Our sages taught: The mitzvah of Chanukah requires only one lamp for each household. The more enthusiastic may light a lamp for each and every one in the home.
But how does one light the lamps? The Disciples of Shammai, Beit Shammai, say: “ On the first day one lights eight lights, and from then on one continually subtracts one the number.” However, the Disciples of Hillel, Beit Hillel say: “The first day one lights one light and from there on adds one light per day.
Rabbi Ulla said: “Two teachers, R. Yossi bar Abin and R. Yossi bar Zevida, from the Land of Israel discussed on how to explain this disagreement between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai.
One said: Shammai’s disciples argued that one counts down each day from eight to one according to the number of days left in the festival. Since there was less oil each day, the number of lights should be reduced each day. On the other hand, the Hillel’s disciples argued that the practice was according to the number of days that have passed, thinking thought that the miracle grew each day, so we add a light each day.
The other said: The followers of Shammai based their position on the number of bulls offered as sacrifices on Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, since Chanukah was a “second” Sukkot. Hillel’s followers, however, argued that we increase the number of lights each day, because we try to increase the feeling of holiday and not decrease it.
Fourth Night – OR HA-GANUZ – (Rabbi Michael Strassfeld)
The menorah reminds us of the miracle that no matter how dark life may be, there remains a source of light deep inside of us. The light in our souls reflects and refracts the light from the One who is all brightness. This light can accompany us on our way and illuminate the darkest path. We need not walk through life’s paths stumbling over obstacles as though we were blind. The plagues of darkness is all around us, but the light is there for those who continue to fan its flame. This is why the light of the menorah is holy and is not to be used for worldly things. Its light is not for reading, nor for counting money, but for seeing into the soul. The B’nei Yissacher, (a nineteenth century Hasidic rebbe) says that on Hanukkah we are given a part of the or ha-ganuz – the primordial light, which has been hidden away since Creation and is preserved for the righteous in the world to come. With this light, you could see from one end of the earth to the other. With this light, we are not allowed to kindle mundane lights; we can kindle only other holy lights – the souls within each of us. [Michael Strassfeld, The Jewish Holidays, A Guide and Commentary, Harper and Row, 1985, pp. 176-177.]
Fifth Night – WHY CHANUKAH – (Talmud, Shabbat 21b)
What is Chanukah? Our Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev commences the days of Chanukah, which are eight, on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting is forbidden. For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils within it, and when the Hasmonean Dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil still containing the seal of the High Priest, which contained sufficient oil for one day’s lighting only. Yet a miracle occurred, and they lit the lamp for eight days. The following year these days were appointed a festival with the recital of Hallel (Psalms 113–118, recited on all festivals) and thanksgiving.
Sixth Night – PSALM OF JUDITH – (Judith 16:13-16)
I will sing a new hymn to my God
O Eternal One, You are great and glorious.
You are marvelous in your strength – unbeatable!
Let all Your creation serve You!
You are the one who spoke all and all things came to be.
You sent forth your spirit and it shaped them.
Your voice is irresistible.
Mountains and seas turn in their depths,
The rocks melt away like wax before You;
But You still show loving loyalty to those who honor You.
No sacrifice can please you with its fragrance,
And all the fat in the world is not enough for a burnt-offering,
But the one who loves the Eternal God is always great.
Seventh Night – ADAM AND EVE CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS –
(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 8a)
When Adam and Eve, the first human beings, noticed that the days were getting shorter, they said to each other, “Is the world becoming darker because of our sins? Will it soon return to chaos? And this is what God meant when God punished us with mortality?” So they prayed and fasted for eight days. When the period prior to the winter solstice arrived, Adam and Eve saw that the days were now growing longer. They realized that this is the way of the world. Adam and Eve then made eight days of celebration. Therefore, people all over the world celebrate at this time of the year. For example, the Romans have their holiday at this time. Sadly, at this season, many people celebrate for the wrong reasons, but we must remember that from the very beginning, Adam and Eve’s holiday was in honor of the Holy One.
