Q. Rabbi, why don’t you say the word “Shel” in the Chanukah blessing as many of us do?

A. Mushky Galperin (now Bendet) helped me with the reason for the Chabad custom being different. “Shel” is Hebrew for “of”. When it comes to Shabbat candles, it is Shabbat that is the main celebration and the candles are a ritual to welcome it. Whereas with the Menorah, these lights are the celebration themselves, they are not “of” anything else.