Blessing over the Hanukkah lights
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has made us holy with commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah
The first of the blessings said over the Hanukkah lights. Japa carries this one only (not the full set) and the lighting itself is the mitzvah this blessing precedes.
Source: Siddur, Hanukkah
Traditionally said once, rather than counted on beads.
Not counted on beads
How many times
Traditionally said once.
Japa counts this one without a mala: a plain daily number rather than a ring of beads, with the words kept in view while you say them. Counting is unlimited and free.
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What the words say
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, the standard opening of a Jewish blessing: blessed are You, our God, sovereign of the universe. Asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu: who has made us holy through the commandments and commanded us. L'hadlik ner shel Chanukah: to kindle the light of Hanukkah. The blessing names the act it is about to accompany, which is why it comes before lighting the Hanukkah lights.
Where it comes from
The blessings over the lights are set out in the Talmud (Shabbat 23a) and fixed in the siddur. On the first night three blessings are said (this one, she'asah nissim, and shehecheyanu) and two on each night after.
How it is practised
The blessings are said *before* lighting, not during, and the candles are lit left to right after being placed right to left. This app carries one blessing and no lighting order; it is a counter, not a guide to the rite.
References
- Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 23a
- Siddur, blessings over the Hanukkah lights
Keep it, and count it every day.
Japa keeps this text beside a large, calm counter on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, with a haptic for every bead and an optional bell at the end of each round. Counting is unlimited and free.
In Japa this practice is kept with Hanukkah. Adding the observance brings it to Today for as long as it runs, and withdraws it when it ends. Browsing every observance is free; adding one to Today is part of Japa Lifetime.
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