Hanukkah music (or Chanukah music) ( he, שירי חנוכה) contains several songs associated with the festival of

Hanukkah or English translation: 'Establishing' or 'Dedication' (of the Temple in Jerusalem) , nickname = , observedby = Jews , begins = 25 Kislev , ends = 2 Tevet or 3 Tevet , celebrations = Lighting candles each night. ...

Hanukkah blessings

There are three Hanukkah blessings (

Modern Hebrew Modern Hebrew ( he, עברית חדשה, ''ʿivrít ḥadašá ', , '' lit.'' "Modern Hebrew" or "New Hebrew"), also known as Israeli Hebrew or Israeli, and generally referred to by speakers simply as Hebrew ( ), is the standard form of the He ...

: בְּרָכוֹת לֵחֲנֻכָּה ''Berakhot Laḥanukka'', Lit: Hanukkah 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. The popular tune for these blessings was composed by

Samuel E. Goldfarb Samuel Eliezer Goldfarb ( he, שמואל אליעזר גולדפרב, June 18, 1891 – October 22, 1978), was an Americans, American composer, arranger, choir conductor, music director, cantor, piano accompanist, and educator. Life Religiou ...

and his brother Israel Golfarb in the early 20th century.

Ma'oz Tzur

"Ma'oz Tzur" ( he, מעוז צור), also a widely known English version as "

Rock of Ages Rock of Ages may refer to: Films * ''Rock of Ages'' (1918 film), a British silent film by Bertram Phillips * ''Rock of Ages'' (2012 film), a film adaptation of the jukebox musical (see below) Music * ''Rock of Ages'' (musical), a 2006 rock ...

", is a

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

liturgical poem or ''

piyyut A ''piyyut'' or ''piyut'' (plural piyyutim or piyutim, he, פִּיּוּטִים / פיוטים, פִּיּוּט / פיוט ; from Greek ποιητής ''poiētḗs'' "poet") is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, ch ...

''. It is written in

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

, and is usually sung on the holiday of

, 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.
Ma'oz Tzur for instruments and voice
by Chibat haPiyut.

Psalm 30 Psalm 30 is the 30th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will extol thee, O ; for thou hast lifted me up". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christi ...

"A psalm, a song for the Dedication, , of a House.."
Psalm 30 in Vizhnitz melody
by Invitation to Piyut

Judas Maccabaeus

Judas Maccabaeus Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabeus, also spelled Machabeus, or Maccabæus, Hebrew: יהודה המכבי, ''Yehudah HaMakabi'') was a Jewish priest (''kohen'') and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleu ...

'' is an oratorio by

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

. During Hanukkah, the melody for "See, the Conqu’ring Hero Comes" is used by Spanish and Portuguese Jewish communities for the hymn En Kelohenu. Mrs. Maccabeus, to the tune of "Oh Hanukkah." By Ben Aronin of Congregation Anshe Emet in Chicago.

Oh Chanukah

"Oh Chanukah" (also "Chanukah, Oh Chanukah") is an English version of the Yiddish "Oy Chanukah" (

Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ver ...

: 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 the English version, along with "

I Have a Little Dreidel "I Have a Little Dreidel" (also known as "The Dreidel Song" or "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel") is a children's Hanukkah song in the English-speaking world that also exists in a Yiddish version called "Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl", (Yiddish: Lit: I a ...

," is one of the most recognized English Chanukah songs. Both songs are playful with upbeat tempo and are sung by children. The lyrics are about dancing the

horah Hora, also known as horo and oro, is a type of circle dance originating in Jewish communities and the Balkans but also found in other countries. Etymology The name, spelled differently in various countries, is derived from the Greek ('' khor� ...

, eating

latkes A latke ( yi, לאַטקע ''latke''; sometimes romanized ''latka'', lit. "pancake") is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. Latkes can be made with ingredients ot ...

, playing

dreidel A dreidel, also dreidle or dreidl ( ; yi, דרײדל, dreydl, plural: ''dreydlech''; he, סביבון, sevivon) is a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The dreidel is a Jewish variant on the teetotum, a gamb ...

, lighting the candles and singing happy songs.

I Have a Little Dreidel

"I Have a Little

Dreidel A dreidel, also dreidle or dreidl ( ; yi, דרײדל, dreydl, plural: ''dreydlech''; he, סביבון, sevivon) is a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The dreidel is a Jewish variant on the teetotum, a gamb ...

"University of Pennsylvania Library: Freedman Collection of Recorded Jewish Music
/ref> (also known as the "Dreidel Song") is a very famous song in the English speaking world for Hanukkah, which also has a

version. The Yiddish version is Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl, (

: איך בין אַ קלײנער דרײדל ' Lit: I am a little dreidel). The

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

version of the song is well associated with the festival of Hanukkah, 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 Hanukkah song, "Sevivon" or "S'vivon" (

: סביבון ''sevivon'') is Hebrew for "

", where dreidel (

: דרײדל ''dreydl'') is the

word for a

spinning top A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect. Once set in motion, a top will usually wobble for a few se ...

. This song, "Sevivon," is very popular in

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

and by others familiar with the

Hebrew language Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

. The English below is a literal translation, not an English version.

Al Hanisim

"Al Hanisim" (or "Al Hanissim") is a popular Hebrew song for Hanukkah taken from

liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...

''(see Hanukkah → Special additions to the daily prayers)'', and is also an

Israeli folk dance Israeli folk dance ( he, ריקודי עם, ''rikudei 'am'', lit. "Folk dances") is a form of dance usually performed to songs in Hebrew, or to other songs which have been popular in Israel, with dances choreographed for specific songs. Israeli ...

. The song is about thanking God for saving the Jewish people. The most popular tune, however, is relatively recent, having been composed by Dov Frimer in 1975.

Mi Y'malel

"Mi Y'malel" (or "Mi Yimalel") (

: מי ימלל "Who can retell?") is a very well known Hebrew Hanukkah 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. The song can also be sung in a

round Round or rounds may refer to: Mathematics and science * The contour of a closed curve or surface with no sharp corners, such as an ellipse, circle, rounded rectangle, cant, or sphere * Rounding, the shortening of a number to reduce the number ...

or canon.
Mi Y'malel with instruments and 2 voices
by Rosenthal and Safyan.

Ner Li

Literally translated as "I have a candle," "Ner Li" is a simple Hebrew Hanukkah song that is popular in Israel. The words are by L. Kipnis and the music, by D. Samburski. The transliteration of the Hebrew is as follows:
The literal translation is:
I have a candle, I have a small thin candle
On Hanukkah, my candle I will light.
On Hanukkah my candle will glow
On Hanukkah I will sing songs.

Chanukah Chanukah

Another traditional Chanukah folk song with origins in Israel is Chanukah, Chanukah Words by Levin Kipnis Transliterated and translated by Gila Ansell Brauner of Jerusalem, Israel CHANUKAH, CHANUKAH Chanukah, Chanukah, What a lovely holiday! Cheerful lights around us shine, Children have fun and play. Chanukah, Chanukah, The dreidel spins and spins. Spin your top until it stops, Have a good time, see who wins! חנוכה חנוכה עממי מילים: לוין קיפניס לחן: עממי חנוכה, חנוכה, חג יפה כל כך אור חביב מסביב, גיל לילד רך. חנוכה, חנוכה, סביבון סוב סוב סוב נא סוב, סוב נא סוב מה נעים מה טוב.

Ocho Kandelikas

Ocho Kandelikas "Ocho Kandelikas" ( 'Eight Little Candles') is a Ladino song celebrating the holiday of Hanukkah, written by the Jewish-American composer Flory Jagoda in 1983. The song is sung in Ladino, an Old Spanish-derived language traditionally associated ...

'Eight Little Candles') is a

Ladino Ladino, derived from Latin, may refer to: * The register of Judaeo-Spanish used in the translation of religious texts, such as the Ferrara Bible *Ladino people, a socio-ethnic category of Mestizo or Hispanicized people in Central America especi ...

song celebrating the holiday of

, written by the

Jewish-American American Jews or Jewish Americans are American citizens who are Jewish, whether by religion, ethnicity, culture, or nationality. Today the Jewish community in the United States consists primarily of Ashkenazi Jews, who descend from diaspora J ...

composer

Flory Jagoda Flory Jagoda (born Flora Papo; December 21, 1923January 29, 2021) was a Bosnian Jewishborn American guitarist, composer and singer-songwriter. She was known for her composition and interpretation of Sephardic songs, Judeo-Espanyol (Ladino) song ...

in 1983.

Drey dreydl

Drei dreidl is a Hanukkah song written by Moyshe Oysher. The melody is the same as that of Itsik Manger's "Yosl Ber", composed by D. Beygelman ee "Pearls of Yiddish Song", by Chana & Joseph Mlotek, p.173 According to the Mloteks, the melody has also been used for the Holocaust song, "Ikh leb in geto in kavkaz" live in the ghetto in the Caucasus by Khane Kheytin, and for the song "Vi der zeyger tut a klung" hen the clock strikes by Sam Liptzin.

