By Muriel Dance, PhD

The spiritual significance of lighting candles each of eight nights and bringing in brighter light on each succeeding night—and doing so in the season of darkness--is profound. We are taught that these candles and their light are sacred and we have no permission to make use of them. All we must do is “to just look at them.” That is, gazing at the candles is the meditative contemplation we are commanded to do on Hanukkah, to truly perceive the visible symbol of the increased light that we bring into the world, the enactment of Proverbs 20: 27, which identifies the human soul as the “candle of the Divine.”

On the first night we say three blessings after lighting the candles and on each subsequent night we say two blessings. 

The First Blessing Hebrew:

.ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, אשר קידשנו במצוותיו, וציוונו להדליק נר ש חנוכה

Transliteration:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Translation:

Praised are You,Our God, Ruler of the universe,Who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukah lights.

The Second Blessing

Hebrew:

.ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, שעשה נסים לאבותינו, בימים ההם בזמן הזה

Transliteration:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.

Translation:

Praised are You,Our God, Ruler of the universe,Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.

The Third Blessing

(First Night Only)

Hebrew:

.ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, שהחיינו, וקיימנו, והגענו לזמן הזה

Transliteration:

Baruch atah Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu la’zman hazeh.

Translation:

Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.

These blessings have traditional melodies which you can hear here: https://www.kveller.com