The first blessing which we recite when lighting Chanukah candles contains thirteen words. A person should have in mind that these thirteen words arouse the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy.

The second blessing over the Chanukah candles also consists of thirteen words which arouse the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy.

In both blessings there are 26 words corresponding to the gematria of the Great Name of G-d.

(Kav Hayashar)
Immediately after lighting the first candle, and similarly on all the nights, begin to say the text of "Hanairot Halalu..." -- "These candles which we light...."

The text of this prayer is mentioned in the Tur Shulcan Aruch in the name of the Tractate Sofrim. A person should say this prayer of acknowledgment with great joy and with a tremendous sense of thanksgiving. After reciting this text of thanksgiving it is proper to immediately say Psalm 30, "A psalm, a song at the dedication of the house...." He should say it slowly and have in mind the great salvation which G-d did for us in those days. Also, Psalm 67, "To the chief musician.... G-d, be merciful unto us and bless us...."

I found that it is proper to continue with songs and praises for a half hour, and then to speak to the people in the house and to read to them from books and stories about G-d's miracles and wonders which he has done for us throughout the generations during these times....

(Yesod Veshoresh Ha'avodah)

Rebbe Yitzchak of Worka was a disciple of the holy Rebbe Bunam from Pashischa. One of the opponents of Rebbe Bunam was a Rabbi who was, nevertheless, a friend of Rebbe Yitzchak. This Rabbi would always denounce Rebbe Bunam, even in front of Rebbe Yitzchak of Worka. The followers of Rebbe Yitzchak asked him why he remained the friend of this Rabbi, and why he never answered the Rabbi's calumnies against his rebbe, the holy Rebbe Bunam?

Rebbe Yitzchak answered them with this story. "Once I was traveling, and while walking through one town a man came over to me, looked at me, and said, `Oh! Its you.' Then another man walked over to me, looked at me, and he said the same thing. A third person did the same, and I did not know what was happening.

"Afterwards, a woman came to me with a whole crowd of people, and the first three men were among the crowd. They all began to berate and curse me, saying, `So many years you left this woman alone.' In short, they thought I was her husband who had abandoned her many years beforehand; and no matter what I said, it did not avail, until I was forced to go with them to the bet din. There I proved that I was not her husband.

"All the time that they were berating me and cursing me I did not have any bad feeling about them. I realized that it was not me whom they were abusing. They thought I was the abandoned woman's husband. If they knew who I really was, then they would not have been disgracing me. In other words, everything that they did, they had really done to somebody else.

"It is the same with this Rabbe who speaks such hard words against Rebbe Bunam. I do not need to think about it at all, because I know that he speaks that way because he does not really know Rebbe Bunam. If he truly knew Rebbe Bunam, then he would not speak at all. In effect, he is not talking about the Rebbe, but about someone else."

At the time of candle lighting a person should request to merit to children and descendants who are virtuous and talmedai chachamim, occupied with Torah and mitzvot. Chazal have assured us that one who regularly enhances candle lighting will have children who are talmedai chachamim. Therefore, pray earnestly, and ask from the One who hears all prayers to merit to diligence in the study of the Torah. Make this prayer for yourself and your children; and furthermore, that they should not wander around outside the house wasting time and stumbling into all kinds of bad situations in the streets. Chazal have hinted at this when they said the mitzvah of candle lighting is "until those walking around have ceased to come from the marketplace."

A Mussar Word

The main reason that we praise and thank G-d during these days of Chanukah is that He thwarted the evil designs of the Greeks who wanted to stop our practice of Torah and mitzvot. The study of Torah is equal to all the other mitzvot. Therefore, it is proper during these holy days more than other times to be diligent in the study of Torah.

Ironically, because of our many sins, most people waste the opportunity of these days and withdraw from the study of Torah to run after worthless activities. When our ancient sages desisted from the study of Torah during these days it was to give the young men the opportunity to review their studies in order to augment their fluency in the Torah. Therefore, let those who will hear hear..., and let them put forth extra exertion for Torah and mitzvot during these days.

Furthermore, Harav Hachidah Rabbenu Chaim Yosef David Azulai has written in Avodat Hakodesh that these holy days should not be wasted in frivolity and vanities. In days when G-d performed miracles for us and we are obligated to praise Him for it, how could a person allow himself to sin?

Because of our many sins, instead of singing praises to G-d for the miracles which He has performed for us, there are people who conduct themselves frivilously. The holy books have exceedingly warned about this and a person should be careful about it (The Chofetz Chaim in Biur Halachah, 670).