Recorded Hanukkah Music to Provide Holiday Prelude Dec. 7
December 4, 2023
By Eileen Wingard
Eileen Wingard
LA JOLLA, California –Enjoy a prelude to your first night of Hanukkah with Hanukkah Music, part of the series, Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library. This free program will be held in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC on Thursday, December 7, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Click here to register.
The program is curated and hosted by myself and my special guest will be Judith Rubenstein, whose CD, Happy Hanukah, will be one of the sources for the playlist selections. She will also introduce some of the other songs on the list.
Judith Rubenstein, who earned her BA from Wellesley College, and an M.A.T. and Doctorate in Education from Harvard University, taught English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Education. Songs of the Seder was her first recording, Happy Hanukah is her second. She is described as having “a sweet and beautiful voice. She sings the songs, prayers, and chants simply and slowly so that everyone may learn them and enjoy them.”
The fifteen selections for the Hanukkah Music program will range from the traditional candle blessing and “Maoz Tzur”(Rock of Ages) to more recently written holiday ditties like Adam Sandler’s “Hanuka in Santa Monica.”
Along with the traditional Yiddish “Chanuka, Oy Chanuka,” sung in both Yiddish and English, there will be the less familiar “Oy Ir Kleine Lichtelach” (Oh, You Little Candles). “Mi Yimalel” (Who Can Retell) will be heard in Hebrew and English and “Ahl Hah-nee-seem” (For the Miracles) will be heard in the original Hebrew and in an English translation written by guest, Judith Rubenstein.
Children’s songs will include “I Have a Little Dreidel,” “Svivon” (Spin) and “Lots of Latkes.” There will be a version of “Maoz Tzur” from the Italian Musical Tradition and we will hear Flory Jagoda singing her original Ladino song, “Ocho Candelikas” (Eight Candles), In addition, Debbie Friedman will be heard in her clever “Latke Song” and Peter Yarrow in his inspiring, “Light One Candle.”
Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean victory over the Greek King, Antiochus and his forces in 163 BCE. It also celebrates the miracle of the cruse of oil, expected to last one day, lasting eight days. Thus, we celebrate Hanukkah for eight days. The Hanukkah songs reflect the victory, the miracle and the traditions that have become part of the holiday, such as playing dreidel and eating latkes fried in oil.
For an uplifting send-off for your celebration, come listen, sing along and dance to the music of Hanukkah.
*
Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com
