Every year I have to bone up on the blessings. I remember them mostly. But it helps to check. And pretty much every year I sing solo, or maybe assisted by a brave friend/cousin or two. Partly because most of my guests are not Jewish.
And since my Jewish-ness has a bit of an emphasis on the ISH, we’re all in trouble.
But not this year. This year, I am emailing the blessings to all my guests this week, and I dearly hope to follow through with my plan of printing the transliterations out and handing them out so I won’t have to sing solo this year. Because I CAN sing, somewhat. I can sing-ISH. But it’s so much better as a group activity. Especially on holidays.
The melodies of the prayers are a problem. They tend to warble up the scale and then tip sideways into heretofore unknown levels of off-key. I will have to practice myself, in order to lead the troops properly. One could just SAY them instead of singing. But what’s the fun in that?
The blessings (bruchas):
“Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, Asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu, l’hadlik ner, shel Hannukah”
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to Kindle the Hannukah light.
“Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, She’asah nisim la’avoteinu, bayamim, ha’hem, laz’man hazeh”Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this season.
And this one which is only sung on the first night:
“Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, She’hecheyanu, vekiyemanu, vehigi’anu, laz’man hazeh”
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
Wow, the party sounds great! Wish we could come!