Chapter 139:12
Chanukah
12. On the first night, before kindling [the menorah], one should recite
three blessings:
a) "L'hadlik [ner (shel Chanukah),]" ("[He gave us the mitzvah] to light
the Chanukah candles").
b) "She'osoh nissim la'avoseinu..." ("He performed miracles for our
forefathers").
c) "Shehecheyonu." On the subsequent nights, one does not recite
"Shehecheyonu."
After reciting the blessings, one should light the first candle. Then, one
should recite the passage "Haneiros hallolu" while one is lighting the
other candles (1).
A convert should [slightly alter the second blessing, saying "...she'osoh
nissim le'Yisroel" ("who performed miracles for Israel") [rather than
"...who performed miracles for our forefathers"]. If he said the [regular
form], "she'osoh nissim la'avoseinu," he fulfills his obligation (2).
[The following rules pertain to] an "onen" (one who has lost close relative
who has not yet been buried, see Chapter 196). If there is another person
present, the other person should kindle the Chanukah lights with the
blessings, and [the "onen"] should respond "Amen." If there is no one else
present, he should kindle the Chanukah lights himself without reciting the
blessings.
FOOTNOTES:
(1) In his Piskei Siddur, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi mentions that the
custom is to recite this passage after kindling all the lights. The Mishnah
Berurah 676:8 cites both opinions.
(2) From the statements of the Mishnah Berurah 675:14, it appears that, at
the outset, a convert should say "she'osoh nissim la'avoseinu."
