AL HA-NISSIM; A Prayer for our Jewish Heroes

AL HA-NISSIM; A Prayer for our Jewish Heroes

Al HaNissim is a prayer in our liturgy that is chanted during the Amidah for both the Shacharit and Musaf services. You will find it on page 119 in Shacharit and page 160 in Musaf. It may not be familiar to you as most of the year we skip it. But with Chanukah approaching next week, this prayer becomes very important.

The Al HaNissim is chanted daily during the entire festival of Chanukah, on Purim and on Yom Ha-Atz-Maut. It is a prayer that specifically addresses thanking G-d for heroes, miracles and deliverance in both ancient times and now. We chant it with thanks for the miracle of deliverance during Chanukah, the Purim story, and the miracle of the formation of the State of Israel. The opening of the prayer is always the same, and text covers each holiday separately.

After the opening blessing of Al HaNissim, (We thank you for the miraculous deliverance, for the heroism, and for the triumphs of our ancestors from ancient days until our time), the text for Chanukah then tells the story of Mattathias and his sons as they stood up to a cruel power that rose up against the people of Israel. While we were commanded to abandon G-d’s Torah and Mitzvot, Mattathias and his sons led the rebellion and G-d stood by our people with mercy in times of these troubles. G-d delivered our people from our enemies, and gave us the miracle of the oil that lasted for 8 days. These days have been set-aside for us to give thanks for these miracles, brought to us by G-d.

Al HaNissim is read just after the Modim in both Shabbat and Weekday services. It is really an adjunct of the Modim Anachnu Lach and unique in that there are 2 versions (one read by the congregation, and one by the Cantor) during the repetition of the Shacharit or Musaf service. The texts of both versions use the words Ni-secha, and Nif-le-o-techa, the miracles and deliverance by G-d. G-d is the source of our daily miracles and we also acknowledge that G-d has the ability and awareness to give these miracles.

Additionally Al HaNissim is also added to the benching of Birchot Ha-Mazon during the entire celebration of Chanukah. It is the only liturgical addition to the text for Chanukah. While we eat our Latkes and spin our Dreidels this year, take some time to look at the Al-HaNissim, read the words and give thanks for the great miracles that G-d has brought us.

Chag Hanukah Samaech, 

Cantor Toby Schwartz