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V'al Hanissim


Translation:

And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wrought for our ancestors in those days, at this time—

In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the wicked Hellenic government rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will. But You, in Your abounding mercies, stood by them in the time of their distress. You waged their battles, defended their rights, and avenged the wrong done to them. You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the wanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with Your Torah. You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, and effected a great deliverance and redemption for Your people Israel to this very day. Then Your children entered the shrine of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courtyards, and instituted these eight days of Chanukah to give thanks and praise to Your great Name.

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From Siddur Tehillat Hashem. © Copyright Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn NY

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.
 

Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Jan 6, 2012
@ Howie Kamen
The Hasmoneans (also known as the Maccabees) fought a war that was apparently impossible to win. They were heavily outnumbered by the world superpower of the time, as well as much less experienced and well-trained. They and we recognize that their victory was nothing short of miraculous, so that the victory is credited to G-d. Thus even though human beings stood and fought on the battlefield, their success was because G-d waged their battles.
Posted By Rabbi Shmary Brownstein, Chabad.org

Posted: Jan 2, 2012
Hannukah Q.
"You waged their battles ..." copied and pasted from the al Hanissim translation

What are we actually saying in this prayer, I am not quite clear on this meaning
Posted By Howie Kamen, Toronto, Canada

Posted: Dec 19, 2011
Chanukah or Hanukkah?
In the Hebrew, Chanukah is pronounced with the letter chet. The chet’s “ch” sound is not enunciated like the “ch” in child; rather it’s a guttural, throaty sound—like the “ch” in Johann Bach—which does not have an English equivalent. The letter “H” is the closest, but it’s not really it. So while some people spell and pronounce it “Chanukah” and others settle for “Hanukkah,” they really are one and the same.
Posted By Mrs. Chana Benjaminson
via mychabad.org

Posted: Dec 18, 2011
Chanukah or Hanukah
I get very confused and am trying to understand the difference between Chanukah and Hanukah... HELP!!!!

Will someone please enlighten me?
Posted By Phyllis Pearson, Paeroa, New Zealand

Posted: Dec 18, 2011
Chanukah
Thank you very much for sending ths wonderful information which I did not know of in the past. It is due to this message that I now know what Chanukah is, its history, its inportantance and why it is celebrated.
Posted By Mweemba Chileleko, lusaka, Zambia

Posted: Nov 9, 2010
Al HaNissim
Just sent this page to my sister who lives in Newport, VT. It seems the civic choir she's in will be performing the Al HaNissim prayer in Hebrew along with Mendelssohn's "He, Watching Over Israel" from "Elijah" in December at their Christmas/Hanukkah concert.
Posted By Suzanne Pomeranz, Jerusalem, Israel

Posted: Dec 12, 2009
Story of Chanukah
Happy Chanukah everyone! Friday night and Shabbat this week was the first time I learned about Chanukah. It made me feel a respectful connection to the Jews of the time of the Macabbees because today, when Jews are attacked all over the world, it made me realise EVEN more, that I should defend Jews just like they did, by fighting the anti-Semites until they run and hide like the Greeks before them did. That flame of Chanukah burns in me from this day forward, forever. Am Yisroel Chai!
Posted By Yakov, Sheffield, England

Posted: Dec 22, 2008
Very touching
I am not jewish but when I read this I was very touched. I can really understand the energy and once it hits my brain it is an automatic realization of the power of the Jewish God.
Posted By Sarah Mellin, Grass Valley, Ca.

Posted: Dec 15, 2008
The oil that lasted 8 days
One day of oil lasted 8 days, the miracle of Chanukah. The Chabad movement shares a common bond with Chanukah by providing Jews, like myself, a light that stays aflame. The many mitzvot of the Chabad movement in your support of Jews around the world to be stronger, more sensitive, more understanding Jews, and your help in guiding us approach being more TORAH true Jews has brought untold blessings to our lives. The tragic loss of Rabbi Holzberg and his wife Rivkah, should be a constant reminder that we Jews, wherever we live and however we live, are more than a community, we are a family. Toldah Rabbah for your enormous contributions to our lives.
Posted By Charles Richman, Fripp Island, sc/usa

Posted: Dec 6, 2007
chanukah
shalom! I thank-you so much for sending me the beautiful information for chanukah. i now can honor chanukah as i only did in my mind i now can do in heart. this is truly my greatest gift for chanukah. i will always love you all for helping me to learn who i really am and about all my beautiful brothers and sisters. Most of all i can say the holy prayers to Heshem again i thank you and much shalom.
Posted By elisheva, woodhaven, newyork



 


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