The fabled Hanukkah story we love to tell our children is the miracle of how a tiny cruse of oil which should only have been able to burn for one night lasted for eight!  Although just a story used to simplify the historical events commemorated by this holiday or to make magical the lights of Hanukkah, the miracle of the oil pales in comparison to the miracles of our natural surroundings, though we so often take those for granted.  Judaism teaches us to see the miraculous in the most “ordinary” moments – the functioning of our bodies, the appearance of a rainbow, or the arrival of the morning sun.

Our Little Minyan members strive to care for the earth in a variety of ways, from compostable cutlery to participation in the local food movement.  In that spirit, we offer these blessings from ritualwell.org to add to the traditional Hanukkah blessings.

First Night – Clean City Air:
Blessed are You, Spirit of the World, who has given us the gift of life through breath. May we be able to continue to breathe in fresh, clean air, reminding us of humanity’s creation.

Second Night – A More Peaceful World:
Blessed are You, who spreads the canopy of peace over the four corners of the earth. Guide us in the pursuit of peace and wholeness throughout the world.

Third Night – Stabilized Climate:
Blessed are You, Creator of All Worlds, who with wisdom created our world in a delicate balance. Let us respect how every being and every act connects us as one life.

Fourth Night – A Nuclear Genie Back in the Bottle:
Blessed are You, Source of Life, who has given us the ability to destroy life and sustain life. Teach us to use our power to support life and growth and to refrain from harm of the earth and other beings.

Fifth Night – A Clean Water Cycle:
Blessed are You, Living Waters, who grants rain in its seasons. Help us preserve the lakes, rivers, oceans and all bodies of water, so that all beings can depend on water’s sustenance for life.

Sixth Night – A Safe Food Chain:
Blessed are You, Nurturing One, who partners with us to bring nourishment to us through food. May we eat our fill and become more sensitive to the balance of all creatures on earth.

Seventh Night – Bountiful Land:
Blessed are You, the Ancient One, who created the earth in its beauty. Grant us the foresight to respect the land that we have been given by working to conserve its natural beauty.

Eighth Night – A Gift for the Future:
Blessed are You, Sustainer of Generations, who brings together parents and children. May we recognize that this earth will belong to those who will come after us, so that we may keep the earth as a vital gift that is eternal.

These blessings, written by Rabbi Joshua Lesser, have been excerpted from “One for Each Night: A Hanukkah Study Guide for a Brighter Future” (a project of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light in cooperation with Congregation Bet Haverim). Photo of galvanized steel pipe menorah designed by artists Josh Korwin and Alyssa Zukas .