Blessings
Netilat Yadayim
(Washing of hands)
The hands are ritually washed before praying and before eating
After washing but before drying the hands, the blessing below is said.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בּמִצְוֹתָיו, וצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Elohenu, melekh ha`olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu `al netilat yadayim.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the taking (drying) of hands."
Holiday prayers and blessings
Shabbat
(Candle lighting blessings before Shabbat)
The Shabbat candles are lit at least eighteen minutes before sunset on Friday evening.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, Melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle[s]."
The Chabad version of the blessing adds the word קודש at the end of the blessing, making "... the candle of the holy Shabbat," transliterated, "... ner shel Shabbat kodesh."
Hanukkah
Two blessings are recited as the Hanukkah candles are lit. On the first night, the shehecheyanu blessing is said as well (see below).
Blessing for lighting the candles
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light[s]."
Blessing for the miracles of Hanukkah
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, she'asa nisim la'avoteinu ba'yamim ha'heim ba'z'man ha'ze.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time..."
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
(New Year and Fasting day)
On yom tov (when it falls on a weekday), it is permissible to transfer a flame (but not to create a new flame).
The festival candles should preferably be lit before sunset on erev yom tov (the afternoon before the holiday), but if they were not lit before sunset, they may (and should) be lit after sunset from a pre-existing flame.
Over apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah
On Rosh Hashanah eve, at the start of the festive meal, it is customary to dip some cut raw apples into some honey as symbolic of asking God to grant a sweet new year.
The blessings for the apples and honey:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, bo're p'ri ha'etz.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree."
***
A bite of apple dipped in honey is eaten, which is followed by:
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ‑ וא‑לֹהַי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּחַדֵשׁ עָלֵינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה
Transliteration:
Y'hi ratzon mil'fanekha, Adonai Eloheinu velohei avoteinu, shet'hadesh aleinu shana tova um'tuka.
Translation:
"May it be Your will, LORD our God and God of our ancestors, that you renew for us a good and sweet year."
Sukkot
(Feast of Tabernacles)
ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו, מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לישב בסכה.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu leishev ba'sukah.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah."
Blessings on special occasions
Mezuzah
The following blessing is said when attaching a mezuzah to the doorpost:
ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו, מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לקבוע מזוזה.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu likvo'a m'zuza.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to affix the mezuzah."
Sheheḥeyanu
(Who has kept us alive)
This blessing is said whenever something pleasant that has not happened for a while is encountered. This includes all holidays except Shabbat. It is said on the first night of Hanukkah, but not for the other nights of that holiday. The blessing is also recited upon such occasions as affixing a mezuzah (particularly on a new home), buying new dress clothes, or eating a rare fruit.
ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו, מלך העולם, שהחינו וקימנו והגענו לזמן הזה.
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, she'heheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higi'anu la'z'man ha'ze.
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season."
On immersion in a Mikvah
This blessing is made on immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath), e.g. by a woman following menstruation.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קְדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל הַטְּבִילָה
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al ha't'vila
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning immersion."
***
When immersing utensils in a mikvah, the final words are modified to "al tevliat keilim," or "concerning immersion of utensils."
(בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל טְבִילַת (כֶּלִי / כֵּלִים
Transliteration:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al ha't'vila kay'lee (m)
Translation:
"Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded the immersion of a vessel (s)