Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration central to Judaism, celebrating a miracle in 165 B.C.E. where a little jar of oil burned for 8 days, enough to cleanse the temple in Jerusalem. The word Hanukkah is Hebrew, but what does it mean?
Hanukkah is Hebrew for “dedication” and “rededication.” The Jewish holiday celebrates the rededication of the Temple and celebrates two miracles that occurred. The word “Hanukkah” comes from the Hebrew root which means “to initiate” and also “to dedicate.”
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The History of Hanukkah
Hanukkah is an eight day long holiday that is celebrated by Jewish people around the world. The holiday commemorates a miracle that happened in 165 B.C.E. when the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was rededicated, and a small jar of oil that should only have been enough for one day of lighting the temple’s eternal light lasted eight days. The word “Hanukkah” comes from the Hebrew phrase “הַנּוּכָחָה” which is most commonly translated to “dedication” or “rededication.”
The Significance of Hanukkah
The primary point of Hanukkah is to celebrate an idea of freedom that Jews strive to achieve. It is a holiday of liberty from any sort of spiritual and physical oppression. The Jewish people, at the time of Hanukkah, had been fighting off active religious oppression for years. Hanukkah recognizes the struggle of the Jewish people trying to overcome this level of spiritual oppression and celebrate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
How Is Hanukkah Celebrated?
The holiday of Hanukkah is customarily celebrated in different and creative ways. The menorah (a nine-candled holder) is lit in honor of the holiday each night of the holiday for eight days. During Hanukkah, people may light the candles to the Hanukkah song, pray, play dreidel (a spinning top), make Hanukkah crafts, sing songs, eat special foods, and tell Hanukkah stories.
Conclusion
Hanukkah is a special holiday in the Jewish religion. It celebrates a miracle in which a small jar of oil burned for eight days when it should only have been enough for one, thus rededicating the temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is Hebrew for “dedication” and “rededication.” It is a holiday of freedom and unity that the Jewish people strive for and celebrate.
Today, Hanukkah is celebrated in a variety of ways, but the meaning of the holiday remains the same. It is a holiday of spiritual and physical freedom that Jews strive for and celebrate throughout the world. Hanukkah stands for rededication and celebrating the liberation of Jewish people.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.