Oh Hanukkah

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“Oy Chanukah” – The Yiddish Version of “Oh, Hanukkah” with a YouTube Video

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

The other day I posted the popular English version of “Oh, Hanukkah” with a YouTube rendition of the song. Here’s the Yiddish version of “Oh, Hanukkah”. It was originally written by Mordkhe Rivesman (1868 – 1924), who was born in Lithuania. The song was also called “Latke Song” and “Khanike Oy Khanike”.

Below you’ll find a YouTube video of 7 year old Aviv singing “Oy Chanukah”, followed by the transliterated Yiddish lyrics, and then an English translation I did to go along with it.

Chanukah, Oy Chanukah
Yiddish Transliteration

Oy Chanukah, Oy Chanukah
a yontif a sheiner,
A lustiger; a freilicher
nito noch a zeyner.

Alle nacht in dredlech,
Shpiln mir,
zudig heise latkes, es un a shir.
tsindt kinder geshvinder*
Di dininke lichtlech ohn.**

Lumir ale singen
Und lumir ale shpringen
Und lumir ale tantzen in khur.

Lumir ale singen
Und lumir ale Shpringen
Und lumir ale tantzen in khur.

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
(English Translation)

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah,
A holiday, a lovely one,
A cheerful and happy one,
There’s none other like it.

Every night with dreidels
Do we play,
Fresh*** hot latkes, do we eat.
Quickly children light
The thin, little candles!

Let’s all sing,
And let’s all jump,
And let’s all dance together!

Let’s all sing,
And let’s all jump,
And let’s all dance together!

*Normally this line is in reverse: “geshvinder tsindt kinder”.
**Alternatively: “Di Chanukah lichtlech on” = “The Chanukah candles!”
***Literally: Scalding or burning hot.

I welcome comments and suggestions on the transliteration and translation and we would also love for someone to send in the Yiddish text in the original characters to the version above.

Happy Hanukkah!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Hanukkah, Hanukkah Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Israel, Israeli Children's Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Oh Hanukkah, USA, Yiddish, YouTube | 4 Comments »

Oh Hanukkah – A Holiday Song with a YouTube Video

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

My mother-in-law sent me the lyrics to Oh Hanukkah. She sings it while lighting the Menorah* every year.

Oh Hanukkah was originally Yiddish. I believe the original version was written by Mordkhe Rivesman (1868 – 1924), who was born in Lithuania. This song is extremely popular in English now.

Here is a YouTube video rendition by the Chicago Children’s Choir, followed by the English lyrics.

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah,
Come light the Menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the horah**.

Gather ’round the table, we’ll give you a treat
S’vivivim*** to play with, and 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.
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.

*A Menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum used on Hanukkah.
**The horah is a popular Jewish circle dance that’s still done at special functions. It’s often done to the song Hava Nagila (see video below of people dancing it).
***S’vivim (also spelled ‘Sivivon’) is the Hebrew word for Dreidel or top.
****Latkes are potato pancakes.

Here’s a video of people dancing the Horah…

Next I’ll post the Yiddish version of Oh Chanukah with a Video!

Happy Chanukah!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, English, Hanukkah, Hanukkah Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Israel, Israeli Children's Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Oh Hanukkah, USA, YouTube | 1 Comment »

Sunday, December 11th, 2005

Here’s another Hanukkah song. I believe it’s sung while lighting the menorah.

Oh Hanukkah

Oh Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah,
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;
One for each night,
They shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.

Menorah = Ceremonial Candelabra used for Hanukkah
Hora = A circle dance
Dreidels = Special tops, played with on Hanukkah
Latkes = Potato pancakes, the traditional food for Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah!

-Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, English, Hanukkah, Hanukkah Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Oh Hanukkah, Songs by Theme, USA | 2 Comments »

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“Oy Chanukah” – The Yiddish Version of “Oh, Hanukkah” with a YouTube Video

Oh Hanukkah – A Holiday Song with a YouTube Video

Oh Hanukkah