What is blessings for hanukkah in hebrew?

The blessings recited on Hanukkah are well-established in Jewish tradition and have been standardized for centuries. There are two blessings recited every night, and a third blessing — Shehecheyanu — added on the first night only.

Key Takeaways

• Two blessings are recited every night of Hanukkah when lighting the menorah (Hanukkiah).
• A third blessing, Shehecheyanu, is added on the first night only.
• The blessings are recited before lighting the candles.
• The blessings thank God for the commandment of Hanukkah lights, for the miracles of that time, and for bringing us to this season.
• These blessings are codified in the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 676.

---

The Hanukkah Blessings (in Hebrew with Transliteration and Translation)

Blessing 1 — On Lighting the Candles (Every Night)

Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.

Transliteration: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.

Translation: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light."

---

Blessing 2 — For the Miracles (Every Night)

Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Transliteration: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.

Translation: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time."

---

Blessing 3 — Shehecheyanu (First Night Only)

Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Transliteration: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higianu lazman hazeh.

Translation: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season."

---

Additional Notes

• The source for the first blessing is the rabbinic enactment of Hanukkah lights as a mitzvah, which generates the standard asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav formula [Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 676:1].
• The second blessing commemorates the miracles of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil [Talmud, Shabbat 21b].
• After lighting, it is customary to recite HaNerot Halalu, a passage explaining the purpose of the lights — that they are holy and meant only for publicizing the miracle (pirsumei nissa).

---

Chag Chanukah Sameach! 🕎 — Happy Hanukkah!