- A humorous example of identity shake-up, so fitting actually to the very themes of Chanukah. Here's a unique calendar situation for all American and ex-pat Jews celebrating Thanksgiving in 2013. Such a date overlap has only occurred once before, back in 1888, and apparently would not reoccur for another 77,040 years. This funny send-up by comedian Stephen Colbert highlights this "Thanksgivukkah" situation. (It happens to be even more ironic due to the lesser-known fact that Chanukah started off in part as a necessarily-delayed Sukkot!): http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/429620/october-08-2013/thanksgiving-under-attack---hanukkah
- Rube Goldberg Machine - Technion Israel - Hanukkah 101
All ages will totally love this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We-KRSy64r4 - The Latke-Hamantash Debate
It turns out that since 1946, the Hillel at University of Chicago has been sponsoring this debate as a popular yearly event - we've heard that it can pull an audience of around a thousand or so (not such small potatoes!). There's a plethora of videos on YouTube of such proceedings (just search with "latke" and "debate"). The, uh, "logic" gets hilariously creative. See a few samples of "arguments" (if you can call them that) in Wikipedia's review on this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latke_hamentashen_debate - Some sharings of individual family traditions.
http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/820953/Unique-Hanukkah-family-traditions - If you go the gift-giving route… from Hallmark, of all places,
some decent ideas regarding family gift themes:
www.hallmark.com/hanukkah/ideas/hanukkah-gift-ideas/ - How To Make An Origami Dreidel (4-sided)
Ok, not the simplest thing to do, but very cool. Really, with no glue, and yes- it sure spins! High school through adult.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0glFh8sSC8 - More Dreidel-Making Tutorials:
This one involves paper strips, glue, and a toothpick:
http://www.matzosoup.com/2009/12/our-dreidel-factor.html
Ye olde toothpicks plus gumdrops (or similar penny candy). Simple, fun, cool. What we played around with before metal balls & magnet rods came along - the old way is also tasty: http://www.estherodesign.com/construct-a-dreidel/
The edible dreidel,
a longstanding & very clever idea:
http://chickinthekitchen.com/tag/hershey-kisses/
The CD spin-art dreidel:
http://www.estherodesign.com/spin-art-dreidel/ *We just add that if you don't want to deal with the glue gun, you or the kids can keep the marker jammed into the CD by wrapping rubber bands around the marker on both sides - after you wrap a band round and round the marker on each side of the CD, push the rounds up to the hole as close and tight as possible. If it's not thick enough, throw on some more rubber bands. (We love lo-tech-what's-handy? fast alternatives).
- Being able to count from 1 to 10 in Hebrew is especially useful around this time.
Teach your kids counting down too- you can then add that "atmospheric" to all sorts of fun stuff, right? So be sure to check out numbers, plus some other useful vocabulary offered in multimedia format in our Free Collection here:
http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/free-hebrew-lessons - Fair Trade Judaica (FTJ) is concerned with the issues of child labor and fair trade practices in the production of Judaica of all kinds. This link will take you specifically to fair-trade chocolate Chanukah gelt - kosher, in dark and milk chocolate. FTJ also offers free educational resources on the topic that you might want to check out.
http://fairtradejudaica.org/make-a-difference/fair-trade-jewish-holidays/fair-trade-your-chanukah/original-guilt-free-gelt/ - Peter, Paul and Mary –" Light One Candle", 25th Anniversary Concert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcRXgDFiSs -
Excellent listening for all ages. If you want to learn &/or perform this, here are the lyrics and chords: www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/peter-paul-and-mary-light-one-candle-chords-s235586
- Video: "Pass The Candle", Song: "Left To Right", Sung by Michelle Citrin.
Very clever , entertaining video for all ages. Show to your kids to help also get a few creative juices flowing. And of course it helps you remember to Light from the Left :) .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsBbTyak59I - By Erran Baron Cohen:
"Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah - Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah"
We say perhaps high school and up only to be careful about some suggestive dress and dancing of some of the women in this video - requiring a personal judgment call, so you should view first.
