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Selah (/ ˈ s iː l ə (h)/; Biblical Hebrew: סֶלָה, romanized: selā) is a word used 74 times in the Hebrew Bible. Its etymology and precise meaning are unknown, though various interpretations are given. [1] It is probably either a liturgical-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, with the meaning of "stop and listen".
English speakers most commonly call the lamp a "menorah" or "Hanukkah menorah" (the Hebrew word menorah simply meaning "lamp"). In Modern Hebrew, the lamp is generally called a chanukkiyah , a term which originated among Judeo-Spanish speaking Sephardic communities in the Eastern Mediterranean in the 18th century.
To honor Chanukah, at sundown for eight nights, one additional candle in a menorah is added going from right to left, akin to the direction of Hebrew writing. This is a great time to recite ...
The spelling Hanukkah, which is based on using characters of the English alphabet as symbols to re-create the word's correct spelling in Hebrew, [14] is the most common [15] and the preferred choice of Merriam–Webster, [16] Collins English Dictionary, the Oxford Style Manual, and the style guides of The New York Times and The Guardian. [17]
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, there are 24 spellings for Hanukkah, during which Jews light candles on a menorah to celebrate the miracle of a one-day oil supply lasting eight after ...
Whenever 'ḥ' is used, it refers to ḥet. Resh is represented by an 'r,' though it's equivalent to Spanish 'r,' Spanish 'rr,' or French 'r,' depending on one's dialect. In all other regards, transliterations are according to the modern Hebrew pronunciation, based on the Sephardi tradition.
The English words, while not a translation, are roughly based on the Yiddish. "Oy Chanukah" is a traditional Yiddish Chanukah song and the English version, along with "I Have a Little Dreidel," is one of the most recognized English Chanukah songs. Both songs are playful with upbeat tempo and are sung by children.
Mexican American scholar Ilan Stavans, co-author of the “The Mexican Dreidel,” a children's Hanukkah book, talks about Hanukkah's significance and Jewish Latino heritage.