Shalom,
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is coming soon. The smell of the Chanukah doughnuts
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is everywhere, kids are playing with dreidels (a special |
Chanukah spinning top) and invitations to Chanukah parties and candle lighting
are streaming in.
And why do we have this celebration? We celebrate
the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek empire 2200 years ago and the
rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. We celebrate the
miracle of light - the one little olive cruse that was found in the temple and miraculously
burned for eight days. And, we celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
In this issue we will learn about the meaning of
the letters on the dreidel, and other words, phrases and names related to this
glorious holiday.

The Hebrew Online Team.
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| Transcription |
xanukiya. |
menora. |
| Literal Meaning |
A nine-branched candelabrum used on Chanukah (sometimes called Menorah by Ashkenazi Jews). |
A seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple in Jerusalem. |
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Transcription: baxanuka anaxnu oxlim sufganiyot ulevivot umadlikim nerot baxanukiya.
Meaning: In Chanukah we eat doughnuts and latkes (potato pancakes) and light the candles in the Menorah.
Topic: Holidays.
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| The dreidel ( |
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- sevivon) is a spinning top on which Hebrew letters are inscribed. |
The letters on an Israeli dreidel are different from those on a dreidel out of Israel:
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Out of Israel |
In Israel |
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| Transcription |
Nes Gadol Haya Sham. |
Nes Gadol Haya Po. |
| Literal Meaning |
A great miracle happened there. |
A great miracle happened here. |
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Name: Or
Gender: Male
Time of Appearance: The Modern Era
Meaning: Light.
Categories: Light and Color Names.
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Name: Liora
Gender: Female
Time of Appearance: The Modern Era
Meaning: The name is composed of the words:
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(li, "for me") and |
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(ora, "light"). It means |
"a light for me" or "I have a light".
Categories: Light and Color Names.
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| Hebrew letters and Transcription |
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Transliteration rules used on the newsletters
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