“Oy Chanukah” – The Yiddish Version of “Oh, Hanukkah” with a YouTube Video
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 TransliterationOy 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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December 22nd, 2008 at 3:06 am
SO much cuter than Adam Sandler’s Hannukah Song (it’s on YouTube and too crazy for little kids).