Hanukkah Prayers

Prayers form an integral part of any festival. You pray to the Almighty to shower His blessings on you and your family, to grant your wishes, to help you in every endeavor and keep you safe and happy in the years to come. The same holds true for Hanukkah as well. Reciting prayers is the most important ritual of the festival. In fact, it is only after reciting the blessings or prayers that the menorah candles are lit, from left to right (new to the oldest). The candles are lit in remembrance of the miracle that took place in the holy temple of Jerusalem. In The following lines, we have listed the three Hanukah prayers that have be recited while lighting the menorah. Along with that, a few other general Chanukah prayers have also been listed.

Chanukah Menorah Prayers

Hanukkah Candle Lighting Prayer
The first two blessings below are recited on each of the eights nights of Hanukkah. The third one is a blessing of joy, which is traditionally recited on each Jewish festival, and is recited only the first time the Hanukkah menorah is lit.

Prayer 1
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu
l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah.

English Translation:
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us
to light the lights of Chanukah.

Prayer 2
Barukh Atta Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha-olam She-asa Nissim La-avoteynu Ba-yyamim Ha-hem Ba-zzman Ha-zze

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

Prayer 3
Barukh Atta Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha-olam She-hekheyanu Ve-kiymanu Ve-higgi'anu La-zzman Ha-zze

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

Other Prayers

Prayer 1
Ba-ruch ata, A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu, me-lech ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mits-vo tov, ve-tsi-va-nu le-had-lik neir shel Chan-nu-kah.
Ba-ruch ata, A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu, me-lech ha-o-lam,she-a-sa ni-sim las-a-vo-tei-nu ba-ya-mim ha-heim ba-ze-man ha-zah.
Ba-ruch ata, A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu, me-lech ha-o-lam, she-he-chya-nu ve-ki-ya-ma-nu ve-hi-gi-a-nu las-man-ha-zeh.

Prayer 2
Barukh Atta Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha-olam Asher Kiddeshanu Be-mitsvotav Ve-tsivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel khanuka

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

Prayer 3
Hanneirot hallalu anachnu madlikin 'al hannissim ve'al hanniflaot 'al hatteshu'ot ve'al hammilchamot she'asita laavoteinu bayyamim haheim, (u)bazzeman hazeh 'al yedei kohanekha hakkedoshim. Vekhol-shemonat yemei Hanukkah hanneirot hallalu kodesh heim, ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtammesh baheim ella lir'otam bilvad kedei lehodot ul'halleil leshimcha haggadol 'al nissekha ve'al nifleotekha ve'al yeshu'otekha

English Translation:
We light these lights for the miracles and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers, in those days at this season, through your holy priests. During all eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them except for to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.