Lighting Candles

Please note that this page contain the name of God.
If you print it out, please treat it with appropriate respect.

If you do not have experience reading transliteration
please see the Guide to Transliteration.

On the first night, candles should be lit no later than 18 minutes before sundown. On the second night, candles should be lit immediately after nightfall, kindled by an existing flame. For the candle lighting time in your area, consult the list provided by the Orthodox Union or any Jewish calendar.

The words in [brackets] should be read only on the sabbath.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

l'had'lik neir shel [shabbat v'shel] yom tov (Amein) to light the candles of [Shabbat and of] the holiday (Amen)

Evening Kiddush for Rosh Hashanah

Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of wine or other liquid, no less than 3.3 ounces. If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine).

On Friday nights (Shabbat), insert the first paragraph of Shabbat kiddush here, that is, from Vay'hiy erev to asher bara Elohiym la'asot. On all other nights, skip words in [brackets].

Drink the wine after completing Shechecheyanu

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

(if using wine or grape juice) borei p'ri hagafen (Amein) Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)

(if using other liquids) shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein) Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

asher bachar banu mikol am v'rom'manu mikol lashon who has chosen us from among all people, and exalted us above every tongue

v'kid'shanu b'mitz'votav vatiten lanu Adonai Eloheinu, b'ahavah and sanctified us with His commandments,and you gave us, Lord our God, with love

et yom [hashabat hazeh v'et yom] this day of [Sabbath and this day of]

hazikaron hazeh yom [zikh'ron] t'ru'ah remembrance, a day of [remembrance of] shofar blowing

[b'ahavah] mik'ra kodesh zeikher litzi'at mitz'rayim [with love] a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt

ki vanu vachar'ta v'otanu kidash'ta mikol ha'amim Indeed, You have chosen us and made us holy from all peoples

ud'var'kha emet v'kayam la'ad and Your word is true and established for ever.

Barukh atah Adonai melekh al kol ha'aretz Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King over all the world,

m'kadeish [hashabat v]yisra'eil v'yom hazikaron. (Amein) Who sanctifies [the sabbath] and Israel and the Day of Remembrance. (Amen)

Shehecheyanu: Who Has Kept Us Alive

Shehecheyanu, which is normally only recited on the first night of a holiday, is recited on both nights of Rosh Hashanah.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. (Amein) who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season (Amen)

Apples and Honey

During Rosh Hashanah, it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey, to symbolize our hopes for a "sweet" new year. The apple is dipped in honey, the blessing for eating tree fruits is recited, the apple is tasted, and then the apples and honey prayer is recited.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe

borei p'ri ha'eitz (Amein). who creates the fruit of the tree. (Amen)

Take a bite from the apple dipped in honey, then continue with the following:

y'hi ratzon mil'fanekha Adonai eloheinu vei'lohei avoteinu May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors

sh't'chadeish aleinu shanah tovah um'tukah. that you renew for us a good and sweet year.

Home | What's Nu? | Current Calendar | About the Author | Glossary and Index | Mobile Site