The Songs of Chanukah

There are so many songs that correspond to the holiday of Chanukah I can only offer a few of the more popular ones. I've included lyrics, often in both Hebrew and English, as well as links to online melodies to which you can listen.

Hanukkah Paperweights

Hanerot Halalu and Maoz Tzur (familiar to many as Rock of Ages) are the two generally sung immediately following the lighting of the menorah, with other songs being more casual and, many of them, such as I Have a Little Dreidel and Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov specifically for children.

What links them all together is the joy they express over the Jewish triumph over evil domination, an ongoing theme for many of our holidays.
Hanerot Halalu
Hanerot halalu anachnu madleekeem
Al haseem v'al hatshuot v'al hameelchamot.
Sheasita l’avoteynu bayameem hahem u'bazman hazay
Al yaday kohanecha kohanecha hak'dosheem.
V'hol sh'monas yamay Hanukah (2x)
Hanerot halalu, hanerot halalu kodesh hem.

(A candle and a flame, mirror of the light from within.
Can you see it as it flickers in the wind?
It's a star, but can't you see it now, far away?
What does it seem to say?)

Hanukkah Menorah Earrings

Maoz Tzur
Supposedly, the lyrics to this song date back to the 13th century, with the music, familiar to both Jews and Christians, possibly as far back as the 15th.

Ma'oz tzur y'shuati
L'kha na-eh l'shabei-ach
Tikon beyt t'filati
V'sham todah n'zabei-ach
L'eit tachin matbei-ach
Mitzar ha-m'nabei-ach
Az egmor b'shir mizmor
Chanukat ha-mizbei-ach
Az egmor b'shir mizmor
Chanukat ha-mizbei-ach

(Rocky Fortress of my Salvation
It is delightful to praise You
Restore my House of Prayer
And there we will give thanks with an offering
When you have prepared the slaughter
for the blaspheming foe
Then I will complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the altar
Then I will complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the altar)

The more familiar English words, which are NOT a literal translation of the Hebrew, are:
Rock of Ages, let our song, Praise Thy saving power
Thou amidst the raging foes, Wast our sheltering tower
Furious they assailed us, But Thine arm availed us
And thy word broke their sword, When our own strength failed us.
And thy word broke their sword, When our own strength failed us.
Mi Yimalel
I include this one, since it’s one of my favorite melodies. I often find myself humming it throughout the days of Chanukah without even realizing it.
Mi yimalel gevurot Yisrael
Otan mi yimneh?
Hein bekhol dor yakum hagibor, go-el ha-am.

Mi yimalel gevurot Yisra-el
Otan mi yimneh?
Hen bekhol dor yakum hagibor, go-el ha-am.
Sh'ma! Ba-yamim ha-heim baz'man hazeh
Maccabee moshiya u'fodeh
U'v'yameinu kol am Yisrael
Yitacheid yakum lehiga-el.

(Who can tell of the feats of Israel
Who can count them?
In every age a hero arose to save the people.
Who can tell of the feats of Israel
Who can count them?
In every age a hero arose to save the people.
Hear! In those days at this time
Maccabee saved and freed us
And in our days the whole people of Israel
Arise united to save ourselves.)

Mezuzah Case

And now for a couple of popular children’s songs. Lyrics to the rest of the listed songs can easily be found by searching online yourself.

I Have a Little Dreidel
I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.
When it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.

It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin.
When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win!
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win!

My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin.
A happy game of dreidel, come play now let's begin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let's begin.

I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.
When it's dry and ready, dreidel I shall play.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we'll have a treat
Shiny tops to play with, latkes to eat

And while we are playing
The candles are burning low
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago

A few other songs:

Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov
Ner Li
Al Hanisim

Chanukah Chanukah

by April
http://agru.etsy.com/ (ceramics shop)

Please visit our team shops listed at the left of this blog. Happy Hanukkah!