The Miracles of Hanukkah and Purim

THE MIRACLES OF HANUKKAH AND PURIM

“Just as the world cannot exist without livelihood, it cannot exist without miracles.”13

What do Hanukkah and Purim have in common? Miracles. Both celebrate the relationship between God and the Jewish people, a bond that empowers our miraculous ability to overcome obstacles and make the impossible possible. In recognition, our sages added a special reflection on miracles to our daily prayers recited only on these two occasions.

תוֹרוּבְגַה לַעְו ןָקְרֻּפַה לַעְו םיִּסִּנַה לַע לַעְו תוֹאָלְפִּנַה לַעְו תוֹעוּשְּׁתַה לַעְו

(תוֹמַחְלִמַה :םיזנכשא חסונ) (תוֹמָחֶּנה :חרזמה תודע חסונ)

ןַמְּזַּב םֵהָה םיִמָיַּב וּניֵתוֹבֲאַל ָתיִׂשָעֶׁש .הֶּזַה We thank You for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds and saving acts, wrought by You, as well as for

the wars (Ashkenazic liturgical tradition)/consoling (Sephardic liturgical tradition) which You carried on for our ancestors in days of old, at this season.

HANUKKAH

Infuse each night of Hanukkah with an inspiring Jewish values story and with fun activities to engage with each value as a family.

If possible, display the Hanukkah lights so that they are visible from the street. On Friday, light the Hanukkah lights before the beginning of Shabbat. Recite each night upon kindling the Hanukkah lights:

םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ רֵנ קיִלְדַהְל וּנָוִּצְו ויָתוְֹצִמְבּ וּנָשְׁדִּק רֶשֲׁא .הָכֻּנֲח לֶשׁ Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who has made us holy with Your commandments, and instructed us to light a Hanukkah candle.

םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ ןַמְזַּבּ םֵהָה םיִמָיַּבּ וּניֵתוֹבֲאַל םיִסִּנ הָשָׂעֶשׁ .הֶזַּה Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days and at this time.

Recite on the first night of Hanukkah only:

םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ .הֶזַּה ןַמְזַּל וּנָעיִגִּהְו וּנָמְיִּקְו וּנָיֱחֶהֶשׁ Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who has given us life, and sustained us, and brought us to this time.

PURIM

Purim celebrates events described in the Book of Esther, the Jewish queen of Persia, who saved her people from doom. It’s a celebration of the wisdom of women, and the power in each of us to turn things around, making a tremendous difference– even catalyzing the miraculous. It’s a celebration of gratitude for the power of community and for God’s help.

You can welcome the magic of this holiday into your home with delicious hamantaschen and festive costumes, and hear the story come alive at a megillah reading in your community. Hearing the megillah is one of four mitzvot of Purim. The three others are about sharing the joy with friends and with the needy:

Giving gifts of food to friends and neighbors, in Purim gift baskets called mishloach manot.

Eating a special Purim meal or feast, in the joyful spirit of “eat, drink, and be merry.” The feast can be a costume party and an opportunity to step into possibilities that cross beyond your usual comfort zone, or that reflect layers of your potential yet to be revealed.

Providing means to support those who need help in order to celebrate Purim. This mitzvah, called matanot la’evyonim (“gifts to the poor”), honors the legacy of Esther and Mordechai, who took action to help their community.