Question
Two questions regarding the Chanukah Blessings for lighting the Menorah:
1. Who wrote them, and when?
2. The first one says in part: “…Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to Kindle the Chanukah light.” Where exactly is the commandment to kindle the Chanuka light? I can’t seem to find a record of this commandment.
Answer
The Rabbis at the time of the Chanukah miracle made up the blessings of Chanukah. The commandment to light Chanukah candles is Rabbinic. When we say “has commanded us, etc.” for any Rabbinic law we mean that G-d commanded us to do this in as much as he commanded us to listen to the Sages as we see in Deut. 17: 8-11.
Rabbi Meir Goldberg