Hanukkah noun. also Chanukah /ˈhɑːnəkə/ plural Hanukkahs . Hanukkah .
Is it spelled Hanukkah or Chanukah?
The answer is that both are considered correct, though Hanukkah is the most widely used spelling , while Chanukah is more traditional.
Why are there multiple 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.
What does the Hebrew word Chanukah mean?
The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication ,” and this holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. ... Judah and his compatriots reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and sought to re-light its menorah (an oil-based candelabrum).
How many ways can you spell Hanukkah?
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.
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). Or if you want to show off your Hebrew skills, say “Chag Urim Sameach!” (urim means “lights”).
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.
How do you say the word Hanukkah?
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. It may make you sound like you are trying to get something out of your throat but this means you are doing it right.
What are Hanukkah symbols?
The most famous symbol of Hanukkah is the hanukkiah , the nine-branched candelabra which is lit each night, and can often be seen in house windows. Hanukkah celebrations are centred around lighting the hanukkiah, and families will gather to light the candles together.
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.
Why is there 9 candles in menorah?
The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration is the hanukkiah or menorah, a candelabra that holds nine candles. Eight candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others.
What do the 8 days of Hanukkah stand for?
Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew . The eight-day holiday celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after it was retaken by the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors, from the Greeks in the 2nd century BCE, as explained by Tablet magazine.
What are the 16 different ways to spell Hanukkah?
Hanukkah : 8,470,000 hits. Chanukah : 3,390,000 hits. Hanukah : 862,000 hits. Hannukah : 677,000 hits.
What can I say instead of Happy Holidays?
- Enjoy the holiday season.
- Warmest Wishes.
- May your days be merry and bright.
- Hanukkah Sameach!
- Light the menorah.
- Wishing you a new year full of peace and joy.
- May your holidays be full of warmth and cheer.
- The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
Why is blue used for Hanukkah?
The most obvious explanation for blue and white being the colors associated with Hanukkah is the Israeli flag, designed by the Zionist movement in 1891 and officially adopted in 1948. ... White suggests purity, peace, and light. Blue is associated with the sky, faith, wisdom, and truth .
