Hanukah

Sephardic Hanukah

And click here for a downloadable PDF minus the videos: Sephardi Hanukah

The following blessings are said before the lights or the Shamash are lit, both in the synagogue and at home. After the first night, each succeeding light is set to the left of those of the preceding evening and lit from left to right.

The Sephardi custom is to use an independent light to light all the others, with the Shamash being lit last.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה.

Barukh atah, Adonai Elo-einu, melekh a-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tsivanu l’adlik ner ḥanukkah.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְמַן הַזֶּה.

Barukh atah, Adonai Elo-einu, melekh a-olam, she-asah nisim la-avoteinu bayamim ha-em baz’man azeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who performed miracles for our fathers, in those days at this season.

On the first night add:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Barukh atah, Adonai Elo-einu, melekh a-olam, she-eḥeyanu v’kiy’manu v’igianu laz’man azeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season.

הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֲנוּ מַדְלִיקִים עַל הַנִסִּים, וְעַל פֻּרְקָן, וְעַל הַגְּבוּרוֹת, וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת, וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת, וְעַל הַנֶּֽחָמוֹת, שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, עַל-יְדֵי כֹּהֲנֶֽיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וְכָל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ הֵם, וְאֵין לָֽנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם, אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד, כְּדֵי להוֹדוֹת לְשְׁמֶךָ עַל נִסֶּֽיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ.

A-ne-rot a-la-lu a-nu mad-li-kin al anisim, v’al a-purkan, v’al a-g’vurot, v’al a-t’shu-ot, v’al a-nifla-ot, v’al a-neḥamot,

she-a-see-ta la-avo-tei-nu ba-ya-mim ha-heim baz-man a-zeh, Al ye-dei ko-a-ne-kha a-ke-do-shim.
V’khol she-mo-nat ye-mei ḥa-nu-kah ha-ne-rot a-la-lu ko-desh hem,
v’ein la-nu re-shut l’ish-ta-mesh ba-em, e-la l’r-o-tam bil-vad, k’dei l’o-dot l’sh’mekha al nisekha v’al nif-le-o-te-kha
v’al ye-shu-o-te-kha.

We kindle these lights because of the miracles and the redemption, for the mighty deeds and the deliverances, for the wonders and the solace, which You performed for our fathers in those days at this time through Your holy priests. These lights are sacred all eight days of Hanukkah. We are not permitted to make use of them but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks to Your Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your deliverances.

Psalm 30 תְּהִלִּים

מִזְמוֹר: שִׁיר-חֲנֻכַּת הַבַּיִת לְדָוִד.

וְלֹא-שִׂמַּחְתָּ אֹיְבַי לִי.
שִׁוַּעְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ, וַתִּרְפָּאֵנִי.
חִיִּיתַנִי, מִיָּרְדִי בוֹר.
וְהוֹדוּ, לְזֵכֶר קָדְשׁוֹ.
חַיִּים בִּרְצוֹנוֹ:
וְלַבֹּקֶר רִנָּה.
בַּל-אֶמּוֹט לְעוֹלָם.
הִסְתַּרְתָּ פָנֶיךָ; הָיִיתִי נִבְהָל.
וְאֶל-אֲדֹנָי, אֶתְחַנָּן.
הֲיוֹדְךָ עָפָר; הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּךָ.
יְיָ, הֱיֵה-עֹזֵר לִי.
פִּתַּחְתָּ שַׂקִּי; וַתְּאַזְּרֵנִי שִׂמְחָה.
יְיָ אֱלֹהַי, לְעוֹלָם אוֹדֶךָּ

אֲרוֹמִמְךָ יְיָ, כִּי דִלִּיתָנִי;
יְיָ אֱלֹהָי
יְיָ–הֶעֱלִיתָ מִן-שְׁאוֹל נַפְשִׁי;
זַמְּרוּ לַיהוָה חֲסִידָיו;
כִּי רֶגַע, בְּאַפּוֹ
בָּעֶרֶב, יָלִין בֶּכִי;
וַאֲנִי, אָמַרְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִי
יְיָ בִּרְצוֹנְךָ, הֶעֱמַדְתָּה לְהַרְרִי-עֹז
אֵלֶיךָ יְיָ אֶקְרָא;
מַה-בֶּצַע בְּדָמִי, בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל-שָׁחַת:
שְׁמַע-יְיָ וְחָנֵּנִי;
הָפַכְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי, לְמָחוֹל לִי:
לְמַעַן, יְזַמֶּרְךָ כָבוֹד וְלֹא יִדֹּם:

A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House; of David.I will extol thee, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my enemies to rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried unto Thee, and You didst heal me;

O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world; You did keep me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise unto the LORD, O ye His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a life-time;
weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Now I had said in my security: ‘I shall never be moved.’

You established, O LORD, in Thy favor my mountain as a stronghold– You hid Your face; I was frightened.

Unto You, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise You? shall it declare Your truth?

