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 sing on Chanukah.
This year (5782/2021) to see Cantor George sing Chanukah songs click here
and if you would like to follow along, click here for the song sheets.
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
Sat, November 27 2021
23 Kislev 5782
Become a new member
how to manage this website FAQ Screen Share to show you How
Join Our Mailing List
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.
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.
Sat, November 27 2021 23 Kislev 5782