Why is Chanukah called Chanukah?

One answer is that this name spelled in Hebrew חנוכה is actually a conjunction of two Hebrew words- חנו and כה. The word חנו means they camped or rested. כה is the way the number 25 is spelled in Hebrew. Every letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value.The letter כ is 20 and the letter ה is five. Together they make 25. So they rested on 25, the day of the month of Kislev that the battle ended and the Beit HaMikdash was retaken.

The question arises that if we are commemorating the victory of taking back the Beit HaMikdash, why not use a word that depicts victory, not just resting from battle? An answer given is that celebrating victory can be misconstrued as celebrating our military accomplishment. Mentioning only rest from war connotes our thanks for the chance to be at peace with the Beit HaMikdash back in our hands.

The commentary of Maharsha (Talmud Shabbat 21b) writes that the reason for the name is because Chanuka in Hebrew means the dedication of something new into use. The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 52b) relates that when the Chashmonaim entered the Holy Temple they realized that the vessels had been made tamei (ritually impure) and they set out to purify them so that they could be put back into use. When it came to the Mizbeach (altar) they had no way to purify it. They had to dismantle it, hide its stones, and build a new one. They called the holiday Chanukah which means dedication to commemorate the dedication of the new altar. Thus the holiday that celebrates the return of the Avodah (divine worship) to the Jewish people commemorates through its name the new altar which enabled them to bring korbanot (sacrifices) which were the main part of the Avodah.

Based on this there is an interesting explanation given as to why we eat sufganiyot, doughnuts, on Chanukah. After eating bread we recite Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals). After eating food made from one of the Five Grains (wheat, barley, oats, spelt, rye), drinking wine, or eating grapes, olives, pomegranates, dates, or figs, we recite Birkat Me’ein Shalosh (what we refer to as Bracha Achronah) which is a condensed version of Birkat HaMazon.

In Birkat HaMazon we pray, ”Have compassion, Hashem, our God, on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, on Zion, the dwelling place of Your glory, on the kingship of the house of David, Your anointed; and on the great and holy House upon which Your Name is called.” In Me’ein Sheva we say, ”Have compassion, Hashem, our God, on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, on Zion, the dwelling place of Your glory, on your altar and your sanctuary.” Here we add a prayer for the altar which we don’t do in Birkat Hamazon.

Therefore on Chanukah when we commemorate the dedication of the new altar, we eat a food like doughnuts so that after eating them we will recite the Me’ein Sheva blessing in which we pray for the altar’s return.

May we see this prayer fulfilled speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
Yitzchak