Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • An eight-day Jewish festival: "Feast of the Dedication" is a Jewish holiday lasting eight days, commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE after its desecration.

Usage

• The term "Feast of the Dedication" is used specifically to refer to this historical and religious observance. It is often used in historical, religious, or academic contexts when discussing Jewish traditions.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The community gathered to celebrate the Feast of the Dedication.
  • The story of the miracle of the oil is central to the Feast of the Dedication.

Advanced Usage

• "to observe the Feast of the Dedication": to celebrate or commemorate this holiday according to religious custom.
  • Jewish families observe the Feast of the Dedication by lighting the menorah.

Variants and Related Words

• Hanukkah (proper noun): The more common name for the same festival. "Feast of the Dedication" is a direct translation of its Hebrew name, "Hanukkah."
• Festival of Lights (proper noun): Another name for this holiday, referring to the central ritual of lighting candles.
• Dedication (noun): The act of consecrating or setting something apart for a sacred purpose, from which the holiday's name is derived.

Synonyms

• Hanukkah: The primary synonym.
• Chanukah: An alternate transliteration of "Hanukkah."

Notes on Meaning

• The "Feast of the Dedication" refers to a single, specific holiday. It is not a general term for any dedication feast. Its significance lies in the historical event of the Temple's rededication and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

Noun

1. (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC