Last updated February 14, 2007 Page maintained by Adrian A. Durlester www.durlester.com
Purim Parodies and Songs
Passover Resources
Lots and lots of verses for "I Had a Little Driedl"
Also available as a PDF, MS Word Document or MS Word Single-File HTML Page (.mht)
1. O Chanukah O Chanukah
Folk melody
English: F. Minkoff
Hebrew Verse: E. Indelman
English:
O Chanukah O Chanukah, Come light the menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we’ll give you a treat
Dreydels to play with and 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 (2x)
Yiddish:
Oy Chanukah oy Chanukah a yontif a sheiner
A lustiker a freylicher nito noch a zeyner
Alle nacht in dreydlech shpiln mir
Zudik hesse latkes essen mir
Geshvinder tsindt kinder di Chanukah lichtelech on
Zol yeder bazunder bazingen dem vunder un tantzen freylech
in kohn (2x)
2. Mi Y’Maleil?/Who Can Retell?
Hebrew: Music by Menashe Ravina; words: unknown
English: B.M. Edidin, Judith K. Eisenstein and others
Mi y’maleil g’vu-rot Yisraeil? Otan mi yim-neh?
Hein b’chol dor ya-kum ha-gi-bor go-eil ha-am
Who can retell the things that befell us? Who can count them?
In ev’ry age a hero or sage came to our aid (repeat)
Sh’ma! Bayamim ha-heim bazman hazeh
Makabi moshia ufodeh
Uv-yaminu kol am Yisraeil, yit-acheid yakum l’hi-ga-eil.
3. Al Hanisim
Words: Chanukah Liturgy: Sofrim 20:8
Music: Dov Frimer
Al hanisim v’al hapurkan v’al hag’vurot v’al hat-shu-ot
V’al hamilchamot she-asita lavoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
4. Ocho Kandelikas
Ladino - by Flory Jagoda
1. Chanukah linda sta aki, ocho kandelas para mi (2x)
Chorus:
O --- Una kandelika, dos kandelikas, tres kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas sintyu
kandelikas, sej kandelikas, siete kandelikas, ocho kandelas para mi
2. Muchas fiestas vo fazer, kon alegriyas y plazer (2x) Chorus
3. Los pastelikos vo kumer, kon almendrikas y la myel (2x) Chorus
5. Light One Candle
words and music by Peter Yarrow
Light one candle for the Maccabee children. Give thanks that their light didn’t die.
Light one candle for the pain they endured when their right to exist was denied.
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand.
Light one candle for the wisdom to know when the peacemaker’s time is at hand.
Chorus:
Don’t let the light go out.
It’s lasted for so many years.
Don’t let the light go out.
Let it shine through our love and our tears.
Light one candle for strength that we need to never become our own foe.
Light one candle for those who are suffering the pain we learned so long ago.
Light one candle for all we believe in, let anger not tear us apart.
Light one candle to bind us together with peace as the song in our heart. Chorus
What is the memory that’s valued so highly that we keep alive in that flame.
What’s the commitment to those who have died when we cry out “They’ve not died in vain.”
We have come this far always believing that justice will somehow prevail.
This is the burden and this is the promise and this is why we will not fail. Chorus
6. Hanerot Halalu
Chorus:
Ya-ba-bim-bam, bim-bam, bim-bam, bim-bam, bim-bam, bim-bam, bim bam
Hanerot halalu, anachnu madlikin
Al hanisim v’al hat-shuot, v’al hamilchamot
She-asita la-avoteinu bayamim hahem baz’man hazeh
Al y’dei ko-hanecha
Ko-hanecha ha-k’doshim. Chorus
V’chol sh’monat y’mei Chanukah
V’chol sh’monat y’mei Chanukah
Hanerot halalu, hanerot halalu kodeshem
7. Chanukah Chanukah
Folk Melody
Verse: L.Kipnis
Chanukah, Chanukah, chag yafe kol kach
Or Chaviv misaviv, gil l’yeled rach.
Chanukah, Chanukah, s’vivon sov sov
Sov sov sov, sov sov sov,ma na-im va-tov.
8. I Have a Little Dreidel
Music: Samuel Goldfarb/ 50’s Rock version: Michael Gelbart
Verse: S.S. Grossman
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay,
And when it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play
O dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay,
And when it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play.
