Prayer for Chanukah 5774 (and Thanksgiving) with help from lists developed by the Temple Beth-El Machon (7th-12th Grade) Class

Eternal God, Creator of us all,

we are grateful this year for the many gifts that we enjoy:

For the opportunity to celebrate

with family,

with friends,

with our community;

For the unity and understanding that we can sustain

between people of different faiths and backgrounds

in our diverse nation;

For life and health;

For the bounty of the earth

And for the beautiful landscape that surrounds us;

For freedom and for the right to be different

for which our ancestors fought

as they preserved our heritage

in ancient times and until this day;

For the liberty that we strive to maintain as members

of a national community and the human family;

For the miracle of generosity and compassion,

which leads us to give to people in need, both near and far;

And for the hope that we see dancing in the candles’ flames

every year: lights that we call holy.

May the warmth of our celebrations unite our hearts                       now and throughout the year.