Eighth Night – The Meaning of Hope – (Rabbi Hugo Gryn)
I did not learn this lesson about faith in a theological college, that came much ‘later, but in a miserable little concentration camp in German Silesia grotesquely called Lieberose, ‘Lovely- Rose’. It was the cold winter of 1944 and ‘although we had nothing like calendars, my father, who was my fellow prisoner there, took me and some of our friends to a corner in our barrack. He announced that it was the eve of Chanukah, produced a curious-shaped clay bowl, and began to light, a .wick immersed in his precious, but now melted, margarine ration. Before he could recite the blessing, I protested at this waste of food. He looked at me then at the lamp – and finally said: ‘You and I have seen that it is, possible. To live up to three weeks without food. We once lived almost three days without water; but you cannot live properly for three minutes without hope!’
The Lighting Of The Chanukah Lights
Haneirot halalu
We light these lights in honor of our ancestors’ struggles to experience the miracle of freedom. During the eight days of Chanukah these lights are holy. May we not be tempted to use them to light any path other than the one to liberty so that all people, everywhere, will soon offer thanksgiving for the divine gift of freedom.
The Blessing On the Lights
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir shel chanukah.
We thank and praise You, our Saving God, sovereign of all worlds, who has shown us the way to holiness with Your directives and has directed us to light the lights of Chanukah.
The Blessing On The Miracles
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, she-asah nisim la-avoteinu bayamim haheim baz'man hazeh.
We honor and extol You, Our Wondrous God, sovereign of all, who performed miracles
for our ancestors in those days at this season.
The Blessing On the Gift of Life
(Only on the first night of Chanukah)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu, v'higi-anu, laz'man hazeh.
We are grateful to You, Our Sustaining God, sovereign of all, for giving us life,
for nurturing us, and for bringing us to this season. Amen.
Haneirot Halalu
הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַדְלִיקִים עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת, שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, עַל יְדֵי כֹּהֲנֶֽיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וְכָל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ הֵם, וְאֵין לָֽנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם, אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד, כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל, עַל נִסֶּֽיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ.
Haneirot halalu anachnu madlikim al hanisim v'al hanifla-ot v'al hat'shuot v'al hamilchamot, she-asita la-avoteinu bayamim haheim baz'man hazeh, al y'dei kohanecha hak'doshim. V'chol sh'monat y'mei chanukah haneirot halalu kodesh heim, v'ein lanu r'shut l'hishtameish bahem, ela lirotam bilvad, k'dei l'hodot ul'haleil l'shimcha hagadol, al nisecha v'al nifl'otecha v'al y'shuatecha.
We light these lights in honor of our ancestors’ struggles to experience the miracle of freedom. During the eight days of Hanukkah these lights are holy. May we not be tempted to use them to light any path other than the one to liberty so that all people, everywhere, will soon offer thanksgiving for the divine gift of freedom.
Maoz Tzur / Rock Of Ages
מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי, לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ,
תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָתִי,
וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ,
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ, מִצָר הַמְנַבֵּחַ
אָז אֶגְמֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר
חֲנֻכַּת הַמִזְבֵּחַ
Maoz tzur y'shuati l'cha naeh l'shabeach
Tikon beit t'filati
v'sham todah n'zabeach.
L'eit tachin matbeach mitzar hamnabeach
Az egmor b'shir mizmor
chanukat hamizbeach.
Rock of Ages let our song,
Praise thy saving power;
Thou amidst the raging foes,
Wast our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us,
But Thine arm availed us,
And Thy word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.
Mi Y'malel
מִי יְמַלֵּל גְּבוּרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל
אוֹתָן מִי יִמְנֶה
הֵן בְּכׇל דּוֹר יָקוּם הַגִּבּוֹר גּוֹאֵל הָעַם.
שְׁמַע בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הָזֶּה
מַכַּבִּי מוֹשִׁיעַ וּפוֹדֶה
וּבְיָמֵינוּ כׇּל עַם יִשְׁרָאֵל
יִתְאַחֵד יַקוּם לְהִגָּאֵל.
Mi y'maleil g'vurot yisraeil otan mi yimneh?
Hein b'chol dor yakum hagibor, go'eil ha-am. (Repeat)
Shema! Ba'yamim hahem bazman hazeh,
Makabi moshia ufodeh,
Uv'yameinu kol am Yisrael
Yit'acheid, yakum l'higa-eil.
Who can retell the things that befell us? Who can count them?
In every age, a hero or sage came to our aid. (2x)
Sh’ma (Hark), at this time of year in days of yore,
Maccabees the Temple did restore.
