Talk:Hanukkah

First Sentence: I am not Jewish so I will not try to edit the article but I would have thought the first sentence would have gone something like this.... Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates a miracle that occurred.... or something like that in lieu of a bland uninteresting gibberish about how it is supposed to be pronounced. I thought the first sentence was supposed to get to the heart of the matter?

Hanukkah vs. Chanukkah (or Chanukah)

I've noticed some discrepancies here. The name of the article is H-a-n-u-k-k-a-h. This is also seems to be the excepted spelling of the name of the festival in mainstream Judaism. There have been some editors changing the name throughput the article to C-h-a-n-u-k-k-a-h. I assume that is their mistake and they really intended on changing it to C-h-a-n-u-k-a-h. Either way, there must be one uniform spelling for the festival throughout. I propose it be called Hanukkah, as is the title of the article, and as has been the spelling till recently. All other variations of spelling are mentioned in the lede.TM (talk) 15:18, 2 December 2014 (UTC)

I agree with your observation, and with your opinion that it's slightly astonishing to see the name change around before one's eyes. However, this reminds me of something Henry Louis Gates says about "African-American"/"Black"/"Negro"/"colored"; he tries to cycle between them, rather than stick to one and imply all the others are offensive. This situation might call for the same approach. I grew up with "Hanukkah," but it's a transliteration, and no respelling will cause English-speakers to produce the right sounds.

MOS:HE section 3.4.4 notes "Hanukkah" as an example of a word with a "common Anglicized name...[which] will keep [its] common transliteration in accordance with the first part of the guideline and Wikipedia:Naming conventions (common names)." Google Books (hanukkah -inauthor:"Books, LLC") confirms that "hanukkah," not "chanukah," "chanukkah," "chanukka," "hanukka," etc., currently has a solid plurality in actual usage. Wikipedia:Article_titles#Treatment_of_alternative_names says alternative names may be used "where more appropriate". This suggests a higher standard for use of "chanukkah" etc. than "because it's also a legitimate transliteration," but per the Skip Gates principle I think it would be fine to keep them all.

What about you, Talk Page Reader, what do you think? Let's get this settled before a few weeks from now when all the goyim come to remind themselves about Jewish Christmas. (No offense intended to anyone.) FourViolas (talk) 03:43, 4 December 2014 (UTC)

Not really that funny. As I said, I think there should be one spelling for the festival throughout the article. The other spelling can be included in the lede and in other sections. Any other thoughts before I change them? Thanks. TM (talk) 16:10, 5 December 2014 (UTC)

order of placing and lighting candles

They are placed from right to left with one more on each night. But they are kindled from left to right after the shamas has be kindled first. Text has been modified to suit.

In the translation the use of the word "light" as a verb is better translated as "kindle".Macrocompassion (talk) 10:01, 23 December 2014 (UTC)

Hanukkiah vs Hanukkah menorah

This is bordering on ridiculous. The image is of a "Hanukkiah"...the definition of which is a "Hanukkah menorah". http://www.hanukkahfun.com/578/what-is-a-hanukkiah/