Hanukkah Vocabulary
Key words and phrases for Hanukkah.
Hanukkah—literally “rededication,” an eight-day holiday commemorating the Maccabees recapturing the Temple from the Greeks
Menorah—literally “lamp,” the seven-branched candelabrum that was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The hanukkiyah used on Hanukkah is commonly referred to as a menorah
Hanukkiyah—literally “Hanukkah lamp,” the Hanukkah lamp contains nine branches, one for each night of Hanukkah and one to hold the Shamash
Dreidel—literally “spinning top," a dreidel is a spinning top, with four sides, each marked with a different Hebrew letter
Sevivon—the Hebrew word for dreidel
Sufganiyah—jelly doughnuts, fried in oil and eaten on Hanukkah
Shamash—literally “the helper,” the candle on the Hanukkiyah that is used to light the other candles
Al Hanisim—literally “on the miracles,” the prayer added to the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon during Hanukkah
Maccabees—a family of religious zealots who triumphed over the Syrian Greeks and liberated the Temple
Latkes—potato pancakes fried in oil and eaten on Hanukkah
Nes Gadol Hayah Sham—literally “a great miracle happened there,” the letters on the dreidel represent these words
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