Publicizing the Miracle of Chanukah and Everyday Miracles

For a miracle that occurs for the multitudes we recite a blessing, but for a miracle that befalls an individual person do we not recite a blessing? Wasn’t there an incident where a certain man was walking along the right side of the Euphrates River when a lion attacked him, a miracle was performed for him, and he was rescued? He came before Rava, who said to him: Every time that you arrive there, to the site of the miracle, recite the blessing, “Blessed…Who performed a miracle for me in this place.”And once when Mar, son of Ravina, was walking in a valley of willows and was thirsty for water, a miracle was performed for him and a spring of water was created for him, and he drank.Furthermore, once when Mar, son of Ravina, was walking in the marketplace of Meḥoza and a wild camel attacked him. The wall cracked open, he went inside it, and he was rescued. Ever since, when he came to the reeds he recited: Blessed…Who performed a miracle for me in the reeds and with the camel. And, when he came to the marketplace of Meḥoza he recited: Blessed…Who performed a miracle for me with the camel and in the reeds, indicating that one recites a blessing even for a miracle that occurs to an individual. The Sages say: On a miracle performed on behalf of the multitudes, everyone is obligated to recite a blessing; on a miracle performed on behalf of an individual, only the individual is obligated to recite a blessing.

Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: Four types of people are required to offer thanksgiving [with a special blessing]: [1] those who went to sea, or [2] traveled through the wilderness, or [3] became ill and was healed, or [4] had been imprisoned and got free.

When one awakens, one recites:

My God, the soul You have placed within me is pure. You formed it within me, You breathed it into me, and You guard it while it is within me. One day You will take it from me and restore it within me in the time to come. As long as the soul is within me, I thank You, Adonai my God and God of my ancestors, Master of all worlds, Lord of all souls. Blessed are You, Adonai, who restores souls to lifeless bodies.

Upon hearing the sound of the rooster, one should recite: Blessed…Who gave the heart [sekhvi] understanding to distinguish between day and night.

Upon opening one's eyes, one should recite: Blessed…Who gives sight to the blind.

Upon sitting up straight, one should recite: Blessed…Who sets captives free.

Upon dressing, one should recite: Blessed…Who clothes the naked.

Upon standing up straight, one should recite: Blessed…Who raises those bowed down.

Upon descending from one’s bed to the ground, one should recite: Blessed…Who spreads the earth above the waters, in thanksgiving for the creation of solid ground upon which to walk.

Upon walking, one should recite: Blessed…Who makes firm the steps of man.

Upon putting on one's shoes, one should recite: Blessed…Who has provided me with all I need.

Upon putting on one's belt, one should recite: Blessed…Who girds Israel with strength.

Upon spreading a shawl upon one's head, one should recite: Blessed…Who crowns Israel with glory.

We gratefully thank You, for You, Adonai our God, are our ancestors' God for all eternity, our Rock, our Shield of salvation generation to generation. We thank You and recount Your praise for our lives. We trust our lives into Your loving hand. Our souls are in Your custody and Your miracles are with us every day and Your wonders and goodness are with us at all times: evening, morning and noon. You are good, for Your mercies never fail us, and the Compassionate One, for Your loving kindness never ceases; forever we have placed our hope in You.

(During the season of Hanukkah add: And we praise You for the miracles and for the redemption and for the mighty deeds and for the victories and for the battles that You performed for our fathers in those days at this time:

In the days of Mattityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean, and his sons, when the wicked kingdom of Greece rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to stray from the laws of Your will, You, with great mercy stood by them in the time of their distress. You fought their fight, judged their cause and avenged them with vengeance. You delivered the strong 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 arrogant into the hands of those engaged with Your Torah. For Yourself you made a great and holy name in Your world, You performed a great deliverance for Your people Israel on this day. After these things, Your children entered into the Holy of Holies of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified the place of Your Holiness, kindled lights in Your holy courts and established these eight days of Hanukkah to express thanksgiving and praise to Your great name.)

And for all these, may Your name be blessed and exalted, our King, always and forever and ever.

All the living shall gratefully acknowledge You, Selah; and praise Your name in truth, the G-d of our salvation and our help, Selah. Blessed are You, Adonai, Whose name is good and to Whom it is fitting to give thanks.