Channuka
Eight-night Jewish holiday
Channuka is an alternate spelling of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
The spelling variations—Chanukah, Hannukah, Channuka—reflect different transliterations from Hebrew, where the initial sound has no exact English equivalent.
We lit the Channuka candles each night.
Jewish ceremonial lampstand
- dreidelHebrew-lettered spinning top
- latkesFried shredded potato cakes
- geltSlang for cash
- MaccabeesJudean revolt leaders
shamash · blessings · Shabbat · Torah · synagogue · rabbi · Hebrew · kosher
Organized public celebration
- latkesFried shredded potato cakes
- dreidelHebrew-lettered spinning top
- geltSlang for cash
- giftsItems freely given
family · gathering · songs · games · tradition · winter · feast · joy
Wax lights with wicks
- menorahJewish ceremonial lampstand
- shamashMenorah's attendant flame
- illuminationProvision of light
- flameBurning gas made visible
wick · kindle · glow · windowsill · lighting · bright · flicker · darkness
Slippery viscous fluid
- rededicationRenewed formal commitment
- templeSacred worship structure
- cruseSmall ceramic liquid container
- divineOf or from gods
providence · supernatural · faith · blessing · sacred · prayer · hope · wonder
Sacred worship structure
- altarSacred ritual table
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- sanctificationMaking someone or something sacred
Jerusalem · menorah · restoration · cleansing · holy · inauguration · sacred · reclamation
Judean revolt leaders
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
liberation · temple · insurrection · victory · tyranny · oppression · overthrow · sovereignty
menorah
Jewish ceremonial lampstand
Maccabees · shamash · blessings · Shabbat · Torah · synagogue · rabbi · Hebrew · kosher · mitzvah
festival
Organized public celebration
gifts · family · gathering · songs · games · tradition · winter · feast · joy · parties
candles
Wax lights with wicks
- menorahJewish ceremonial lampstand
- shamashMenorah's attendant flame
- illuminationProvision of light
flame · wick · kindle · glow · windowsill · lighting · bright · flicker · darkness · winter
oil
Slippery viscous fluid
- rededicationRenewed formal commitment
- templeSacred worship structure
- cruseSmall ceramic liquid container
divine · providence · supernatural · faith · blessing · sacred · prayer · hope · wonder · lasting
temple
Sacred worship structure
- altarSacred ritual table
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
sanctification · Jerusalem · menorah · restoration · cleansing · holy · inauguration · sacred · reclamation
Maccabees
Judean revolt leaders
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
resistance · liberation · temple · insurrection · victory · tyranny · oppression · overthrow · sovereignty
ChannukaYom Kippur
Annual Jewish atonement observance
Rosh Hashanah · Tisha B'Av · Passover · Shavuot · Sukkot