How to Light
Step One:
Setting up candles
The candles are placed in the chanukiah from right to left, with one more candle added to the right each night. One lights the candles using a shamash (the helping candle). The shamash candle is always placed at a different level to the other candles, in order to differentiate it.
Step Two:
Order of lighting
Light the Shamash, the helper candle, first. Then say two blessings – one for lighting the candles, and one for the miracles.
Step Three:
Blessing
Use the Shamash to light the other candles, starting with the newest candle, on the left and then moving towards to right.
Blessing 1:
Baruch ata Hashem, Elokeinu melech haolam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Chanukah
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light
Blessing 2:
Baruch ata Hashem, Elokeinu melech haolam, sheh’asa nisim lavoteinu bayamim haheim bazman hazeh
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who made miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this season
On the first night that you light your candles add:
For Celebration
Baruch ata Hashem, Elokeinu melech haolam, shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi’anu lazman hazeh
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season
Eight Nights
Sunday night | 18 December 2022 | 25 Kislev | Night One
How many candles: shamash + 1 candle
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family Fun
Spin to Win
Each letter on the dreidel is worth a different number of points. Play as many rounds as you wish. Tally your scores at the end.
Nun – 0
Gimel – 3
Hay – 2
Shin – 1
Thought
Loneliness can be so real for many people. Tonight, let us be grateful for our connections and reach out to someone who may be alone.
Monday night | 19 December 2022 | 26 Kislev | Night Two
How many candles: Shamash + 2 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family Fun
Time will Tell
Ready, Set, SPIN! Spin your dreidel, and spin it well!
Whoever spins for the longest, becomes the dreidel champion.
Thought
Peace in the home is what we all strive for. Tonight, let’s focus on our shalom bayit, and be grateful for the people and peace in our home.
Tuesday night | 20 December 2022 | 27 Kislev | Night Three
How many candles: Shamash + 3 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family Fun
Spin-n-Spy
Each letter guides the find.
Spin the dreidel, and find an object that starts with that letter.
(Example: Gimel – G – Glasses)
Thought
Happy, healthy children.
Children who are authentic, comfortable, feel like they belong and that they are loved.
Let us pray for our children and our connection with our children.
Wednesday night | 21 December 2022 | 28 Kislev | Night Four
How many candles: Shamash + 4 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family Fun
Dreidel-Dreidel
Play with Smarties, marbles or stones.
Start with each person putting three tokens into the centre.
Take turns to spin the dreidel and do as the letter suggests:
Nun – Put NO extra tokens in
Gimel – Take ALL the tokens
Hay – Take HALF of the pile
Shin – Put ONE token in
*If there are no tokens left in the centre pile, everyone must add in three more.
Thought
Be the best person I can be. Nurture my relationship with myself, my spouse, my children, my siblings, my parents, my friends, and society.
Tonight, I focus on myself.
Thursday night | 22 December 2022 | 29 Kislev | Night Five
How many candles: Shamash + 5 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family Fun
Upside Down
Hold the dreidel upside down, and then spin it.
Now, see whose dreidel can spin for the longest.
Thought
More light in our home, positivity, laughter, and mutual respect. Let us see the miracles of light.
Friday night | 23 December 2022 | 30 Kislev | Night Six
*Reminder to light your chanukah candles before lighting your shabbat candles
How many candles: Shamash + 6 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family fun
Our rules
Create your own rules for each of the dreidel letters,
ideas:
Do the chicken dance if it lands on a gimmel, make an animal sound if it lands on a nun, tell a joke if it lands on a hay etc
Thought
To an uplifting Shabbat, giving meaning to the day of rest, connecting with Hashem and our loved ones.
Saturday night | 24 December 2022 | 1 Tevet | Night Seven
*Reminder to light your chanukah candles after shabbat has ended (once you see 3 stars in the sky)
How many candles: Shamash + 7 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family fun
Hide and Find
One family member hides the dreidel and the rest of the family try to find it.
Be kind and give a clue or two.
Thoughts
Creating moments of joy and happiness. Tonight, we pray for a year filled with more simcha.
Sunday night | 25 December 2022 | 2 Tevet | Night Eight
How many candles: Shamash + 8 candles
Follow step 1, 2, 3 and then light the candles
Family Fun
Ready, Set, Spin!
The letter on the dreidel tells you what to do, while it spins again, keep the action at play.
Nun – Touch your nose with your toes
Gimel – Gallop around the room
Hay – Hop on one leg
Shin – Sing a Song
Thought
Tonight, we think of miracles, those we can see, and those that we wish for.
Songs
After the Chanukah lights are kindled, it is customary to sing a few songs with your children