Little Homeschool on the Prairie: Hanukkah Day One

May the Lord Bless you and keep you and make His face shine on you. He is truly the Light of the World.

Happy Hanukkah! We’re getting ready for eight nights full of celebration. This year, Hanukkah starts at sundown on December 20th, which is tonight.

Tonight we will light the Hanukkah Menorah (hanukiyah) and celebrate with some of our friends.

Lighting the Hanukkah Menorah is an important parts of celebrating the festival of Hanukkah. This ritual has been observed since the destruction of the Temple in commemoration of the miracle of the little oil that was found and for the miracle of the Menorah that stayed lit for eight days.

The Hanukkah menorah is usually lit after nightfall, when the first stars appear in the sky. Tonight you will light one candle using the servant candle or Shamash candle when the sun goes down. The Hanukkah Menorah is usually lit by the window. On every Hanukah Menorah there are nine branches. Eight for the eight nights of Hanukkah, and the ninth branch holds the Shamash candle. The word Shamash literally means "the attendant or servant." The Shamash is placed either above or below the other candles. Yeshua/Jesus said:

Matthew 20:16

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁶ So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.”

Mark 10:44-45

Common English Bible (CEB)

⁴⁴ Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, ⁴⁵ for the Human One^[a] didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.”

During Hanukkah candles are added to the menorah from right to left. The number of candles corresponds to the night of Hanukkah, for instance, six candles for the sixth night of Hanukkah. In addition to these candles, on every night of Hanukkah an additional “helper” candle called a shamash is used to light the others.You light the candles from left to right.

Every night during Hanukkah my family will gather around the menorah and recite the blessings below as part of the candle lighting ceremony. Here are some links to print out and to hear the blessing in Hebrew.This first blessing is recited only on the first time the Hanukkah Menorah is kindled for the first time. It is called the Shehechiyanu, the blessing gives thanks to God for sustaining us and reminds us to appreciate the goodness in our lives.

1^st blessing~Hebrew (Sepharidc/Modern Israeli) : Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, she-hekheyanu v-kiyamanu v-higgianu lazman hazeh.

English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.

These two blessings are recited each night prior to lighting the candles.

2^nd Blessing~Hebrew (Sepharidc/Modern Israeli): Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, asher kiddeshanu b’mitzvotav, vitzivanu, lehadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

English: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

3^rd Blesssing~Hebrew (Sepharidc/Modern Israeli): Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, she-asah nissim la-avotaynu bayamim ha-hem bazman hazeh.

English: Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

We also read scriptures. Here are a few scriptures to read the 1st night of Hanukkah. You can read any scripture you like. We as a family like to do it around light. We also read other scriptures.

John 10:22-24

Common English Bible (CEB)

Jesus at the Festival of Dedication

22 The time came for the Festival of Dedication[a] in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon. 24 The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”