Chanukah Songs
Many songs have been written to commemorate Chanukah, and they come from a wide variety of sources. Some are based on medieval liturgical poetry (e.g., Ma'oz Tzur.) Others find their roots in our various folk traditions, for example: Yiddish (O Chanukah), Sephardic/Ladino (Ocho Kandelikas); and Israeli (Mi Y'maleil). Modern composers have added their own takes on the holiday (Light One Candle). And of course, there's always "I Have a Little Dreidel," with so many versions and so many parodies over the years. Include here are the songs and a brief background of a few of the songs we'll be singing on Chanukah this year:
Click on any red song title to hear Cantor George sing!
For the lyrics of all the songs use this "song sheet" so you may sing along.
Lighting the Chanukah Candles and Singing Ma'oz Tsur
Ma'oz Tsur: verses were written in the 13th Century as a liturgical poem called a "piyyut." (We sing many "piyyutim" during the High Holy Days.) The melody we usually sing is likely from 19th Century Germany, although there is also a lovely version composed by the Italian composer Marcello in Venice in the early 1700s.
Sheet Music for Ma'oz Tsur
O (Oi) Chanukah: Chasidic melody with roots in classical pieces called "Freylechs" ("freylech," in Yiddish, means "joyous.") The song has Yiddish, Hebrew, and English verses, all of which focus on the happiness of Chanukah.
Mi Y'maleil: 20th century Israeli folk song written by Menashe Rabinowitz, incorporating verses from the Psalms.
Sheet Music for Mi Y'Maleil-Who Can Retell
Ocho Kandelikas: written by Sephardic folk singer Flory Jagoda in 1983 as part of her efforts to bring back the Ladino language and music of her childhood in Bosnia. To her credit, the song sounds much older than it actually is.
Sheet Music for Ocho Kandelikas
Light One Candle: written by Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary) to express the need to promote freedom everywhere, using the Chanukah candles as a powerful image: "Don't let the light go out." Peter, Paul and Mary first performed the song in their 1982 Hanukkah/Christmas Concert at Carnegie Hall with the New York Choral Society.
I Have a Little Dreidel: I have no idea who composed this song, but we all know it so well! As with so many Jewish holiday songs, this one has both Yiddish and English versions, but the two versions are very different. The English song is about a dreidel, and the dreidel is made of clay. By contrast, the Yiddish song is actually sung by a dreidel, and this dreidel is made of lead (blay). And of course, in English, there are so many verses that have been written or improvised about dreidels made from just about anything.
(85) Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel | Hanukkah | Lyrics | Kids Song | Baby Songs | Children Song - YouTube
And for some fun: Six-Thirteen: A Star Wars Chanukah: (85) Six13 - A Star Wars Chanukah - YouTube
Tue, April 13 2021
1 Iyyar 5781
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CANCELLATIONS DUE TO CORONA VIRUS
To best protect the members of our community Kol HaLev services and activities AT CHC have been canceled until further notice.
Candle lighting, Torah study, classes, and other gatherings will continue virtually online. Read the weekly bulletin or check on this Kol HaLev website for details on how to connect to these virtual gatherings and for announcements about when we will be meeting again in person.
Shabbat Music
Kol HaLev, with the guidance of Cantor George has been introducing new, exciting, stimulating, joyful music to our services. Much of this music is for Friday nights and is played by Kol HaLev Unplugged on the fourth Friday night of the month. Kol HaLev Unplugged has made recordings so that the community can learn the melodies more easily. This link takes you to the recordings and the lyrics for the songs. You can also check out our latest You Tube video of Kol HaLev Unplugged singing Cantor George's Shalom Rav! Come to Shabbat and enjoy guitar, drum, voices and song!
Black Lives Matter
Kol HaLev has joined over 400 Jewish synagogues and organizations that signed this declaration:
Jewish Organizations and Synagogues say: Black Lives Matter
We are Jewish organizations and synagogues from across the racial and political spectrum; from different streams of Judaism; whose members trace their lineage from countries around the world.
To read more, click here.
"Social Distance, But Not Disconnect"
While we are doing what we can to ensure our physical health and safety, let’s think creatively and wisely about our mental and spiritual health and wellbeing. This is quite a strange new world we are adapting to, but let’s not forget what makes life meaningful: our relationships, our sharing of joys and sorrows and ideas and experiences, our caring, our witnessing and accompaniment of each other, our learning and growing together. Something sacred goes on. We have noted before that among the features of a successful community that most celebrated are the friendships (and the bonds beyond friendship) that are formed and enjoyed. Let’s not let this feature of Kol HaLev wane.
So now is NOT the time to forego the mental and spiritual benefits of our synagogue community. There are many ways to continue and even extend our “religious” practices while we are not meeting together in person. Cantor George, with Shabbat Unplugged, has recorded many of the songs we sing, and you can access them here. Sing or chant uninhibited, in the privacy of your own home. If you do not have a copy of our prayerbook, you can access the Daily Prayerbook, the Shabbat Vehagim, or Prayers for a House of Mourning by clicking on the title of each prayerbook. Now may be the time to make a concerted effort to learn something new in order to participate more fully.
It is also true that KHL can continue to be KHL by means of the help we offer to each other. Should a need arise, we’re here for you! We can continue the practice of care and attention, of service and support. Our Chesed network invites everyone to let Lysh, Laurie or Shira know if you need special help during this time. Others have offered to help by shopping and delivering groceries or other needs.
Please know that you are not alone, that we’re all in this together, and we can double down on love of self and neighbor. Commitment to the collective, and to each other, is the source and substance of religious community. It is the special sauce, the most important ingredient, our most important asset. The objective is to thrive, not simply survive.
Please know that you are not alone, that we’re all in this together, and we can double down on love of self and neighbor. Commitment to the collective, and to each other, is the source and substance of religious community. It is the special sauce, the most important ingredient, our most important asset. The objective is to thrive, not simply survive.
KHL - Please Join Us
We are located in The Church of the Holy Comforter (CHC), 130 W. Seminary Avenue, Lutherville 21093. All Friday and Saturday Shabbat services are handicap accessible. For directions to the Shul please click here.
Tue, April 13 2021 1 Iyyar 5781