Spelling of Hanukkah

Since tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, answering the question about the spelling of the name is worth discussing. A librarian from Independence, MO wrote, "Chanukah or Hanukah or Hanukkah. What is the respectful way to spell this sacred holiday and why do we have choices??? Google wasn't helpful. Please help educate me."

First, Hanukkah is a minor holiday, not mentioned in the Torah or rest of the Bible. That men work is not forbidden on the holiday. It is an historical holiday to commenorate a miracle. I would hardly call this a "sacred holiday." Second, the librarian should realize that Google was not intended for answered like these. That is the reason we have librarians and teachers is to help point students and other in the right direction. Google is great for searching on key words and even guiding us when there is an alternative spelling, but it does not explain the reason for anything found.

This question has multiple correct answers. Hanukkah חנוכה is from the Hebrew word meaning rededication of the Temple after the Maccabees threw out the Assyrian-Greeks. The Maccabees choice the date of the winter solstice holiday for the rededication as this was the same day that the Temple of Jerusalem desecrated.

The beginning sound of the word, Hanukkah is not native to English. Some English words use "ch" or "h." In transliteration some use "kh" and others "h" with or without a dot underneath.

If a reader comes to the reference desk to ask about the spelling, the librarian would need more information before offering a proper answer. If you are writing for yourself, you can spell it however you want. If you are cataloging books then you have to follow the rules for Hebrew transliteration codified by ALA and LC. See this book for information on systematic romanization for Hebrew and Yiddish: Hebraica cataloging : a guide to ALA/LC romanization and descriptive cataloging / Paul Maher; Library of Congress. Descriptive Cataloging Division. Washington, D.C. : Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress, 1987.


There are at least two books written on the subject.

This is an academic book.
How do you spell Chanukah? : A general-purpose romanization of Hebrew for speakers of English / Werner Weinberg. Cincinnati : Hebrew Union College Press, 1976.

This is a humor book.
How to spell Chanukah : 18 writers celebrate 8 nights of lights / Emily Franklin. Chapel Hill, N.C. : Algonquin Books, 2007.

If you are cataloging then look at: Hebraica cataloging : a guide to ALA/LC romanization and descriptive cataloging / Paul Maher; Library of Congress. Descriptive Cataloging Division. Washington, D.C. : Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress, 1987.

In September I wrote an article on the transliteration of Hebrew, http://home.earthlink.net/~ddstuhlman/crc107.pdf


The short answer is: that the transliteration depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Who is your audience? If you are transcribing a title page in Hebrew you have to follow ALA/LC rules for romanization. If you writing something to a friend, you may choose another spelling. Librarians depend on literary warrant i.e. you must find a valid source for your choice. It really doesn't matter to most readers if you use one or two n's or k's. However, most would not use two n's and most spell checkers tag the two "n" version as a mistake. Most of us write it as "Hanukkah. "

For this question there are multiple correct answers. However there are many wrong answers, too.

Happy (C)Hanukka(h) everyone.