Hanukkah music
Encyclopedia
Hanukkah music contains several songs associated with the festival of Chanukah
.
: בֵּרַכוֹת לֵחֲנוּכָּה Birkhat L'ḥanukah, Lit
: Chanukah blessings) that are sung for lighting the candles of the menorah. The third blessing (shehecheyanu
) is only sung on the first night. After the two or three blessings are sung, Hanerot Halalu is chanted. The following blessings are transliterated according to proper Modern Hebrew.
"Ma'oz Tzur" , also a widely known English version as "Rock of Ages", is a Jewish liturgical poem or piyyut
. It is written in Hebrew
, and is usually sung on the holiday of Chanukah
, after lighting the festival lights. Its six stanzas correspond to five events of Jewish history and a hope for the future. Of its six stanzas, often only the first stanza is sung (or the first and fifth), as this is what directly pertains to Hanukkah. "Ma'oz Tzur" was written sometime in the 13th century.
.
, is one of the most recognized English Chanukah songs. Both of these songs are playful songs with upbeat tempo and are sung by children. The lyrics are about dancing the Horah, eating latkes, playing dreidel
, lighting the candles and singing happy songs.
I am a little dreidel). The English
version of the song is well associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike. The lyrics of the song are simple and about making a dreidel and playing with it. The lyrics are as follows:
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay,
And when it's dry and ready
O dreidel I shall play.
O dreidel dreidel dreidel
I made it out of clay,
And when it's dry and ready,
O dreidel I shall play.
", where dreidel (Yiddish: דרײדל dreydl) is the Yiddish word for a spinning top. This song, "Sevivon," is very popular in Israel
and by others familiar with the Hebrew language
. The English below is a literal translation, not an English version.
(see Hanukkah → Additions to the daily prayers), and is also an Israeli folk dance. The song is about thanking God for saving the Jewish people.
and the music, by D. Samburski.
The transliteration of the Hebrew is as follows:
Ner li, ner li, ner li daqiq,
Bakhanukah neri 'adliq.
Bakhanukah neri ya'ir
Bakhanukah shirim 'ashir.
The literal translation is:
I have a candle, I have a small thin candle
On Chanukah, my candle I will light.
On Chanukah my candle will glow
On Chanukah I will sing songs.
song written by Peter Yarrow
of Peter, Paul, and Mary. It is a very popular song and it has been sung by the trio at their concerts. It is a song that encourages the Jewish people to remember the history of the holiday and continue their heritage.
each a slightly different version that all center around the theme of Jewish children feeling isolated during the Christmas
season and Sandler's listing of Jewish celebrities. The song often gets airplay during the winter holiday season.
and Madeline Stone
, a Jewish songwriter from the Upper West Side of Manhattan who specializes in Christian music. The song was written at the suggestion of Jeffrey Goldberg
.
song, “Hey Ya!,” by American comedian Eric Schwartz
. The song was made into an e-card in 2004. In 2009 Nefesh B'Nefesh
produced a Hanukkah Flash Mob
viral video that became a major success. The mob assembled on Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street
and was choreographed by new immigrant Marvin Casey.
is a song written and sung by The Maccabeats
, an undergraduate a cappella
student group at Yeshiva University
. It was released in late 2010 and quickly achieved viral
status.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
.
Chanukah blessings
There are three Chanukah blessings (Modern HebrewModern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
: בֵּרַכוֹת לֵחֲנוּכָּה Birkhat L'ḥanukah, Lit
Literal translation
Literal translation, or direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original...
: Chanukah blessings) that are sung for lighting the candles of the menorah. The third blessing (shehecheyanu
Shehecheyanu
The Shehecheyanu blessing is a common Jewish prayer said to celebrate special occasions. It is said to be thankful for new and unusual experiences. The blessing has been recited by Jews for nearly 2000 years...
) is only sung on the first night. After the two or three blessings are sung, Hanerot Halalu is chanted. The following blessings are transliterated according to proper Modern Hebrew.
| English | Hebrew | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights." | barukh atah adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner (shel) ḥanukkah. | |
| Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed wondrous miracles for our ancestors, in those days, at this moment." | barukh atah adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam she'asah nisim l'avotenu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh. | |
| Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment. | baruch atah adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam sheheḥehyanu v'kiy'manu v'higianu lazman hazeh. |
Maoz Tzur
- Main articles: Maoz Tzur and Rock of Ages
"Ma'oz Tzur" , also a widely known English version as "Rock of Ages", is a Jewish liturgical poem or piyyut
Piyyut
A piyyut or piyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Piyyutim have been written since Temple times...
