Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah

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Although I’m not Jewish, I own a menorah.  My Italian decent mother grew up in a predominately Jewish neighborhood in NYC.  As a young woman living in Forest Hills, NY, my mom learned to embrace and appreciate Jewish customs.  That love and admiration trickled down to my sister and me.  As a teacher and a parent, I have always understood the importance for my children to embrace and appreciate other cultures, particularly Jewish celebrations such as Hanukkah.

 

This Wednesday, my children and I will light our menorah and play dreidel on the first night of Hanukkah.  We’ll also sing songs to celebrate the Festival of Lights, but these are far from the songs my sister and I sang as kids.

 

Over the years as I have taught my children some of the Jewish customs, there has been a resurgence of Jewish music, but these traditional Jewish songs have been modernized.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbBMBCINES8]

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHFukECvMo]

 

From New Line Records:

“Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah is a record that takes Hanukkah music to a place it’s never been before. It’s a musical voyage that bears repeated listening both for adults and kids who will love to hear the re-workings of the songs they already know as well as the new, original tracks,” says Baron Cohen. “Hanukkah has always been a kid-focused holiday so the challenge was how to transform the music so that it was cool and interesting for adults and yet something that the whole family could enjoy.”

 

While searching YouTube to find songs spotlighting the Jewish culture in honor of Hanukkah this week, I discovered one of my favorite artists, Matisyahu, released a Hanukkah album, entitled Miracle.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dom_X7YXf8s]

 

Matisyahu is a reggae artist who combines beatbox with traditional Jewish themes.  His music and the message behind it all truly moves me.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxxuSiC4wNw]

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_quJIy7Q-4E]

 

 

To really understand Matisyahu and his music, I highly recommend you watch One Day, which is only available to view on You Tube here.

 

For the next three weeks, I will be sharing my favorite holiday tunes.  It would make me very jolly if you shared your favorite holiday tunes, too.

 

 

Visit Amanda, Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

 

About the author

Denise
From start to finish, Denise is Run DMT, a Tampa Bay homeschooling mom on the run trying to maintain an easy pace through it all between races and raising three beautiful, brilliant adultish kids (ages 23, 19, 14). In 2007, I discovered a passion for running and in February 2015, I completed my tenth marathon. I continue to train for a variety of races and even host annual 5K. In 2023, I became a certified group fitness instructor and teach P.E. in my homeschool co-op.

11 comments

  1. Peggy says:

    What a lovely tradition. I lived in a similar neighborhood when I was first married. I don’t think God cares what religion you are as long as you show up and participate .

  4. xmasdolly says:

    I’ve never heard this music before, but I will say it’s definitely quite different, but not unpleasant. Actually it’s quite interesting. Thanks for giving our Monday’s Music Moves Me a different twist and adding to its variety. Hope to see you next week too. Following you.

  5. Joanie Mack says:

    This Irish Catholic girl really enjoyed these songs, most especially One Day. I loved the modern version of Dreidel, too! Thanks for thinking o f adding Chanukkah songs to our mix!

  9. Larry H. says:

    I had never heard Baron Cohen, but love Matisyahu – thank you for reminding me of him.. I hadn’t listened to his music in 3-4 years and it was nice to hear him again.

  10. Pingback: Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah | Whats Hot

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