And today our people, as we dreamed,
will arise, unite and be redeemed.
Chanuke, Oy Chanuke / Hanukkah, O Hanukkah
אוי חנוכה, אוי חנוכה
אַ יום-טוב אַ שיינער,
אַ לוסטיקער, אַ פריילעקער
ניטאָ נאָק אַזוינער.
אַלע נאַכט אין דריידלעך שפילן מיר
זודיק הייסע לאַטקעס
עסט אָן אַ שיעור.
געשווינדער צינדט קינדער
די דינינקע ליכעלעך אָן.
זינג "על הנסים"
לויבט גאָט פאַר די נסים
און קומט גיהער טאַנצן אין קאָן. (2X)
Oy Chanuka, Oy Chanuka a yomtov a shener,
A lustiker; a freylicher; nito noch azoyner.
Alle nacht in dreidlech, shpiln mir,
zudik hese latkes, est on a shir.
Geshvinder, tsindt kinder,
Dee deninke lichtelech ohn.
Zingt “Al Hanisim”,
Loibt Gott far di nisim,
Un kumt giher tantzn in kohn. (2X)
O Hanukkah, O Hanukkah,
come light the Menorah,
Let's have a party, we’ll all dance the Hora
Gather round; the table,
I’ll give you a treat,
S'vivonim to play with, latkes to eat.
One for each night,
They shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
And while we are playing,
The candles are burning low.
Sivovon
סְבִיבוֹן סֹב סֹב סֹב,
חֲנֻכָּה הוּא חָג טוֹב
חֲנֻכָּה הוּא חָג טוֹב,
סְבִיבוֹן סֹב סֹב סֹב
חָג שִׂמְחָה הוּא לַעֲם,
נֵס גָדוֹל הָיַה שָׁם
נֵס גָדוֹל הָיַה שָׁם,
חָג שִׂמְחָה הוּא לַעֲם
S'vivon, sov, sov, sov,
Hanukkah hu chag tov.
Hanukkah hu chag tov.
S'vivon, sov, sov, sov.
Chag simcha hu la'am.
Nes gadol hayah sham,
Nes gadol hayah sham
Chag simcha hu la'am.
Joy for Jews everywhere, a great wonder happened there
A great wonder happened there, joy for Jews everywhere.
Little dreidel spin and play, Hanukkah is here today
Hanukkah is here today, little Dreidel spin and play
Hanukkah, Hanukkah
חֲנֻכָּה, חֲנֻכָּה, חַג יָפֶה כׇּל כַּךְ
אוֹר חָבִיב מִסָּבִיב גִיל לְיֶלֶד רַךְ
חֲנֻכָּה חֲנֻכָּה סְבִיבוֹן סֹב סֹב
סֹב סֹב סֹב, סֹב סֹב סֹב
מַה נַעִים וַטוֹב.
Hanukkah, Hanukkah
chag ya-feh kol kach
Or Cha-viv mi-sa-viv,
gil l'ye-led rach
Hanukkah, Hanukkah s
e-vi-von sov, sov
Sov sov sov, sov sov sov
May na-yim va-tov
Hanukkah, Hanukkah,
what a joyous night!
Children dance, children sing, basking in your light
Hanukkah, Hanukkah,
little dreidel spin
Spin and Play! Spin and Play!
Drop and then I’ll win!
I Have a Little Dreydel
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then, dreidel I shall play.
(Refrain) Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
Now dreidel we shall play.
My dreidel is so playful
It loves to dance and spin
A happy game of dreidel
Come play now, let's begin.
(Refrain) Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
Now dreidel we shall play.
It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when it gets all tired
It drops and then I win.
(Refrain) Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
Now dreidel we shall play.
A BOX OF CHANUKAH LIGHTS
A Memorial Prayer
Rabbi Lewis John Eron
Despite the math
Forty four candles are never enough
To last the entire eight nights of Chanukah.
At least one is broken or lacks a wick
Or won’t ignite
To remind us
that
even when we win
people die
and when peace comes
our box
can never really
be full again.
Rabbi Lewis John Eron, Ph.D.
1229 Liberty Bell Drive / Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Cell: 01-609-502-1127 / Home Email: lewiseron@hotmail.com
Web Site: https://lewiseron.wixsite.com/mysite