Shavuah Tov!!!! Tonight we light the first light of Chanukah. “In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the wicked Hellenic government rose up against Your people Isarael to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will, But You in your abounding mercies, stood by them in their time of their distress. You waged their battles, defended their rights, and avenged the wrong done to them. You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous and the wanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with Your Torah.
You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, and effected a great deliverance and redemption for Your people Israel to this very day. Then Your children entered the shrine of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your Holy courtyards, and instituted these eight days of Chanukah to give thanks and praise your great name”.
