By Betzy Lynch
LA JOLLA, California — Did you know that Hanukkah candles are not intended to be used for practical benefit? Jewish tradition suggests that their light exists solely for pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle. For this reason, we have been taught that we do not read, work, or otherwise make use of their light.
Meditation, however, is permitted when it is understood not as using the light, but as witnessing it. Sitting near the candles in quiet reflection, gratitude, or spiritual awareness allows us to honor the miracle without appropriating the light for our own needs. We do not take from the flame; we allow it to remind us of faith, resilience, and sacred presence.
Below are the prayers and some questions, ideas and thoughts to meditate on or with. These were inspired by the core values of our JCC community, the lens we use for our educational framework of our Nierman Preschool.
Blessing for Kindling the Lights: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Blessing for the Miracle: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she’asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim ha-heim baz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
Shehecheyanu (First Night Only): Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higi’anu laz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
1st Candle: Hachnasat Orchim (Welcoming Guests) Just as we invite the light into our homes, we are commanded to place our Hanukkah lights where they can be seen by others. The light is both inward and outward, illuminating our private space while extending beyond our walls. Welcoming guests is more than opening a door; it is opening the heart. As the first candle glows, reflect on how you cultivate hospitality in your life. How do you make others feel seen, safe, and valued? How can gratitude shape the way you welcome both familiar faces and unexpected encounters?
2nd Candle: Ahavat Limud (Love of Learning) & Drash (Interpretation) Our tradition is one of continual learning and reinterpretation. Each year, we return to the story of Hanukkah, and each year it reveals something new. As this second light burns, reflect on the wisdom you have gained over time. How have your understandings shifted as you’ve grown? What stories, personal, familial, or communal, continue to shape who you are? How can curiosity and dialogue deepen your connection to tradition and to one another?
3rd Candle: Shmirat HaGuf (Care for the Body & Holistic Well-Being) Hanukkah is rich with oil and indulgence, reminding us of abundance and joy. Yet the miracle itself depended on care, preparation, and preservation. This candle invites reflection on the body as a sacred vessel. How do you nurture your physical, emotional, and spiritual health? Where might balance be restored between celebration and mindfulness, nourishment and restraint? As the flame flickers, consider how caring for your body allows your inner light to endure.
4th Candle: L’dor V’dor (From Generation to Generation) Hanukkah is often marked by shared meals, familiar songs, and stories told again and again. Through these rituals, memory becomes inheritance. As the fourth candle joins the others, reflect on the generations that came before you and those who will come after. What values have been passed down to you? Which traditions do you carry forward, and which are you shaping anew? How does your light connect to a chain far greater than yourself?
5th Candle: Hit’orerut (Awakening: Amazement & Gratitude) As more light fills the room, pause and simply notice. The gentle movement of the flames. The warmth they give off. The way darkness yields without resistance. Let gratitude arise naturally. Consider moments of wonder in your life, large or small, that have awakened your spirit. What blessings are present right now? How might cultivating amazement soften your heart and deepen your joy?
6th Candle: Kedushah (Holiness) & Tzelem Elohim (Divine Image) This night invites us to reflect on holiness as something we actively cultivate through intention and presence. As the Hanukkah lights multiply, they remind us that sacredness is not distant or abstract, but created through mindful attention to our actions and our relationships. As the candles reflect in your eyes and through your windows, remember that each person carries a unique spark of divine light. How do you honor that holiness within yourself? How can you more fully recognize the dignity and potential in others?
7th Candle: Masa (Journey: Reflection, Return & Renewal) The story of Hanukkah is one of journey of struggle, perseverance, and rededication. The Maccabees moved from destruction to restoration, from loss to renewal. As the seventh candle burns, reflect on your own journey. Where were you one year ago? What challenges have shaped you? What strengths have emerged? Consider what it might mean to rededicate yourself to your values, relationships, or hopes that matter most.
8th Candle: Tikkun Olam (Repair of the World) Tonight the Hanukiyah stands complete, each branch filled with light. The mitzvah is fulfilled but the work of the world continues. Rabbi Tarfon teaches: “It is not upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to neglect it.” As all eight lights shine, reflect on the responsibilities you carry. Where is healing needed in your community, your society, your relationships? How can your light contribute to repair, justice, and compassion beyond this moment?
As Shabbat fades and we prepare for the first spin of the dreidel this season, we turn our hearts toward our family in Israel and recall the words Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, a great miracle happened there. And yet, we are also living within another miracle, one that is happening here as well. We are living in a moment when a strong and vibrant Jewish homeland exists in Israel, alongside a strong and vibrant Jewish community throughout the diaspora. Despite the very real challenges we face, including a troubling rise in antisemitism, this dual reality is unprecedented in Jewish history. How fortunate we are and how responsible we must be to nurture both, so that we help shape the future we want for Jews around the world.
Chag Urim Sameach! Don’t miss the fun tomorrow at Hanukkah Happening.
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Betzy Lynch is the chief executive officer of the Lawrence Family JCC.