My dreidel’s always playful
It loves to dance and spin
A happy game of dreidel, come play now let’s begin. Chorus
9. S'vivon
Folk Song
Verse: L. Kipnis
S’vivon, sov sov sov! Chanukah hu chag tov.
Chanukah hu chag tov. S’vivon sov sov sov!
Chag simcha hu la-am, Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham
Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham, Chag simcha hu la-am
10. In the Window
Melody: Chasidic
Words: Judith Kaplan Eisenstein
In the window where you can send your glow
From my menorah on newly fallen snow
I will set you, one (two, etc.) little candle (s)
On this the first (second, etc.)night of Chanukah
11. Lots of Latkes
Words and Music By Cantor Alan Leider
1. Lots of latkes, lots of latkes, lots of latkes, lots (let's all eat 'em up!) Repeat
2. S'vivon sov sov, s'vivon sov sov, s'vivon sov sov, s'vivon sov sov Repeat
3. Maccabee Maccabee, Maccabee Maccabee, Maccabee Maccabee, Mac-mac-mac-mac-mac-mac-mac mac! Repeat
12. Chanukah Catch ( Round)
Words and music by Steven Richards
13. Ner Li
Words: L. Kipnis, Music: Daniel Sambursky
Ner li, ner li, ner li d a-kik
Ba-cha-nu-ka nei-ri ad-lik
Ba-cha-nu-ka nei-ri ya-ir
Ba-cha-nu-ka shhi-rim a-shir
La, la, la, la la…..
I light my thin little candle on Chanuka
It will illuminate all and I shall sing joyous songs
14. Not By Might, Not By Power
(Words and Music by Debbie Friedman)
Not by might and not by power, but by spirit alone shall we all live in peace. (2x)
The children sing, the children dream, and their tears may fall, but we’ll hear them
call and another song will rise, another song will rise, another song will rise!
15. Ma’oz Tsur
Hebrew words by Mordechai, 13th century poet
English words: Marcus Jastrow, Gustav Gottheil
Adapted from the German of Leopold Stein
Ashkenazic melody
Ma-oz tsur y’shu-ati, l’cha na-eh l’shabei-ach
Ti-kon beit t’filati v’sham toda n’zabeiach
L’eit tachin mat-beiach mi’tzar ham’na-bei-ach
Az egmor b’shir mizmor Chanukat ha-miz-beiach (2x)
Rock of ages, let our song praise your saving power.
You amidst the raging foes were our shelt’ring tower.
Furious they assailed us, but your arm availed us.
And your word broke their sword when our own strength failed us (2x)
Children of the Maccabees,whether free or fettered,
Wake the echoes of the songs, where you may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering, that the time is nearing,
Which will see, All men free Tyrants disappearing. (2x)
16. Judah Maccabee
© Copyright, 1989 by Rabbi Joseph R. Black
CHORUS:
In The window, shining so bright
I can see the Hanukkah Light
And it gives me such a warm, friendly glow
When I think of Judah Maccabee, so long ago
A long time ago, in the land of Modin
Lived a young man named Judah - brave and serene.
When Antiochus the tyrant said the Jews could not be free
He didn't count on Judah - the one called Maccabbee
Now Judah and his brothers said it wasn't right
to take away their freedom - they knew they had to fight
They fought three long years till the kind could take no more
they rebuilt the holy temple, its beauty they restored
Now when the Temple was restored, they searched and searched in vain
for oil to light the lamps, but not enough remained
Except for one small vial, enough to last one day
but instead it burned for eight - they proclaimed a holiday
Tonight we light our lamps, sing our songs and play our games
we remember that great miracle hidden in the flames
And today throughout the world we rejoice that we are free
to carry out the mission of Judah Maccabbee
17. Adam Sandler’s Chanukah Song ( Original Version)
Certain words changed to make it appropriate for children: by M. Fensin
“Marijuanika” changed to “silly songikah”
“ gin and tonica” changed to “milk and tonica”
Time to take out the Menorah/
Put on your yarmulke, Here comes Chanukah
So much funukah,To celebrate Chanukah
Chanukah is the festival of lights...Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights
When you feel like the only kid in town, without a Xmas tree
Here’s a list of people who are Jewish just like you and me
David Lee Roth , lights the menorah
So do Kirk Douglas, James Caan and the late Dinah Shore-ah
Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli
Bowser from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzerelli
Paul Newma’s half Jewish, Goldie Hawn’s half too
Put them together, what a fine lookin’ Jew
You don’t need “Deck the Hall” or “Jingle Bell Rock”
‘Cause you can spin a dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock - both Jewish
Put on your yarmulke, It’s time for Chanukah
The owner of the Seattle Supersonicahs Celebrates Chanukah
O.J. Simpson, not a Jew
But guess who is? Hall of famer Rod Carew-he converted
We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby
Harrison Ford’s a quarter Jewish - not too shabby
Some people think that Ebenezer Scrooge is
Well he’s not, but guess who is --All three Stooges
So many Jews are in showbiz
Tom Cruise isn’t, but I heard his agent is.
