In the beginning, God called order out of Chaos with the words: "Let there be Light." Therein lies the hope and obligation of people of faith: to make the light of justice, compassion, and knowledge penetrate the darkness of our time. In that same hope, it is tradition in Judaism for the matriarch of the household to begin each Shabbat and holiday by lighting candles.

בָרוְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלהֵינו מֶלְֶ הָעולָם, אֲשֶׁר קדּשָנו בְמִצְותָיו וְצִוָּנו לְהַדלִיק נֵר שֶל (שַבָת וְשֶל) יֹום טו

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik

ner shel (shabbat v'shel)yom tov.

בָרוְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלהֵינו מֶלְֶ הָעולָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנו וְקיְּמָנו וְהִגִיעָנו לַזְמַן הַזֶה.

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, sheh’hech’eiyanu

v’keiyemanu, v’higiyanula-z’man ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe who makes us holy with commandments and commands us to light the (Shabbat and) festival lights.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to celebrate this joyous occasion.


haggadah Section: Introduction