Hanukkah
Hanukkah 2024 begins on the evening of Wednesday, December 25 and concludes on Thursday, January 2. While Hanukkah takes place over winter break this year, we look forward to celebrating the holiday early at the Kraft Center. Stay tuned for more details!
Campus Hanukkah Lighting Policies:
Barnard:
- Menorahs may not be lit in any student rooms, suites, or anywhere other than the approved locations below.
- A maximum of 2 menorahs at a time may be lit in each of the following locations:
- 600 W 116th St lobby
- 616 W 116th St lobby
- Sulzberger lobby
- Elliott lobby
- Plimpton lobby
- Students must remain with the menorah until all candles have finished burning or are extinguished. Menorahs may not be left burning unattended.
- Students must cover the surface under their menorah with tinfoil to keep wax from dripping onto the table.
- The surface where the menorah is lit must be kept free of any combustible materials such as paper, plastic, and cardboard.
Columbia:
- Candles may be lit in the lobby of any residence hall, and may not be left unattended while burning.
- Candles must be placed on a noncombustible surface.
- Candles must be placed in a shallow dish of water on a hard flat surface if the surface is not noncombustible.
- All readily combustible materials, such as drapes, must be secured away from the open flame.
- Candles shall be doused with water prior to disposal.
How to light Hanukkah candles:
Begin by placing one candle in the separate space for the shamash, or helper candle. On the first night of Hanukkah, place one candle at the far right of your hanukkiah. On each subsequent night, add an additional candle to the left of the previous night’s candle. Light the shamash and recite these blessings. After reciting the blessings, use the shamash to light the other candle(s) from left to right, so the newest candle is lit first.
Blessing 1
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִידְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצוֹתָיו, וְצִיוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חַנֻכָה
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam asher kide’shanu be’mitzvotav ve’tsivanu le’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.
Blessing 2
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this season.
Blessing 3 – only said on the first night
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָּנוּ, וְקִיְּמָנוּ, וְהִגִּיָּענוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah adonai elohenu melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
Columbia University’s official motto is “In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen,” a Latin translation of Psalms 36:10: “In Your light, we see light.” The hope expressed in the verse is that God’s light will manifest itself in the blessings we experience in our lives. This Hanukkah, we hope that the light of your hanukkiah will help illuminate sources of brightness in your life.
Want to learn more about Hanukkah?
Check out these resources we love:
What is Hanukkah? How do you celebrate Hanukkah? What are Hanukkah foods? How do you play dreidel?