For many English speakers, the festival is also known for confusion over the spelling of its name: Is it
Hanukkah
or Chanukah? The answer is that both are considered correct, though Hanukkah is the most widely used spelling, while Chanukah is more traditional. In addition, more than 20 other variations are recorded.
Is Hanukkah and Chanukah pronounced the same?
The word Hanukkah is always spelled the same in Hebrew
and is pronounced with a ‘het' sound at the beginning similar to the Scottish ‘loch' sound. … The ending sound is the ‘kaf' sound, and so we have Chanukah and Hannukah in English, as described in the video below.
Why is Hanukkah spelled with a CH?
Written in Hebrew, the holiday is spelled, חנוכה. Pronounced with the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, chet, a
guttural, throaty sound similar to the “ch” in
Johann Brach, according to Chabad. This led to the spelling of the holiday with a “ch” as Chanukah.
Why are there 2 ways to spell Hanukkah?
The answer lies in Classical Hebrew, which used the dagesh to indicate the intensification (doubling) of a consonant. So the כּ in Classical Hebrew really
did sound like two k's pronounced in quick succession
, hence the kk in some English spellings.
How many different spellings are there for Hanukkah or Chanukah in English?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, there are
24 spellings
for Hanukkah, during which Jews light candles on a menorah to celebrate the miracle of a one-day oil supply lasting eight after the Maccabean Revolt in the second century B.C. Even in pop culture, there are a number of ways to spell it.
What is the golden menorah?
The menorah (/məˈnɔːrə/; Hebrew: מְנוֹרָה Hebrew pronunciation: [menoˈʁa]) is described in the Bible as the
seven-lamp (six branches) ancient Hebrew lampstand made of pure gold
and used in the tabernacle set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem.
What Hanukkah means?
Hanukkah, which means
“dedication” in Hebrew
, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.
Is it OK to say Happy Hanukkah?
What is the proper greeting for Hanukkah? To wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, say “
Hanukkah Sameach!”
(Happy Hanukkah) or simply “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday).
What language is spoken in Hanukkah?
7 Interesting Facts About
the Hebrew Language
for Hanukkah. December 2
nd
marked the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Why are there so many spellings of Hanukkah?
The right way to spell Hanukkah
into corresponding characters of another alphabet or language.” In Hebrew, the language from which the Jewish festival's name originates,
the word for Hanukkah is not easily transliterated into English
. This accounts for why there are so many spelling variants (there are more than 20).
What is the Hanukkah prayer in English?
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam
, asher kid'shanu b-mitzvotav, v-tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Blessed are you, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy through Your commandments, and commands us to light the Hanukkah lights.
What is the difference between a menorah and a Hanukkiah?
A menorah, which has only seven candleholders, was the lamp used in the ancient holy temple in Jerusalem — now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. A Hanukkiah, however, has nine candlesticks —
one for each night of Hanukkah and an extra one to light the others
.
How long does Hanukkah last?
Hanukkah lasts for
eight days
.
What do Jews do at synagogues?
Synagogues are consecrated spaces used
for the purpose of prayer, reading of the Tanakh (the entire Hebrew Bible, including the Torah), study and assembly
; however, a synagogue is not necessary for Jewish worship. Halakha holds that communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews (a minyan) assemble.
What are the 3 Hanukkah blessings?
The traditional Hanukkah candle lighting service consists of saying all three blessings on the first night, and only the first and second blessings for the seven nights to follow. Transliteration:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
