Shabbat Chanukah
The Jewish Weekly | November 25, 2025
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Shabbat Chanukah

The Jewish Weekly | December 07, 2025

Shabbat Chanukah

Shabbat Chanukah this year is also the first day of Rosh Chodesh. Throughout davening, one should remember to recite Ya’aleh Veyavo.

If one forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo in davening, or is unsure whether he recited it:

  • At Maariv, one does not correct his omission.
  • At Shacharit and Mincha, if he realized before saying Hashem’s name at the end of Hamachazir Shechinato L’tziyon, he goes back. If he remembered between the conclusion of that Brachah and Modim, he recites it at that point, without going back. If he remembers any time after that point, but before he began reciting (the second) Yih’yu L’ratzon, he returns to the beginning of Retzei. If he remembered only afterwards, he must repeat the entire Amidah.
  • If one forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo during Shacharit and only realized after Musaf, he does not repeat Shacharit.
  • If one forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo during Mincha, and only realized after the Zman Tefillah has passed, he must recite an additional Amidah during Maariv, as compensation. Atah Chonantanu is recited only the first time. If one mistakenly said it only the second time, he must repeat the Amidah a third time without it. However, if one mistakenly said Atah Chonantanu both times, or not at all, he does not need to recite the Amidah a third time.
  • When repeating the Amidah, one should wait the span of time to walk four Amot (approx. two meters), and preferably, one should recite words of supplication between them.

During Birchat Hamazon, one should remember to recite V’al Hanissim, Retzei and Ya’aleh Veyavo. One should recite both the Harachaman for Shabbat as well as for Rosh Chodesh.

If one forgot Retzei or Ya’aleh Veyavo in Birchat Hamazon:

  • If he remembered before saying Hashem’s name at Bonei Yerushalayim, he goes back.
  • If he remembered after that, but before beginning the next Brachah, he recites the extra Brachah as printed in some Bentchers.
  • If one already began even the first word (Baruch) of the next Brachah, one must bentch again for omitting Retzei, but not for omitting Ya’aleh Veyavo.
  • When one forgot Retzei and bentches again, he need not repeat V’al Hanissim if he already recited it the first time, but he should still repeat Ya’aleh Veyavo.

Three Sifrei Torah are taken out for Kriat Hatorah. The Chanukah Haftorah is read, some add the first and last Passuk of the Rosh Chodesh Haftorah, followed by the first and last Passuk of the Machar Chodesh Haftorah. Av Harachamim and Tzidkatecha are not recited.

For Musaf, one davens Atah Yatzarta. [If one neglected to do so, but remembered before he began reciting (the second) Yih’yu L’ratzon at the end of the Amidah, he returns to Atah Yatzarta. If he remembered only afterwards, he must repeat the entire Amidah.]

It is customary to eat something special in honor of Rosh Chodesh, distinct from the special foods that one eats in honor of Shabbat and Chanukah.

Shabbat Chanukah

Shabbat Chanukah this year is also the first day of Rosh Chodesh. Throughout davening, one should remember to recite Ya’aleh Veyavo.

If one forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo in davening, or is unsure whether he recited it:

  • At Maariv, one does not correct his omission.
  • At Shacharit and Mincha, if he realized before saying Hashem’s name at the end of Hamachazir Shechinato L’tziyon, he goes back. If he remembered between the conclusion of that Brachah and Modim, he recites it at that point, without going back. If he remembers any time after that point, but before he began reciting (the second) Yih’yu L’ratzon, he returns to the beginning of Retzei. If he remembered only afterwards, he must repeat the entire Amidah.
  • If one forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo during Shacharit and only realized after Musaf, he does not repeat Shacharit.
  • If one forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo during Mincha, and only realized after the Zman Tefillah has passed, he must recite an additional Amidah during Maariv, as compensation. Atah Chonantanu is recited only the first time. If one mistakenly said it only the second time, he must repeat the Amidah a third time without it. However, if one mistakenly said Atah Chonantanu both times, or not at all, he does not need to recite the Amidah a third time.
  • When repeating the Amidah, one should wait the span of time to walk four Amot (approx. two meters), and preferably, one should recite words of supplication between them.

During Birchat Hamazon, one should remember to recite V’al Hanissim, Retzei and Ya’aleh Veyavo. One should recite both the Harachaman for Shabbat as well as for Rosh Chodesh.

If one forgot Retzei or Ya’aleh Veyavo in Birchat Hamazon:

  • If he remembered before saying Hashem’s name at Bonei Yerushalayim, he goes back.
  • If he remembered after that, but before beginning the next Brachah, he recites the extra Brachah as printed in some Bentchers.
  • If one already began even the first word (Baruch) of the next Brachah, one must bentch again for omitting Retzei, but not for omitting Ya’aleh Veyavo.
  • When one forgot Retzei and bentches again, he need not repeat V’al Hanissim if he already recited it the first time, but he should still repeat Ya’aleh Veyavo.

Three Sifrei Torah are taken out for Kriat Hatorah. The Chanukah Haftorah is read, some add the first and last Passuk of the Rosh Chodesh Haftorah, followed by the first and last Passuk of the Machar Chodesh Haftorah. Av Harachamim and Tzidkatecha are not recited.

For Musaf, one davens Atah Yatzarta. [If one neglected to do so, but remembered before he began reciting (the second) Yih’yu L’ratzon at the end of the Amidah, he returns to Atah Yatzarta. If he remembered only afterwards, he must repeat the entire Amidah.]

It is customary to eat something special in honor of Rosh Chodesh, distinct from the special foods that one eats in honor of Shabbat and Chanukah.

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The Jewish Weekly | November 25, 2025