Hear the Voice

Arrangement by Harry Coopersmith

Hear the voice of Israel's elders
Calling on Judea's sons;
Who will be the future leaders
When the elder men are gone?
Who will do what we have started,
Bring the Jew to ancient station?
Who will urge the weary hearted
Fight for right and live a nation?

Hear the brave and youthful heroes
Coming onward with the call,
When we're one, oppressors for us,
Courage, courage brothers all.
Israel's patriots and sages
Taught us how to live like men
Israel's youth, with hearts courageous,
Live for G-d and faith again.

Every Jew is each one's brother,
Fighting on for G-d and right;
Fearless, cheering one another,
Aiding all with main and might.
Hopeful-hearted, helpful handed,
Join in union every Jew.
G-d will help us when we're banded
Build the nation up anew.

Kemach

Arrangement by Harry Coopersmith

Kemach, kemach min hasak.
Shemen, shemen min ha-kad.
Chanuka hayom,
Chag naim nechmad!
La, la, la...

Kemach, kemach min ha'sak,
Shemen, shemen min hakad.
Hava n'labev,
L'vivot lachag.
La, la, la...

Od nosif betsa misal,
Od sukar dak, v'hasal.
Bou lashulchan,
L'vivot nochal.
La, la, la...

Bring the flour from the bin,
Pour the oil from the tin,
Chanuka is here,
Festival so dear.
La, la, la...

Mix the flour so snowy white,
With the oil so golden bright,
Tha's how mother makes
Chanuka pancakes!
La, la, la...

Add an egg; the batter's done,
And some sugar; O what fun.
Come now take your seats,
Steaming pancakes eat.
La, la, la...

A traditional song of this holiday is Maoz Tzur, better known to Christians as Rock of Ages (though the Christian translation takes substantial liberties with the Hebrew lyrics).

Maoz tsur y'shuati l'cha naeh l'shabeiach
Tikon beit t'filati v'sham toda n'zabeiach.
L'eit tachin matbeiach mitzar ham'nabeiach.
Az egmor b'shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeiach, chanukat hamizbeiach.

Raot sova nafshi, nafshi b'yagon 
Kochi chala chayai meir'ru
B'koshi b'shibud malchut egla uv'yado hag'dola hotsiet has'gula.
Cheil paro v'chol zaro, cheil paro v'chol zaro, yardu ch'even m'tsula.
Cheil paro v'chol zaro, cheil paro v'chol zaro, yardu ch'even m'tsula, yardu ch'even m'tsula.

Maoz tsur y'shuati l'cha naeh l'shabeiach
Tikon beit t'filati v'sham toda n'zabeiach.
L'eit tachin matbeiach mitzar ham'nabeiach.
Az egmor b'shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeiach, chanukat hamizbeiach.

Mi Yemalel

Traditional Arrangement

Mi yemalel g'vurot Yisraeil? Otan mi yimneh?
Hen b'chol dor yakum hagibor hoel ha'am.

Sh'ma! Bayamim ha'hem baz'man hazeh,
Makabi moshia ufode.
Uv'yameinu kol am Yisrael
Yitached yakum l'higael.

Who can retell the things that befell us? Who can count them?
In ev'ry age, a hero or sage came to our aid!

Hark! In days of yore, in Israel's ancient land,
Brave Maccabeus led the faithful band.
But now all Israel must as one arise,
Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice.

My Candles

Arrangement by Harry Coopersmith

In the window where you can send your glow.
From my menorah on newly fallen snow,
I will set you, one little candle,
On this the first** night of Chanuka.
**change to reflect the current day

My Dreydl

I have a little dreydl,
I made it out of clay;
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreydl I shall play.
O, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
I made it out of clay;
O dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
Now dreydl I shall play.

It has a lovely body,
With legs so short and thin;
And when it is all tired,
It drops and then I win.
O dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
With legs so short and thin;
O dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
It drops and then I win!

My dreydl is always playful,
It loves to dance and spin.
A happy game of dreydl,
Come play, now let's begin.
O, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
It loves to dance and spin.
O dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
Come play, now let's begin!

Not By Might, Not By Power

Lyrics and Music by Debbie Friedman
Available from Transcontinental Music Publications

Not by might and not by power
But by spirit alone
Shall we all live in peace.

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!

Not by might and not by power
But by spirit alone
Shall we all live in peace.
Not by might!
Not by power!
Shalom!

Oh, Chanukah 

Oh Chanukah, Oh 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. 
dreidels 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; 
They shed a sweet light, 
To remind us of days long ago.



O, Ir Kleyne Likhtelekh

Arrangement by S. Rosowsky

O, ir kleyne likhtelekh.
Ir dertseylt geshikhtelekh.
Mayselekh on tsol.
Ir dertseylt fun blutikeyt.
Beryeshaft un mutikeyt.
Vunder fun amol; Vunder fun amol.

S'vivon

Traditional Melody

S'vivion, sov, sov, sov.
Chanuka hu chag tov!
Chanuka 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.

S'vivon, turn, turn, turn,
While the lovely candles burn.
What a great holiday;
Watch us sing and watch us play!

Tell the story everywhere,
A great miracle happened there!
It's a festival of light
For eight days and for eight nights!

Sheoso Nisim

Arrangment by Israel Alter

Sheoso nisim, sheosonisim la'avoseinu 
Bayomim hoheim baz'man haze.
Ch'ze der mames frume oign 
Mit ir loichtndik gezicht ven der tate 
Shteit geboign un tsindt di chanuke licht.

Sheoso nisim, sheoso nisim la'avoseinu.
Yed'n ovnt noch a lichtl heler, 
Heler vert der flam under shames shteit a shtoltser 
Vi der shoimer fun zein shtam.
Sheoso nisim, sheoso nisim la'avoseinu
Bayomim hoheim baz'man hazeh.

Zingt der tate maoz tsur dertseilt di nisim 
Fun amol vi es hobn di makabim bazigt di sonim fun Yisroel.
Fun di alte kleine lichtlech 
Fun di alte kleine lichtech flamik leicht a neie vor.
Fun di alte kleine lichtlech, 
Fun di alte kleine lichtlech flamik leicht aneie vor.
S'iz a groiser nes geshen oich atsind in unzer dor.
Sheoso nisim, sheoso nisim la'avoseinu bayomim hoheim baz'man hazeh.

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