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Written by Rabbi Jill Hammer, this post presents an introduction to Chag HaBanot, a women’s festival traditionally celebrated during Hannukah by some Sephardic and North African communities, as well as a summary of some ancient and modern celebratory rituals. Rabbi Jill Hammer, an author, teacher, mystic and poet, shared this ritual on Ritualwell, a project of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College that provides a platform for creating new Jewish practices
Here are the traditional Chanukah blessings in masculine as well as feminine God language. To honor Chag Habanot, you could use the feminine blessings on the seventh night of Chanukah.
First Blessing: Masculine God-Language
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּהBarukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha’olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel hanukah.
First Blessing: Feminine God-Language
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ מְקוֹר הַחַיִּים אֲשֶׁר קִדַשְׁתַנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֵיהָ וְצִוְתָנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּהBerukha Aht Yah Mekor Hahayim asher kidshatnu bemitzvoteyha vetzivatnu lehadlik ner shel Hanukah.
First Blessing: Translation
Praised are You God, Source of Life, who makes us holy through your commandments and commands us to light the Hanukah candles.
Second Blessing: Masculine God-Language
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמָן הַזֶּהBarukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha’olam she’asah nisim l’imoteynu vela’avoteynu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Second Blessing: Feminine God-Language
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ מְקוֹר הַחַיִּים שֶׁעָשְׂתָה נִסִּים לְאִמוֹתֵינוּ וְלַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמָן הַזֶּהBerukha Aht Yah Mekor Hahayim she’astah nisim le’imoteynu vela’avoteynu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Second Blessing: Translation
Praised are You God, Source of Life, who performed miracles for our ancestors in their day at this season.
Blessing for the First Night Only: Masculine God-Language:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה(G-d as masculine) Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha’olam shehekheyanu ve’kiyemanu ve’higianu lazman hazeh.
Blessing for the First Night Only: Feminine God-Language
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָתְנוּ וְקִיְּמָתְנוּ וְהִגִּיעָתְנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה(G-d as feminine) Berukha Aht Yah Mekor Hahayim shehekheyatnu vekiyematnu vehigi’atnu lazman hazeh.
Blessing for the First Night Only: Translation
Praised are You God, Source of Life, who keeps us alive, sustains us, and brings us to this moment.
You could also sing Debbie Friedman’s Misheberach. If you want, have a meal on the seventh night during which you study a few verses of the story of Judith or of a biblical story of a woman who persevered, recalling the custom that food at meals where words of Torah are spoken is especially blessed.