This year the first day of the Festival of Lights falls on the same day as the first day of Advent. This morning the first candle of Adventide was lit and this evening in other households the first candle of Hanukkah will be lit.
Before it is lit the three blessings will be said and then the commemoration of the miracle of the oil will begin.
First Blessing:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.
Second Blessing:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-zman ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.
Third Blessing:
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
And to all my friends and to those who are like family who have reached this occasion I wish you “Chag Urim Sameach!”
On this day in 1763: Dedication of the Touro Synagogue, in Newport, Rhode Island, the first synagogue in what will become the United States.