Can anyone tell me the meaning of Hanukkah?

Answer 1

Hannukah
The word Hannukah comes from the Hebrew term for "dedication" and is the name for the eight-day Jewish festival beginning on the 25th day of Kislev which commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after the Maccabean forces defeated the Syrian-Greek enemies under over Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 215-164 BCE) in a war of liberation.

For hundreds of years, Jews had been dominated by foreign rulers. Antiochus was particularly despised because, in his attempts to develop greater "cultural unity" by requiring all of his subjects to adopt greater amounts of Greek culture - a process of forced Hellenization. Some Jews didn't mind this and in fact appreciated becoming more closely aligned with a world which they regarded as learned and civilized. Others, however, hated and were offended by the new laws - especially when it was forbidden to circumcise young boys, an attempt to further dilute Jewish cultural uniqueness.

The inevitable revolt was lead by a family of Jewish priests named the Maccabeans because their leader was known as Judas "Maccabeus," or "the Hammer." They were also sometimes known as the "Hasmoneans," based upon the name of a distant ancestor. This revolt began in 167 BCE with simple guerilla skirmishes, leading to a full-scale revolt across the entire country and the Syrian armies being driven out entirely. This was the first sovereign Jewish state in more than 400 years, which meant that the rededication of the Temple was especially welcome.

According to tradition, when the Temple was rededicated, only a single day's supply of undefiled oil could be found. However, that little bit of oil lasted a full eight days - a miracle which is commemorated through eight days of Hannukah when observant Jews light a new candle on an eight-candle menorah every evening.

Hannukah in America
Hannukah for Jews in America differs from that observed by Jews elsewhere in the world. For most Jews, Hannukah is a relatively minor holiday. For Jews in America, however, Hannukah has become a major event - and that is due to the influence of Christianity and Christmas. Changing Hannukah so that it looks more like Christmas as become a way in which Jews have "split the difference" - becoming more assimilated to Christian culture without entirely giving upon Jewish traditions.

How has this been achieved? The first step was in choosing Hannukah itself. It always falls near the end of the year - sometimes closer and sometimes farther from Christmas, but always close enough that it could qualify. Second was in making Hannukah something grander than it traditionally had been. The American Jewish Committee has declared that Hannukah is not central to Judaism and that Jewish children do not need to be absent from schools on that day. Nevertheless, American Jews have come to treat Hannukah as if it were central - just as Chrismas grew from a minor holiday into the central day on the calendar for many Christians.

The third step has been to add to Hannukah many of the features which have long characterized Christmas. Many Jews buy and decorate a "Hannukah Bush" in place of a Christmas tree. Many Jews exchange a present on each of the eight nights of Hannukah and sometimes they exchange many presents on the final night.

Alternate Spellings:hanukkah

Answer 2

Hanukkah

In Judaism, a holiday celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 164 BC, after its desecration three years earlier by order of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem and reconsecrated the Temple after leading a successful revolt against Syrian rule. The lighting of the menorah recalls the story that a one-day supply of oil burned miraculously in the Temple for eight days until new oil could be obtained. Sometimes called the Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights, it is celebrated for eight days in December, during which the ceremonial candles are lit and children play games and receive gifts. Originally a minor holiday, it has become more lavishly celebrated as a result of its proximity to Christmas.

Hanukkah, in Judaism, the Festival of Lights, the Feast of Consecration, or the Feast of the Maccabees; also transliterated Chanukah. According to tradition, it was instituted by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers in 165 B.C. to celebrate the dedication of the new altar in the Temple at Jerusalem. The festival occurs in December near the time of the winter solstice, as does Christmas, and lasts eight days. Hanukkah later came to be linked also with a miraculous cruse of oil that burned for eight days, leading to the practice of lighting special Hanukkah candles, one the first evening, two the second, and so on. The eight-branched candlestand (menorah) used in that ceremony is a frequent symbol for the holiday.

Answer 3

Hanukkah is observed in Jewish homes by the lighting of candles on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night, three on the third night and so on.
Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the Oil. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.

Answer 4

I can, and the reason why I can is because I am of the Jewish faith.
Hanukah is the " Festival or Miracle of Lights". How this occured was when there was a limited amount of oil, and that it was not expected that there were to be long for very long. However, it was lit for 8 day, and that is the reason why Hannukah is celebrated for 8 days. By the way, traditionally the kinds of food that is traditionally consumed are dairy products, such as latkas, cheese blintzes and cheese bagels. It is usually warmed up, where upon some sour cream is poured on top of top of the food.
By the way, I almost forgot to mention to you Hannukah is celebrated on or about when Christmas is celebrated. It never falls on the same day according to the English Calendar, and the reason for that is because the English Calendar uses the sun as its focal point, while according to the Hebrew Calendar, it is focased on the moon. That is why, according to the Hebrew Calendar, the beginning of the following day commences right after sunset.
I hope that I have cleared all of this up for you.

Answer 5

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Rededication, is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or, while very rare in occasion, early January (as was the case for the Hannukkah of 2005–2006). The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on.

Answer 6

They're the same thing. You're probably wondering, "Why would the same word be spelled differently?" Well, every time you try to represent in English a word that comes from a language that uses a different alphabet, then you're going to have variant spellings, or "transliterations". For example, if you try to spell in English any word from Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, etc., any words from of these could have potentially variant spellings because none of these languages use the Roman alphabet that is used in English. "Chanukah" or "Hanukkah" means "dedication" in Hebrew, and those spellings are an attempt to represent how it should be pronounced using the Roman alphabet. The "ch" in chanukah is supposed to represent a gutteral "h" sound, like the "ch" in loch. Hope that helps.

Answer 7

http://www.chabad.org/chanukah
http://www.chabad.org/102816