. It is written in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, and is usually sung on the holiday of Chanukah
Hanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
, after lighting the festival lights. Its six stanzas correspond to five events of Jewish history and a hope for the future. Of its six stanzas, often only the first stanza is sung (or the first and fifth), as this is what directly pertains to Hanukkah. "Ma'oz Tzur" was written sometime in the 13th century.
Judas Maccabaeus
Judas Maccabaeus is an oratorio by George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
.
Oh Chanukah
Oh Chanukah (also Chanukah, Oh Chanukah) is an English version of the Yiddish Oy Chanukah (Yiddish: חנוכּה אױ חנוכּה Khanike Oy Khanike). The English words, while not a translation, are roughly based on the Yiddish. Oy Chanukah is a traditional Yiddish Chanukah song and Chanukah , The English version, along with I Have a Little DreidelI Have a Little Dreidel
"I Have a Little Dreidel" is a Chanukah song in the English speaking world, and also has an Yiddish version. This children's tune is about making a dreidel and playing with it...
, is one of the most recognized English Chanukah songs. Both of these songs are playful songs with upbeat tempo and are sung by children. The lyrics are about dancing the Horah, eating latkes, playing dreidel
Dreidel
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet:נ ,ג ,ה ,ש ,...
, lighting the candles and singing happy songs.
I Have a Little Dreidel
I Have a Little Dreidel (also known as the Dreidel song) is a very famous song in the English speaking world for Hanukkah, which also has a Yiddish version. The Yiddish version is Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl, (Yiddish: איך בין אַ קלײנער דרײדל Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl Lit:Literal translation
Literal translation, or direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original...
I am a little dreidel). The English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version of the song is well associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike. The lyrics of the song are simple and about making a dreidel and playing with it. The lyrics are as follows:
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay,
And when it's dry and ready
O dreidel I shall play.
O dreidel dreidel dreidel
I made it out of clay,
And when it's dry and ready,
O dreidel I shall play.
Sevivon
A popular Hebrew Chanukah song, "Sevivon" or "S'vivon" (Hebrew: סביבון sevivon) is Hebrew for "dreidelDreidel
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet:נ ,ג ,ה ,ש ,...
", where dreidel (Yiddish: דרײדל dreydl) is the Yiddish word for a spinning top. This song, "Sevivon," is very popular in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and by others familiar with the Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
. The English below is a literal translation, not an English version.
| Hebrew | Transliteration from Hebrew | English Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
סֵבִיבוֹן סב סב סב חנכּה הוא חג טוב חנכּה הוא חג טוב סֵבִיבוֹן סב סב סב (In Israel) סב נא סב כה וכה נס גדול היה פה נס גדול היה פה סב נא סב כה וכה (Abroad) חַג שִׂמְחָה הוּא לַעָם נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה שָם נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה שָם חַג שִׂמְחָה הוּא לַעָם |
Sevivon, sov, sov, sov ḥanukah, hu ḥag tov ḥanukah, hu ḥag tov Sevivon, sov, sov, sov! (In Israel) Sov na sov ko va'cho Nes gadol hayah poh Nes gadol hayah poh Sov na sov ko va'kho! (Abroad) ḥag simḥa hu la-am Nes gadol hayah sham Nes gadol hayah sham ḥag simḥa hu la-am. |
Dreidel, spin, spin, spin. Chanukah is a great holiday. Chanukah is a great holiday. Dreidel, spin, spin, spin. (In Israel) Spin, please, spin like this and that. A great miracle happened here. A great miracle happened here. Spin, please, spin like this and that. (Abroad) A joyous holiday for the nation. A great miracle happened there. A great miracle happened there. A joyous holiday for the nation. |
Al Hanisim
Al Hanisim (or Al Hanissim) is a popular Hebrew song for Chanukah taken from liturgyLiturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
(see Hanukkah → Additions to the daily prayers), and is also an Israeli folk dance. The song is about thanking God for saving the Jewish people.
Mi Y'malel
Mi Y'malel (or Mi Yimalel) (Hebrew: מי ימלל "Who can retell?") is a very well known Hebrew Chanukah song. The opening line, which literally means "Who can retell the mighty feats of Israel," is a secular rewording of Psalms 106:2, which reads "Who can retell the mighty feats of God." Below is a singable version of this song called "Who Can Retell," with words based on the Hebrew, as well as a literal translation.| Hebrew | Transliteration from Hebrew | English (singable version) | English (literally translated version) |
|---|---|---|---|
מי ימלל גבורות ישראל אותן מי ימנה הן בכל דור יקום הגיבור גואל העם שמע בימים ההם בזמן הזה מכבי מושיע ופודה ובימינו כל עם ישראל יתאחד, יקום ויגאל |
Mi yimalel gvurot Yisrael, Otan mi yimne? Hen be'chol dor yakum ha'gibor Goel ha'am! Shma! Ba'yamim ha'hem ba'zman ha'ze Maccabi moshia u'fode U'v'yameinu kol am Yisrael Yitached yakum ve'yigael! |
Who can retell the things that befell us, Who can count them? In every age, a hero or sage Came to our aid. Hark! In days of yore in Israel's ancient land Brave Maccabeus led the faithful band But now all Israel must as one arise Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice. |
Who can tell of the heroic deeds of Israel? Who can count them?? Yes in every generation a hero arises To save the people. Listen! In those days at this time The Maccabee saved and redeemed But in our days the whole people Israel Will unite, arise, and save. |
Ner Li
Literally translated as "I have a candle," Ner Li is a simple Hebrew Chanukah song that is popular in Israel. The words are by L. KipnisLevin Kipnis
Levin Kipnis was a children's author and poet who wrote mainly in Hebrew and Yiddish. He won the Israel prize in 1978.-Biography:Kipnis was born in Ushomir in Volhynian Governorate which was part of the Pale of Settlement of the Russian Empire , into a family of 12...
