What Does the Word Chanukah Mean?

Rabbi Lawrence • Dec 19, 2011 (Updated: Jul 16, 2019)Comment

The word Chanukah means to dedicate. The Assyrian Greeks had taken control of the land of Israel and were imposing decrees upon the Jewish people that were becoming intolerable. The Greeks wanted to “enlighten” the Jewish people with their way of looking at the world. When the Jews rejected this way of life, the Greeks began to make decrees on the Jewish people to break their spirit such as denying the the chance to perform bris milah on their sons, or from keeping Shabbat, or from making their calendar.

When this did not stop the Jewish people from leaving their faith (some did), the Greeks attacked the symbol of Jewish wisdom and pride, the holy temple in Jerusalem.

After rousting the Greek army from the temple, the priests of that time entered the temple and rededicated it to G-d, (Chanukah) and found a little kosher olive oil left with the high priests seal to last for one day, which miraculously lasted for eight days.

Category: Articles

Holidays: Hanukkah

About Rabbi Lawrence

Originally from London, England, Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff graduated from Manchester University with honors in political science. After working for MTV in news production and winning the national Jewish Stand-Up Comedian of the Year competition, Rabbi Lawrence traveled to Israel to study and then to Monsey, New York, to receive his rabbinical smicha ordination. He is educational director of Birthright Israel Alumni in Manhattan, New York and a full-time faculty member of Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Lawrence is the author of Will Jew Marry Me? and Jew Got Questions? He lives in Wesley Hills with his wife, Anita, and their five children.