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Light two candles (or one for each member of your family). Pause for a moment to look into the flames. Circle the flames with your hands three times and then cover your eyes as you recite the blessing. Peeking is OK!     בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם אַשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַבָּת Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, whose mitzvot...

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Each year, the story of Chanukah reminds us that it’s in our power to overcome insurmountable odds. When the Maccabees, surrounded and outnumbered, faced the ancient Syrian-Greeks, they did not despair—they fought fiercely against the forces that wanted to oppress them. And when they reclaimed the temple and realized they had only enough oil to kindle the menorah for one night, they lit their flame—trusting that a miracle would extend this light. Our tradition beckons us to choose to act in...

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Praised are you, Source of Life Who has created the skies and the universe, The magic of darkness and light Blessed are the cycles that guide us Day and night, month and season Never missing their cue Blessed are the moon and stars The crowns of our earth Moving in splendid constellations May we accept the planetary wisdom To welcome time’s rhythm Of change and return May we shine with the stars And spread light to all beings Born from the...

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Gratefulness connects us up to the great flow of receptivity and generosity. When we begin the day in gratefulness, we step on to the path of love. מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ רוח חַי וְקַיָּם שֶהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ Modeh ah-nee lifanecha, Ru-ach chai v’kayam, she-hechezarta bee nishma-tee b’chemlah rabbah emunatecha!  I give thanks before you, living and eternal Spirit, for You have returned within me my soul with compassion; how great is Your faith in me!

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How to Bless the New Moon By Rachel Kann Back before the journey began, before traversing  the massive desert expanse, before the sea had even split, way way back in Egypt, the first collective gift-transmission was given: With transcendental gentleness, the  Indwelling/Ever-Presence/All-That-Is/Infinite  lifted your chin;  directed your attention  toward the heavens, said,  Let the moon’s cyclic and fluid beauty  hew you to the rhythm  of time’s unending spiral,  use this precise present  as your very beginning. Sanctify every recursive moment of...

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By Miriam Steinberg-Egeth While December is the season when kids get excited about presents, it’s also a perfect time to teach them the importance of giving back. These eight creative and fun ways of kids giving back this holiday season will work for kids of all ages and their grown-ups, and they can be tailored to Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, or just because. If you’re celebrating Hanukkah, you could do one for each night. No pressure, though, just pick and choose...

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This Chanukah, we rededicate ourselves to the fight to end police violence and racial profiling. As we light the Chanukah candles, we remember those who have lost their lives to racist police violence. We remember the lives they lived and the loved ones they left behind, and we dedicate the Chanukah flame to their memory. As we light the Chanukah candles, we remind ourselves that police violence can and must stop. Each night we take one action to move us closer...

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No matter what temper tantrum or adolescent rebellion marked the week that is past, we take a moment to place our hands on our children’s heads and to offer them words of pure love. The blessing for boys derives from Jacob’s blessing to his grandsons, Ephraim and Menashe, who are the first pair of siblings in the Bible who love each other rather than fight each other. The blessing for girls invokes the memory of our four matriarchs — Sarah, Rebekah,...

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Af-Bri (Anger-Health) is the name of the angel of rain; he thickens and forms clouds, he empties them and to cause rain. Water to crown the valley’s vegetation, may it not be withheld because of our debt. In the merit of the faithful ancestors protect the ones who pray for rain. Blessed are you, Hashem, shield of Abraham. You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the resuscitator of the dead; abundantly able to save. May the angel of rain give us portions...

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To Say Over Candles:   The lighting of the Sabbath candles is one of the most familiar customs connected to Shabbes and one that is part of our collective memory. According to tradition, candles are lit on Friday just before sunset, usually by the mother and daughters of the household, though they may be lit by any Jew.  The lighting of the candles signifies the spiritual essence of the Sabbath.  Candlelight flickers, spreading its light and its warmth.  It envelops us in...

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All my bags are packed I'm ready to go I'm standin' here outside your door I hate to wake you up to say goodbye But the dawn is breakin' It's early morn The taxi's waitin' He's blowin' his horn Already I'm so lonesome I could die So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you'll wait for me Hold me like you'll never let me go 'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane Don't know when I'll be back...