and the music, by D. Samburski.
The transliteration of the Hebrew is as follows:
Ner li, ner li, ner li daqiq,
Bakhanukah neri 'adliq.
Bakhanukah neri ya'ir
Bakhanukah shirim 'ashir.
The literal translation is:
I have a candle, I have a small thin candle
On Chanukah, my candle I will light.
On Chanukah my candle will glow
On Chanukah I will sing songs.
Light One Candle
"Light One Candle" is a 1983 HanukkahHanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
song written by Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"...
of Peter, Paul, and Mary. It is a very popular song and it has been sung by the trio at their concerts. It is a song that encourages the Jewish people to remember the history of the holiday and continue their heritage.
The Chanukah Song
A series of popular Chanukah songs by Adam SandlerAdam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
each a slightly different version that all center around the theme of Jewish children feeling isolated during the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season and Sandler's listing of Jewish celebrities. The song often gets airplay during the winter holiday season.
Eight Days of Hanukkah
Eight Days of Hanukka is a Hanukkah song written by Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
and Madeline Stone
Madeline Stone
Madeline Stone is an American songwriter.Stone, who is Jewish, lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and specializes in Christian music.Stone was born in Brooklyn, and reared on Long Island...
, a Jewish songwriter from the Upper West Side of Manhattan who specializes in Christian music. The song was written at the suggestion of Jeffrey Goldberg
Jeffrey Goldberg
Jeffrey Mark Goldberg is an American journalist. He is an author and a staff writer for The Atlantic, having previously worked for The New Yorker. Goldberg writes principally on foreign affairs, with a focus on the Middle East and Africa...
.
Hanukkah Hey Ya
Hanukkah Hey Ya, is a Chanukah spoof of a chart-topping 2003 OutKastOutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
song, “Hey Ya!,” by American comedian Eric Schwartz
Eric Schwartz
Eric Schwartz is an American folk singer/songwriter known for his often humorous, sexually explicit lyrics, as in the songs "Clinton Got A Blowjob" and "Who Da Bitch Now". His has been downloaded over a million times. He cites Dr. Demento as an inspiration...
. The song was made into an e-card in 2004. In 2009 Nefesh B'Nefesh
Nefesh B'Nefesh
Nefesh B'Nefesh is an organization that encourages immigration by Jewish people to Israel from North America and the United Kingdom...
produced a Hanukkah Flash Mob
Flash mob
A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, artistic expression...
viral video that became a major success. The mob assembled on Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street
Ben Yehuda Street
Ben Yehuda Street , known as the "Midrachov" is a major street in downtown Jerusalem, Israel. It is now a pedestrian mall and closed to vehicular traffic. The street runs from the intersection of King George Street to Zion Square and Jaffa Road...
and was choreographed by new immigrant Marvin Casey.
Candlelight
CandlelightCandlelight (song)
"Candlelight" is a song by the band The Maccabeats, that was released in late 2010. It achieved viral status. The song is a transformation of Mike Tompkins's a cappella cover of the Taio Cruz song "Dynamite"...
is a song written and sung by The Maccabeats
The Maccabeats
The Maccabeats are an all-male college a cappella group from Yeshiva University noted for their 2010 Hanukkah song "Candlelight".-Career:The group released its first album, Voices from the Heights, in March 2010. In November 2010, they released "Candlelight", a Hanukkah-themed single directed by...
, an undergraduate a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
student group at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
. It was released in late 2010 and quickly achieved viral
Viral marketing
Viral marketing, viral advertising, or marketing buzz are buzzwords referring to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of viruses...
status.
External links
- Chanukah Song Sheet (pdf)
- Chanukah Song Sheets
- Chanukah Song Sheets PDF creator
- Hanukkah Songs in Hebrew and English with transliterations.
- Hanukkah songsheets
- Hanukkah songs