• Chanukah blessings in American Sign Language and Israeli Sign Language
Our Way/NCSY printed the blessings with English, Hebrew, Hebrew transliteration and Sign Language on their card in 1999. If you want a laminated copy, contact Our Way at [email protected] or call 212 613 8234 Voice.
Here are several examples on how to sign the blessings:
Hinda Kasher – Rochester, NY
Rabbi Fred Friedman – Baltimore, MD
Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe – Bloomington, IL
Oren Avnaim – Haifa, Israel
Happy Chanukah and thank you to the above signers for sharing with us.
• How to set up the Menorah for candle lighting
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Chanukah across the miles and near…
Enjoy the video of how to set up your candles the right way and lighting the Miracle Chanukah Menorah!
- Candles should be added to the menorah from right to left (like Hebrew writing)
- There are three blessings on the first evening then two blessings from 2nd to 8th evening.
- Light the shamash (servant) candle first, then recite the blessings while holding the candle.
- Do not light the other candles until the blessings are done!
- Then after reciting the blessings, use the shamash to light the Chanukah candles from left to right.
Spreading out the lights and love all over…
Thank you Kenneth S. Rothschild for taking this video!
* Menorahs and its rules
Do you notice something about all the kosher Menorahs from all over the world? Of course, besides the 8 candle holders for oil or wax plus the shamash (servant)…
There are some 7 candle holder menorahs without a shamash – it is a symbol of the menorah once standing in Jerusalem’s temple. Back then, it was lit by the High priests, ‘Kohanim’, every evening, using oil to burn it.
Yes, there are specific rules when designing menorahs.
According to Jewish law, the eight candles of the menorah must be arranged in a straight line, not set in a semicircle. Similarly, the menorah’s lights should be level or on an even slant, not some randomly higher than others.
There is an image of a I Love You menorah going around – the candles on top of the ILY fingers would not be acceptable… Instead, they could put the candle holders in front on the bottom in a straight line. We do not know who designed this artwork so if you know, please let us know.
So far, I know of one Jewish Deaf artist that has made ceramic menorahs – Ellen Mansfield of Maryland – see photo of the orange/yellow/blue menorah with a dreidel.
Happy Chanukah and enjoy!
Source: Sharon Ann Dror
