Candle Lighting
Sandy leads us in the lighting of the candles. As a reflection before the prayer, at many of our Seders, we have used this:
We are about to light the candles.
But it is not we who light them.
We shall strike the match
But G-d will bring forth light.
May G-d bring forth light from us
As we tell how G-d brought forth our people
From the darkness of Egypt’s burning days
Into the radiance of this joyous night.
At some of our more recent Seders, we have used this instead:
Blessed is the match that is consumed in kindling the flame.
Blessed is the flame that burns in the secret fastness of the heart.
Blessed is the heart strong enough to stop beating in dignity.
Blessed is the match that is consumed in kindling the flame.
This poem is by Hannah Szenes (Senesh), who was captured, tortured, and killed by the Germans in 1941 for trying to save Hungarians Jews from deportation.
The candles are lit. We say together:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha’olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom tov.
Blessed are You, Lord, our G-d, Ruler of the universe, Who sanctifies us with commandments, and commands us to light the candles on this holiday.
If either Seder falls on a Saturday night, we celebrate Havdalah. The last time the first Seder was on a Saturday night, in 2008, we used the following:
Because this Seder is being held on Saturday night, we also celebrate Havdalah, the ceremony that marks the end of Shabat, the Sabbath, and the return to the rest of the week. But, because this is Passover, we do things differently. Normally, we would use a special braided candle and a spice box; we don’t use the spice box on Passover, and we recite the prayer over the fire using the candles we just lit.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ
Baruch atah, Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha'olam, boray me'oray ha'aysh.
Blessed are You, G-d, our Lord, King of the universe, Creator of the fire's lights.
It is our tradition to recite the Shecheyanu here:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, she’hecheyanu v'ki'manu v'higi-anu laz'man hazeh.
Praised are you, Adonai, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sustained us, maintained us and enabled us to reach this moment in life.
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