Hanukkah Lighting for Congregations How to light a menorah respectfully

By Joanna Lubkin

Thanks to Rev. Joanna Lubkin for providing WorshipWeb users—particularly non-Jewish ones—with thoughtful commentary and context for how to light a menorah responsibly and respectfully, including:

  • How to understand the Jewish marking of time
  • How and why to contextualize the lighting of a menorah on a Sunday morning
  • How to assess whether the design of your menorah is respectful
  • How to place candles into the menorah, and how to light them
  • How Judaism treats the names of God, depending on context, and when substitute names (Adoshem, Elokeinu) are used, as in this video.
  • Why the Jewish tradition holds that the candles are allowed to burn out by themselves, but not be used as a source of light.

The text of the sung prayers (with English translation) are as follows:

  1. Baruch atah Adoshem, Elokeinu melech ha'olam, 
    asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.

Blessed are You, Source of All, who brings moments of holiness to our lives 
through the ritual of lighting the Chanukah lights. 

  1. Baruch atah Adoshem, Elokeinu melech ha'olam, 
    sheh-asah nisim lavoteinu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Source of All, who brings our attention to miracles 
from ages past to this very moment.

  1. Baruch atah Adoshem, Elokeinu melech ha'olam, 
    shehechiyanu v'kiyimanu v'higiyanu la'zman ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, Source of All, who has given us life, 
sustained us, and has brought us to this very moment.

If you have questions for Rev. Joanna, she invites you to email her, joanna.lubkin@gmail.com.

About the Author

Joanna Lubkin

Rev. Joanna Lubkin (she/her) is a Unitarian Universalist minister who was raised and rooted in Judaism. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information contact .