Tell your friend Veronica, It’s time to celebrate Chanukah
I hope I get a harmonica, On this lovely, lovely Chanukah
So drink your milk and tonicah, And sing this silly songikah
If you really, really wannakah, Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Chanukah
18. Sing Along Song Chanukah Verses
Original Melody: S. Rubin; txt: Sinai Reform Temple, Bay Shore, NY
Hanukkah's also called
"The Festival of Lights"
We sing songs and eat latkes
For seven days and nights.
On Hanukkah we celebrate
The Festival of Lights
4 Candles lit on every side
The Shamash burns so bright
On Hanukkah we play a game
And 'dreidl' is its name
There's Nun and Gimel, Hey and Shin
It's in the Hall of Fame.
19. Banu Choshech L’gareish
Words: S. Levi-Tannai
English words: Fanchon Shur
Music: Emanuel Amiran
Ba-nu cho-shech l’ga-reish
B’ya-dei-nu or va-eish
Kol e-chad hu or ka-tan, v’chu-la-nu or ei-tan
Su-ra cho-shech, hal-ah sh’chor,
Su-ra….mip-nei ha-or
Repeat last two lines
We have come to banish night
Banish it with candle light
All the little candle rays
Join to make a mighty blaze
Banish darkness, banish night
Chanukah is the feast of light
Repeat last two lines
20. Yodelay Do Potato
Peter and Ellen Allard
I like to eat potato latkes
I like to eat them all day.
And when I eat potato latkes, this is what I say:
Yo-dle-lay do potato ( 2x)
Yo-del-lay do potato latkes for me.
Yo-de-lay do po-tato ( 2x)
Yo-dle-lay yo-dle-lay potato.
I like to eat them with applesauce, I like to eat them all day…
I like to eat them with sour cream, I like to eat them all day…
I like to eat them in ____, I like to eat them all day…
21. The Chanukiah
Jackie Cytrynbaum
How many candles, how many candles,
How many candles do we light?
On our chanukiah, on our chanukiah,
The first Chanukah night?
One, one, one, one, one, one
One candle burning, one candle burning
The first Chanukah night.
How many candles, how many candles,
How many candles do we light?
On our chanukiah, on our chanukiah
The second Chanukah night
Two, two, two, two, two, two,
Two candles burning, two candles burning
The second Chanukah night.
Repeat for third, fourth, etc. Chanukah nights
22. Latke Ditties ( Each Hanukah We Glorify)
Words: Ben Aronin
Music: Folk melody “Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah”
1.Each Chanukah we glorify Brave Judah Maccabeus
Who had the courage to defy Antiochus, and free us.
Yet it is not fair that we should forget
Mrs. Maccabeus, to whom we owe a debt.
She mixed it
She fixed it
She poured it into a bowl
(You many NOT guess
But it was the LATkes
That gave brave Judah a soul)
Repeat last three lines
2.The Syrians said: “It cannot be that old Mattthias
Whose years are more than 83 will dare to defy us.!”
But they didn’t know his secret you see
Mattathias dined on latkes and tea.
One latke
Two latkes
And so on into the night
( You may NOT guess
But it was the Latkes
That gave him courage to fight)
Repeat last three lines
3.Now this is how it came about—this gastronomic wonder
That broke the ranks of Syria like flaming bolts of thunder
Mrs. Maccabeus wrote in the dough
Portions of the Torah and fried them just so.
They shimmered
They glimmered
Absorbing the olive oil
( You may NOT guess
But it was the Latkes
That made the Syrians recoil.)
Repeat the last three lines
4. Now these little latkes brown and delicious
Must have hit the spot ‘cause with appetites vicious
All the heroes downed them after their toil
Causing in our temple a shortage of oil.
One latke
Two latkes
And so on into the night
( You may NOT guess
But it was the Latkes
That gave us the Chanukah light)
Repeat the last three lines