***That aside, musically and conceptually this is a terrific video, and includes humor, breakdancing, rap in Yiddish… Erran is Sacha's brother, by the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbBMBCINES8
"Dreidel"
Learn a cool new melody to "Dreidel I Shall Play". (Fine for any age, as long as you don't mind that they draw some graffiti.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHjpsmd_oXo
"Hanukkah Dance"- the original recording by Woodie Guthrie
Fascinating Find Department! Teach these two short simple songs for something different from the famous folkster. The kids could do dance and motion especially to the second song here. :)))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db-4ih0_0No - By Matisyahu:
"Happy Hanukkah", with the lyrics
Terrific, as you'd expect from our rapping maestro! Likely for older elementary grades (because of slightly more complex lyrics) and up to adult. Any age can dance to it though. Catchy tune and beat too, of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jtounZk-W0
Miracle - Matisyahu Hanukkah Song Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv-7WdpB72o - A.K.A Pella- "Happy Chanukah! (style)" - With the lyrics :) , which are excellent, educational and funny too. Remake of Gangam Style, and well done. Good for all ages to hear and dance to, and older kids to adults to learn to sing. You've got the makings for a performance here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt43aJLMHAU - The Miracle of Hanukkah
Nice video by Jewish Renaissance Experience – life vignettes about what a miracle is, good for lessons and discussions. Grade school to adult.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFxIBD8iejE - Adam Sandler - Original Hanukkah Song Video
For Adults- you'll get the references. Cute and humorous. Send to your friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDV_reO930A - Indigo Girls sing "Happy Joyous Hanukkah"
Chanukah meets bluegrass, and it’s a good match :) .
(The Klezmatics also do this song).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdFMguAsms - Canada's Barenaked Ladies' take on Chanukah:
"Hanukkah Blessings"
Pretty song. Blessings interspersed within it, the first starting at 1:20 and the second around 2:40 in video- cool melody, so you could just teach that part, and the rest is listening fun to add to your playlist for a class, gathering or party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIgqirSadms -
"Hanukkah, O Hanukkah"
Nice rendition of the usual melody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLqG3BqMC8E - The Levees:
"How Do You Spell Channukkahh"
Rock & roll, excellent song and video for all ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzlkVkpxeyk
”Gelt Melts"
Nice, silly idea for a song, done Ramones-style. In concert, with an introduction. Song starts at ~1:15. Likely more of interest to high school through adult.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hIFTnvPjn8 - The Klezmatics:
"Spin, Dreydl, Spin"
Excellent stirring instrumental, on Jew's Harp, violin & drums!
Highly recommended for all ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUMqeE-SnD0 -
Hanuka Gelt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVnNZw-FbnA - Kenny Ellis, from "Hanukkah Swings":
As you might guess, these are done 40's swing style!
Swingin' Dreidel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpYZIktK2Yg -
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah & Mi Yemalel, in Hebrew & English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgMYkkiz-BA - The Maccabeats :)
Brave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4ShxU1MEOM
Candlelight, including lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMDwmPnc7BA
Shine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfieP6H47lc
StandFour - Eight Nights - Hanukkah Mashup, including lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qteYjizo8kk - Hannukah In Santa Monica by Tom Lehrer
A vaudeville sound ;-) .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LslsgH3-UFU - Those Aish guys have done it again!:
Chanukah Jewish Rock of Ages (it's a rock medley)-
They've outdone themselves with these brilliant rock parodies for Chanukah, plus their excellent breakdancers as well (especially starting about 2 min. in)! Their lyrics are great, and included as running subtitles. They continually produce smart, slick videos. All ages.