Non-traditional songs

(I'm Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica

"(I'm Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica" is a song written by satirist singer-songwriter and mathematician

Tom Lehrer Thomas Andrew Lehrer (; born April 9, 1928) is an American former musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician, having lectured on mathematics and musical theater. He is best known for the pithy and humorous songs that he recorded in ...

Light One Candle

" Light One Candle" is a 1983

song written by

Peter Yarrow Peter Yarrow (born May 31, 1938) is an American singer and songwriter who found fame for being in the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote (with Leonard Lipton) one of the group's best known hits, " Puff, the Magic Dragon". H ...

Peter, Paul, and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary was an American Contemporary folk music, folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio consisted of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Paul Stookey, and contralto Mary Traver ...

. 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.
Light One Candle lyrics

The Chanukah Song

The Chanukah Song "The Chanukah Song" is a novelty song written by comedian Adam Sandler with ''Saturday Night Live'' writers Lewis Morton and Ian Maxtone-Graham and originally performed by Sandler on ''Saturday Night Live''s Weekend Update on December 3, 1994. San ...

'' is a series of popular Hanukkah songs by

Adam Sandler Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer and singer. He was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1990 to 1995, before going on to star in numerous Hollywood films, those of wh ...

that are each a slightly different variation of a list of Jewish celebrities listed by Sandler for Jewish children who feel isolated during the

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

season. It began as a skit on

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...

and then appeared on his album ''

What the Hell Happened to Me? ''What the Hell Happened to Me?'' is the second studio album by Adam Sandler, released by Warner Bros. on 13 February 1996. It contains the official recording of "The Chanukah Song" (recorded live at University of California, Santa Barbara), whic ...

''. Due to its popularity, Sandler recorded three follow-ups of the song. The songs often gets

airplay Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...

during the winter holiday season.

Eight Days of Hanukka

"Eight Days of Hanukka" is a Hanukkah song written by Senator

Orrin Hatch Orrin Grant Hatch (March 22, 1934 – April 23, 2022) was an American attorney and politician who served as a United States senator from Utah from 1977 to 2019. Hatch's 42-year Senate tenure made him the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator ...

and

Madeline Stone Madeline Stone is an American songwriter. Stone, who is Jewish, lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and specializes in Inspirational music. Stone was born in Brooklyn, and reared on Long Island. She is a graduate of Syracuse University i ...

, 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 Mark Goldberg (born September 22, 1965) is an American journalist and editor-in-chief of ''The Atlantic'' magazine. During his nine years at ''The Atlantic'' prior to becoming editor, Goldberg became known for his coverage of foreign affa ...

Hanukkah Hey Ya

"Hanukkah Hey Ya" is a Hanukkah spoof of a chart-topping 2003 OutKast song, "Hey Ya!," by American comedian Eric Schwartz. The song was made into an e-card in 2004. In 2009

Nefesh B'Nefesh Nefesh B'Nefesh ( he, נפש בנפש, lit=Soul to soul), or Jewish Souls United, a nonprofit organization, promotes, encourages and facilitates aliyah (Jews, Jewish immigration to Israel) from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. T ...

produced a Hanukkah

Flash Mob A flash mob (or flashmob) is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression. Flash mobs may be organized via t ...

viral video that became a major success. The mob assembled on Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street and was choreographed by new immigrant Marvin Casey.

Candlelight

" Candlelight" is a song written and sung by

The Maccabeats The Maccabeats are an American Orthodox Jewish all-male a cappella group. Founded in 2007 at Yeshiva University, Manhattan, New York, the 14-member group specializes in covers and parodies of contemporary hits using Jewish-themed lyrics. Their b ...

, an undergraduate

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

group at

Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a private Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City."About YU
on the Yeshiva Universit ...

. The song is a cover parody of "

Dynamite Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and Stabilizer (chemistry), stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish people, Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germa ...

" by

Taio Cruz Jacob Taio Cruz (; born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, 23 April 1980), better known professionally as Taio Cruz (stylized TΛIO CRUZ), is an English singer, songwriter and record producer from London, England, currently based in Los Angeles. In 200 ...

, with lyrics retelling the Hanukkah story. It was released in late 2010 and quickly achieved viral status. Since 2010, The Maccabeats have produced an annual Hanukkah music video.

References

External links

Chanukah Song Sheet (pdf)

Chanukah Song Sheets PDF creator

in Hebrew and English with transliterations.
Hanukkah songsheets

{{Hanukkah Footer Jewish music Hebrew-language songs