Spell Hanukkah

How do you spell Hanukkah? Hanukkah is a Hebrew word, the Hebrew alphabet is different from the English one. In English, Hanukkah is spelled as it sounds when spoken. The beginning sound of the word is not used in English. It comes from the back of the throat - it sort of like clearing your throat when you say the word. So there are different ways to spell Hanukkah, take your pick.

At least it’s always the same in Hebrew: You will just have to trust me on this one, it is five letters long and looks nothing like the words Below! It does however look like this.

Hanukkah (rededication) has only five letters in the original Hebrew. In English there are at least 16 ways to spell it, including: Channuka, Channukah, Chanuka, Chanukah, Chanuko, Hannuka, Hannukah, Hanuka, Hanukah, Hanukkah, Kanukkah, Khannuka, Khannukah, Khanuka, Khanukah, Khanukkah, and Xanuka.

When typed into your spell check these are your most common spellings Chanukah, Hanukah, and Hanukkah. Now when you say it, it is not a soft “H” sound! The “CH” is not quite as hard as the “CH” in Christmas but not the “Ch” in Church. It is more like the “Caw” of a crow. Thus since most Americans say Hanukkah with a soft “H” they spell in that way.

The Importance is not in the spelling, it is in the heart. It means Rededication. This is a Rededication of the Temple, their rededication to worship, the rededication to Torah. They had fought the whole Greek Army and won! This was a time to Praise God who delivers His People against all odds.

 For the Believer in Messiah Jesus this is not just a moment to reflect on the Rededication of the Defiled Temple in The Time of the Maccabees, which is the central focus of Chanukah,  For us it is a time to look at 1 Corinthians 3 : 16-17 more closely and rededicate ourselves to God as well. We also are a Miracle. We are to be set apart just as the Maccabees knew they could not conform to the world around them; we must be set apart as well. Just as the Jewish Household is to place their Chanukiah in a doorway or a window to let their light shine for all the world to see, our light is also to shine forth and call out those in darkness .

Does that sound familiar to you? The verse that rings out first in most Advent calendars is Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. This is a Messianic prophecy. This verse is immediately followed by verses 6 and 7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Oh how Holy is the Light of the World!

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

So know you know, it is not the spelling of Chanukah, it is in the heart that the difference is truly made.

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Oh Here is a new link http://www.torah.org/chanukah.html