Chanukah is our festival of lights, a beautiful celebration of light triumphing over darkness.

For eight nights we light the chanukiah to commemorate the miracle that occurred when the Holy Temple was desecrated and later rededicated in Jerusalem. Together with our loved ones, we celebrate strength, resilience, hope, and healing. For all eight nights of Chanukah, Temple Israel sparks light into our homes, communities, and the world.
Happy Chanukah!
Chanukah Celebrations 5786
Lighting the Chanukah Menorah
Chanukah Blessings
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיווְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav
v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Chanukah
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot,
commanding us to kindle the Chanukah lights
—
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu
bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wondrous deeds
for our ancestors in days of old at this season
—
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higiyanu laz’man hazeh
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us,
and brought us to this season
Spread the Light — Giving Opportunity for Chanukah!
Soles for All Souls
Please bring new socks and slippers in all sizes. Temple Israel is partering with Thrifty Threads, our friends at United Parish. The donation box will be in the Atrium in Tzedekah Row throughout the week of Chanukah: December 14 – 22.
From the Temple Israel Archives:
Chanukah December 1953
In this December 11, 1953 audio recording, Temple Israel’s recently installed new Senior Rabbi, Roland B. Gittelsohn, hosts the third episode of the newly initiated This is Temple Israel television show, which focused on the history and rituals of Chanukah, including:
- The story of the Maccabees’ battle for religious freedom, their reconsecration of the Second Temple, and the legend of the tiny flask of oil that lasts eight days
- Discussion of the holiday’s modern message—that minorities have the right to resist conformism and the power to defeat formidable oppressors through faith and courage.
- Nine young girls perform a Chanukah ceremony in which they each represent and explicate the meaning of one candle “light.”
- Candle lighting