(Do note though that they do not include women in these, to our sorrow).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSCmZU0eFJg&list=PLFhlyZiifK6vL8TLXusbnsx1eHHJWy_Bl&index=1 -
Racing Home: A Hanukkah Surprise
You've got to see it to believe it ;-) . All ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-_Qh6akbLc - Playlist of 16 Israeli Chanukah Songs (Israeli):
Like to listen to at a kids' party.
*** This YouTube compiler – Erez Luzon – thankfully did include the lyrics in Hebrew with each YouTube he posted, (though without Nikud), under each tape's "About" section. A list of the playlist song order appears below. Where we have found transliterations + translations online for you, we include those URL's here for you.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA065D09512AE0FFC
Playlist:- Yemey Hachanuka - http://hebrewsongs.com/?song=yemeihachanukah
- Hanerot Halalu - http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=hanerothalalu
- Chanukia Li Yesh
- Ner Li - http://users.grummel.net/willi/hazorea/chag/nerli.html
- Nerotai Hazeirim
- Chanuka Chanuka - http://chanukah.spike-jamie.com/songs.html (last song on page)
- Banu Choshech Legaresh - http://hebrewsongs.com/?song=banuchoshechlegaresh
- Kad Katan
- Hava Narima - http://zemerl.com/cgi-bin//show.pl?title=HAVA+NARIMA ,
- Sevivon Sov Sov Sov - http://hebrewsongs.com/?song=sevivonsovsovsov
- Hasevivon Sheli
- Lichvod Hachanuka - http://hebrewsongs.com/?song=lichvodhachanukah
- Ma'ase Belevivot
- Ma Ma Tapuach Adama
- Simu Shemen
- Maoz Tzur - http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=maoztzuryeshuati
- Lyrics of some more Chanukah songs to download:
http://www.jewishfolksongs.com/userfiles/JFS%20-%20Hanukkah%20-%20Songs.doc
based on a really nice page of information here, put together by Batya Fonda:
http://www.jewishfolksongs.com/en/hanukkah
Also see:
http://www.hebrewsongs.com/chanukah.htm
http://zemerl.com/cgi-bin/display.pl?subcategory=Hannukkah - The Hodaya Ensemble- Maoz Tzur (Benedetto Marcello version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI1qz0UN0yA - Amir Dadon - Or Gadol (Israeli)
"A Big Light"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeU9Sbq0D0A - Medley of Chanukah songs performed by Avichai Malichi (Israeli)
שירי חנוכה מחרוזת נהדרת בביצועו של אביחי מליחי
"shirei chanuka machrozet nehederet be-bitzu-a shel avichai malichi"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPgfegEsU4w - Chutzpah - Chanukah's Da Bomb - Jewish Rap, note- with George Segal
Just nutty ;-). (We'd say middle school through adult, but it's a judgment call).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I8PLjPUdUo - Light em Up (Hanukkah Worldwide)
Rap starts at 40 seconds in. Brought to you by Taglit / Birthright.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQdqQinnR3o - Nefesh B'Nefesh Hanukkah Flash Mob (Official NBN Release)
"Oy is just yo backwards". That explains a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULtglogZbR8 - G-dcast Spins Chanukah!
Story review, cute, all ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G40SlkmZkqU - Oofganiyot
Rechov Sumsum (an English clip): Sufganiyot made by Moishe Oofnik (the Israeli Oscar the Grouch) ;-) .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwMd-f_f8bY - Shalom Sesame: The Missing Menorah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV-ddVH-iiM - Sesame Street: Hanukkah With Veronica Monica
An adorable telling of the story. The youngest set on up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhqGL0k85v4&list=PLD08A2D3C33D1AC1E - Bible Raps - Light Is in the Air
From My Jewish Learning, older youth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIT57hHJhsY - The Shlomones - The Rocky Hora Chanukah Song -Official video
For lyrics click "Show more"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzoGCG8w8Wc - Light Up the Night - Fountainheads Hanukkah
"A Hanukkah song by The Ein Prat Fountainheads, from the Ein Prat Academy, Israel.
For lyrics click "Show more"."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzh-TKzXN2k
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