Hanerot Halalu and the Mitzvah to Bask in the Light of the Hanukkah Candles

Hanerot Halalu and

The Mitzvah to Bask in the 
Light of the Hanukkah Candles

Rabbi Carl M. Perkins

In a few days, most of us will once again light Hanukkah candles.  (Jewish sociologists tell us that it is perhaps the most widely observed seasonal Jewish ritual practice.)  

What will we say (or, hopefully, sing) when we light them?  At a minimum, I hope, we will recite the brachot (the blessings) over the candles.  There are two blessings that are to be recited each night, and the shehehiyanu, the blessing that is added the first time each season that we light the Hanukkah candles.  (Generally, of course, this is the first night of Hanukkah.  But if, for some reason, we are prevented from lighting candles on the first night, we can add the shehehiyanu on the first subsequent night on which we light candles.)

Following the blessings, it is traditional to recite two hymns.  The first of these is Hanerot Halalu ("These Candles").  The second, considerably better known, is Maoz Tsur ("Rock of Ages").  

I would like to say a few words about Hanerot Halalu, because it is quite unusual and interesting.  The words are as follows:

Hanerot Halalu

Hanerot halalu anachnu madlikin

Al hanissim ve'al haniflaot

Al hatshu-ot ve'al hamilchamot

She-asita la'avoteynu

Bayamim hahem, bazman hazeh

Al yedey kohanecha hak’doshim.

Vechol shmonat yemey Chanukah


Hanerot halalu kodesh hem, 


Ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem 


Ela lirotam bilvad


Kedai lehodot lihalel


Al nissecha veal nifleotecha

ve-al yeshuotecha. 

We kindle these lights


On account of the wondrous miracles 

And victorious battles 


That You performed for our ancestors


In those days at this season,


Through your holy priests.

During all eight days of Chanukah


These lights are sacred; 


And we are not permitted to make use of them, 


But only to look at them; 


In order to express appreciation and thanks to You 


For Your miracles, Your wonders 


And Your salvation. 

What makes this prayer/song unusual is that it teaches us an important Jewish law.  (How many other songs do you know that do that?)  The law it teaches is that we are not to make use of the Hanukkah candles while they're burning.  Rather, we are only permitted to enjoy them.  

No similar law applies to Shabbat candles.  There’s no objection to, say, eating by the light of Shabbat candles.  But Hanukkah candles are different.  They’re special.  We aren’t supposed to make use of their light – only to enjoy it.  (That’s why we use a shamash, or “helper” candle, and leave it burning while the other candles are burning.  We use the light of the shamash to see, and we enjoy the light coming from the other candles.) 

Indeed, we should light the candles and then sit in their presence and enjoy them, for at least a half hour or until they burn out.  Perhaps this is how the practice of spinning the dreidle arose: boys and girls came up with a game to play while sitting in the presence of the candles.

What an amazing religious obligation:  to sit in the presence of little candles and simply be.  We don’t have to do anything.  We just have to bask in the light of those candles.

For some of us, that might be a challenge. It might seem tedious. But maybe that’s what it takes to truly appreciate a miracle: the ability to sit back and not think about doing anything other than appreciating the moment.  

It’s because Hanerot Halalu teaches us this very unusual and precious law that I especially like singing it each year.

There are a number of older melodies for this hymn. Here's a familiar one, first sung by a small children's choir (click here), then by larger mixed groups (click here or here -- I like the way they do the clapping at the end).  Try here too, for a more stately rendition by a large combined choir.   Here's another cheerful melody, sung by a few Israelis here, and then a few Israeli soldiers having fun here.

But new melodies are constantly being written.  Arnie Harris, a member of our congregation who teaches music and leads a chorus at the Perkins School for the Blind, recently composed a new setting for Hanerot Halalu.  A sound file of his rendition, with electronic music simulating human voices, can be accessed here. (Try listening to it while following the score, which you can access here.)  

I encourage you to listen to Arnie's song -- perhaps while you're sitting in the presence of the Hanukkah candles, enjoying yourself!  

Oh, and don't forget to go to Cantor G's website, and explore the many other Hanukkah songs that are available there.  Just click right here!

Hag Urim Sameach!  Let me wish you and your family a very happy and healthy Hanukkah.  Once again, please don't forget to take the time to enjoy those candles! 

Sincerely, 

Rabbi Carl M. Perkins