Hadlakat Nerot - Lighting the Candles

Guest: The Jewish calendar is lunar, each month beginning with the new moon. We welcome each new day at sundown, not midnight, and we light candles at sunset as a way of welcoming in the new day. This year has a ”Leap Month” and regular months in the Jewish Calendar… called Adar I and Adar II. This is the reason Passover comes late this year and does not fall around the same time as Easter.

Host: Now in the presence of family and friends, before us the emblems of festive rejoicing, we gather for our sacred celebration. With the household of Israel, our elders and loved ones, linking and bonding the past with the future, we heed once again the divine call to service. Living our story that is told for all peoples, whose shining conclusion is yet to unfold, we gather to observe the Passover. You shall keep the feast of Unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of Egypt. You shall observe this day throughout the generations as a practice for all times. We assemble in fulfillment of the mitzvah. Remember the day on which you went forth from Egypt, from the house of bondage, and how G-d freed you with a mighty hand.

Guest: By lighting our candles, we carry on tradition while we hope to illuminate our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to the potential of the future.

Guest: Tonight, as we light our candles, we welcome this special holiday. Typically the woman or mother of the household lights the candles. So Jessica, do your thing while the host joins you in reciting the blessing

Host: בָּרוּך אַתָּה אַדָנָ-י אֱ-להֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם אַשֶׁר קִדְשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַבָּת קודֶש

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov

Group: We give thanks for being here at this special time and for those with whom we celebrate this special holiday.


haggadah Section: Introduction