When lighting the candles at home, the pizmon Maoz Tzur is sung:

מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי         לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּֽחַ,
תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי            וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּֽחַ,
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּֽחַ     מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּֽחַ,
אָז אֶגְמֹר      בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר      חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ.

Ma’oz tzur yeshu’at,i lekha na’eh l’habe-aḥ,
Tikon beit t’filati, v’sham todah n’zabe’aḥ,
Le’ei takhin matbe-aḥ, mitzar a-m’nabe’aḥ,
Az egmor, beshir mizmor ḥ,anukat am-izbe’aḥ.

O Fortress, Rock of my salvation, unto thee it is becoming to give praise:

let my house of prayer be restored, and I will there offer thee thanksgivings

when thou shalt have prepared a slaughter of the blaspheming foe,

I will complete with song and psalm the dedication of the altar.

יְוָנִים נִקְבְּצוּ עָלַי             אֲזַי בִּימֵי חַשְׁמַנִּים,
וּפָרְצוּ חוֹמוֹת מִגְדָּלַי       וְטִמְּאוּ כָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים,
וּמִנּוֹתַר קַנְקַנִּים                נַעֲשָׂה נֵס לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים,
בְּנֵי בִינָה           יְמֵי שְׁמוֹנָה     קָבְעוּ שִׁיר וּרְנָנִים.

Yevanim nikb’tzu alai, azai bemei ḥashmanim,
Ufartzu homot migdalai, v’tim’u kol a-shemanim,
Uminotar kankanim, na’asah nes lashoshanim,
Benei vinah, yemei shemonah, kav’u shir ur’nanim.

The Greeks were gathered against me in the days of the Hasmoneans;

they broke down the walls of my towers, and defiled all the oils;

but from one of the last remaining flasks a miracle was wrought for thy beloved,

and the wise men appointed these eight days for song and praises.

“Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candles)”

Words: Flory Jagoda
Sung in Ladino

Hanukah linda sta aki
Ocho kandelas para mi,
Hanukah linda sta aki
Ocho kandelas para mi, O

Una kandelika, dos kandelikas
Tres kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas
Sintyu kandelikas, sej kandelikas
Siete kandelikas, ocho kandelas para mi

Muchas fiestas vo fazer
Kon alegria i plazer
Muchas fiestas vo fazer
Kon alegria i plazer

Los pastelikos vo kumer
Kon almendrikas i la myel
Los pastelikos vo kumer
Kon almendrikas i la myel, O

Una kandelika, dos kandelikas
Tres kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas
Sintyu kandelikas, sej kandelikas
Siete kandelikas, ocho kandelas para mi

[Translation:]
Beautiful Hanukkah is here
Eight candles for me
Beautiful Hanukkah is here
Eight candles for me, oh

One little candle, two little candles
Three little candles, four little candles
Five little candles, six little candles
Seven little candles, eight candles for me

There will be a lot of parties
With joy and happiness
There will be a lot of parties
With joy and happiness

We’re going to eat little pastries
With small almonds and honey
We’re going to eat little pastries
With small almonds and honey, oh

One little candle, two little candles
Three little candles, four little candles
Five little candles, six little candles
Seven little candles, eight candles for me

Bimuelo

By Sarah Aroeste

Bimuelo, bimuelo
You’re more than just fried dough
Bimuelo, bimuelo
Mmmm hello!

Latkes get the credit
Donuts aren’t far behind
But let’s just say there’s an even better treat
That will blow your Hanukkah mind

This Sephardic fried delight
Served sweet and warm
Will guarantee to set on fire your
Hanukkah taste buds alarm

A jelly donut it is not
Won’t find sufganiyot here
But when you fry one on the stove
Grab it fast else they disappear!

You can drizzle it with honey,
Or top it with whipped-cream
Sprinkle on some sugar and cinnamon
You got a Hanukkah treat supreme!

This is no ordinary Hanukkah dessert
You can eat it with rosewater, you can eat it with yogurt!
The miracle of Hanukkah wasn’t oil for the ocho
The true gift of the holiday of lights
… is we got bimuelo loco!

Latkes, gelt, presents and dreidel
You don’t know what you are missing
Til you inhale the bimuelo middle
And the flow is so chilling.
Think again, bimuelo craze
Everybody in the place!

credits: from Together/Endjuntos, released September 19, 2017

Siete Hijos Tiene Hanna

This song is about HANNAH AND HER SEVEN SONS, a story told in II *Maccabees , Chapter 7, of seven brothers who were seized along with their mother by *Antiochus IV Epiphanes, presumably shortly after the beginning of the religious persecutions in 167/166 B.C.E. that lead to the revolt culminating in Hanukah. They were commanded to prove their obedience to the king by partaking of swine’s flesh. The brothers defiantly refused to do so. Encouraged in their resolve by their mother, they were executed after being put to frightful tortures. When the mother was appealed to by the king to spare the youngest child’s life by prevailing upon him to comply, she urged the child instead to follow in the path of his brothers, and she herself died shortly thereafter.

And click here for a downloadable PDF minus the videos: Sephardi Hanukah

The following blessings are said before the lights or the Shamash are lit, both in the synagogue and at home. After the first night, each succeeding light is set to the left of those of the preceding evening and lit from left to right.

The Sephardi custom is to use an independent light to light all the others, with the Shamash being lit last.

On the first night add:

A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House; of David.I will extol thee, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my enemies to rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried unto Thee, and You didst heal me;

O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world; You did keep me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise unto the LORD, O ye His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a life-time;
weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Now I had said in my security: ‘I shall never be moved.’

You established, O LORD, in Thy favor my mountain as a stronghold– You hid Your face; I was frightened.

Unto You, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise You? shall it declare Your truth?

O Fortress, Rock of my salvation, unto thee it is becoming to give praise:

let my house of prayer be restored, and I will there offer thee thanksgivings

when thou shalt have prepared a slaughter of the blaspheming foe,

I will complete with song and psalm the dedication of the altar.

The Greeks were gathered against me in the days of the Hasmoneans;

they broke down the walls of my towers, and defiled all the oils;

but from one of the last remaining flasks a miracle was wrought for thy beloved,

and the wise men appointed these eight days for song and praises.

Siete Hijos Tiene Hanna

Siete hijos tiene Hanna
Hanna la buena guidía
Los mando a yamar el rey
A todos siete en un día

Vena aqui hijo de Hanna
Hanna la buena guidía
Te dare la mi corona
Asentate en la mi síya

Yo no quero tu corona
Ni me asento en la tu síya
Yo no piedro mi Ley Santa
No entro en la falsía

Hanna has seven sons
Hanna the good Jewess
The king ordered them to come
All seven of them in one day

Come here son of Hanna
Hanna the good Jewess
I will give you my crown
And you’ll sit down on my throne

I do not want your crown
Nor will I sit on your throne
I will not forsake my Holy Law
Nor enter into falsehood

And click here for a downloadable PDF minus the videos: Sephardi Hanukah

The following blessings are said before the lights or the Shamash are lit, both in the synagogue and at home. After the first night, each succeeding light is set to the left of those of the preceding evening and lit from left to right.

The Sephardi custom is to use an independent light to light all the others, with the Shamash being lit last.

On the first night add:

A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House; of David.I will extol thee, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my enemies to rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried unto Thee, and You didst heal me;

O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world; You did keep me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise unto the LORD, O ye His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a life-time; weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Now I had said in my security: ‘I shall never be moved.’

You established, O LORD, in Thy favor my mountain as a stronghold– You hid Your face; I was frightened.

Unto You, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise You? shall it declare Your truth?

O Fortress,​ Rock of my salvation​​, unto thee it is becoming to give praise:

let my house of prayer be restored,​ and I will there offer thee thanksgiv​ings

when thou shalt have prepared a slaughter​ of the blasphemi​ng foe,

I will complete with song and psalm the dedication of the altar.

The Greeks were gathered against me in the days of the Hasmonean​s;

they broke down the walls of my towers, and defiled all the oils;

but from one of the last remaining​ flasks a miracle was wrought for thy beloved,

and the wise men appointed​ these eight days for song and praises.

Siete Hijos Tiene Hanna

Siete hijos tiene Hanna Hanna la buena guidía Los mando a yamar el rey A todos siete en un día

Vena aqui hijo de Hanna Hanna la buena guidía Te dare la mi corona Asentate en la mi síya

Yo no quero tu corona Ni me asento en la tu síya Yo no piedro mi Ley Santa No entro en la falsía

Hanna has seven sons Hanna the good Jewess The king ordered them to come All seven of them in one day

Come here son of Hanna Hanna the good Jewess I will give you my crown And you’ll sit down on my throne

I do not want your crown Nor will I sit on your throne I will not forsake my Holy Law Nor enter into falsehood

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a life-time;
weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

O Fortress, Rock of my salvation, unto thee it is becoming to give praise:

let my house of prayer be restored, and I will there offer thee thanksgivings

when thou shalt have prepared a slaughter of the blaspheming foe,

The Greeks were gathered against me in the days of the Hasmoneans;

but from one of the last remaining flasks a miracle was wrought for thy beloved,

and the wise men appointed these eight days for song and praises.

Siete hijos tiene Hanna
Hanna la buena guidía
Los mando a yamar el rey
A todos siete en un día

Vena aqui hijo de Hanna
Hanna la buena guidía
Te dare la mi corona
Asentate en la mi síya

Yo no quero tu corona
Ni me asento en la tu síya
Yo no piedro mi Ley Santa
No entro en la falsía

Hanna has seven sons
Hanna the good Jewess
The king ordered them to come
All seven of them in one day

Come here son of Hanna
Hanna the good Jewess
I will give you my crown
And you’ll sit down on my throne

I do not want your crown
Nor will I sit on your throne
I will not forsake my Holy Law
Nor enter into falsehood