1. |
A Mazeldikeh Yor
01:58
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When Rosh Hashana comes around
We say to those we meet
Shana tova u’metuka
May this new year be sweet
May it be one of happiness
May it be one of life
May it be one of peace and love
Not hate and war and strife.
But wishing cannot make it so
No matter what we do
If God and luck aren’t on our side
To help us make it through—
So here’s my Rosh Hashana wish
Henceforth and evermore
To all of us, to everyone
A mazeldikeh yor.
A mazeldikeh yor, oy yoy, a mazeldikeh yor
Ribono shel olam good luck is what we’re asking for
Oy, a mazeldikeh yor.
The makhzor paints a new year
Full of trouble, grief, and woe
The list goes, takeh, on and on
In never-ending flow—
B’yom tzom kipur yeykhateymun
Kamah ya’av’run
Mi yikhyeh u’mi yamut
V’ye’ba’rey’un;
Mi ba’esh u’mi bamayim
Mi ba’khanika
Mi bara’av, mi bakhehrev
Mi bamageyfa—
We cannot know for certain what
The new year holds in store
Zol zayn mit mazel—may it be
A mazeldikehh yor.
A mazeldikeh yor, oy yoy, a mazeldikeh yor
Ribono shel olam good luck is what we’re asking for
Oy, a mazeldikeh yor.
A mazeldikeh yor, oy yoy, a mazeldikeh yor
A bisl mazel’s all we need and just a bisl more
Oy, a mazeldikeh yor.
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2. |
Chanukah Christmas
03:59
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On Chanukah, the Feast of Lights
We lit the candles for eight nights
When I was just a wee small fry
And Santa Claus flew right on by.
But nowadays, he’s here with me
As we all trim the Christmas tree
And our house has a magic aura
Christmas tree and lit menorah
Spinning dreydl, angel chime
In these days and at this time
There’s double lights
On all eight nights
Of Chanukah.
And Judah Maccabee is here
With Rudolph and the eight reindeer
With chocolate gelt and model trains
Golden latkes, candy canes.
And while the candles gently glow
There’s carols on the radio
And presents wrapped and pudding made
Stockings stuffed and dreydl played—
We make choices, yea or nay
From this mixed holiday buffet
A Yuletide log
But no eggnog
On Chanukah.
We visit family far and near
For Chanukah or Christmas cheer
But back at home, we merge and blend
And new ways start and old ways end—
There’s holly leaves, red berries, thorns
But Rudolph has menorah horns
A Christmas morning potpourri
Of presents ’neath a tinselled tree
Topped by a star no Wise Men saw
A mogen dovid – such khutzpa!
Reflects the lights
On all eight nights
Of Chanukah.
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3. |
On Chanukah
02:48
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On Chanukah, the candles bright
We light them one by one each night
As we recall the miracle
Of Chanukah.
This is the Feast of Lights
The candles brightly shine
As in those days and at this time
The lights of Chanukah.
The Maccabees so long ago
They fought against the foreign foe
The Temple cleansed, the oil renewed
On Chanukah.
This is the Feast of Lights
The candles brightly shine
As in those days and at this time
The lights of Chanukah.
Rejoice, rejoice and let us sing
For news of miracles we bring
The many fled before the few
On Chanukah.
This is the Feast of Lights
The candles brightly shine
As in those days and at this time
The lights of Chanukah.
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4. |
Chanukah Waltz
02:28
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I like a latke fried crispy and brown
And I like a dreydl that’s spinning around
Why can’t we have a holiday where both are found?
And maybe its name could be "Chanukah.”
I’m a sucker for candles lit all in a row
And I love a present tied up in a bow
What if that holiday came with snow?
I believe that its name could be “Chanukah.”
A feast with a blessing sung to an old tune
And the soft glow of candles when it gets dark too soon—
I like a menorah of old polished brass
And a dreydl that’s made of wood, lead, or glass
I think seven—no, eight!—days is the least it should last
And you can bet that its name should be “Chanukah.”
A time to remember the heroes of old
And that freedom’s more precious than any king’s gold—
We gather at this darkest time of the year
For latkes and laughter with loved ones so dear
Come join us for blessings and holiday cheer
On this Feast of Lights that we call Chanukah.
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5. |
Mazel Tov, Mazel
03:25
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Come friends of the wedding, a toast let us sing
To the khosn and kale good wishes we bring
Come all you relations on whichever side
We’ll gladden the hearts of the bridegroom and bride. [singing…]
Mazel tov, mazel
Shalom u’brakha
M’sameyakh ha-khosn
Im ha-kala.
Here’s to the k’tuba in all its detail
Here’s to the kitl and here’s to the veil
Here’s to the brokhes for him and for her
Here’s to the ring on her forefinger. [singing…]
Here’s to your fathers and mothers also
Who embarked on this journey a long time ago
They walk down the aisle as parents – horim –
And emerge from the khupa as makhatonim. [singing…]
Here’s to the khupa, above you it spans
You are wed in God’s presence and also in man’s
Here’s to the glass that the khosn will smash
As Mazel Tov! echoes and cameras flash. [singing…]
Come fill up your glasses and everyone rise
Drink a toast to the khosn and kala likewise
Lekhayim, lekhayim, lekhayim again
Shehekhyanu v’kiymanu v’higianu – omeyn! [singing…]
Mazel tov, mazel
Shalom u’brakha
M’sameyakh ha-khosn
Im ha-kala [singing…]
Mazel tov, mazel tov
Mazel we say
We wish you gut mazel
On your wedding day.
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6. |
Akhehr
03:09
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Whoever you think I used to be
I'm different than that now
Whatever it is I used to see
I don't see it now somehow
There's another road I need to walk
Another field to plough
And whoever you think I used to be
I'm different than that now.
Akhehr, Akhehr
Ani akhshav Akhehr
Whoever you think I used to be
Ani Akhehr.
Debates on ancient points of law—
Agree or disagree—
That I once took for wisdom
No longer interest me
I feel no need to question
Each chapter, verse, and clause
I really don’t care either way
I’m not the man I was.
It's nothing that I wanted
It's nothing that I sought
The world has changed and now I find
I don't think what I always thought
I’m sorry it must be this way
But I am not the same
I will not miss my old, old self
I will not miss my name—
Akhehr, Akhehr
Ani akhshav Akhehr
Whoever you think I used to be
Whoever I was, well, that’s not me
Go back my friend, now, can’t you see
Ani Akhehr.
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7. |
Bar Mitzvah Waltz
03:34
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I was only thirteen but I still can recall
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
In a custom-made suit that was soon much too small
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
My whole class was there and no one had a date
We chose random partners and left things to fate
When the sweet table beckoned, we each filled our plate
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz.
The band started playing, and soon all began
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
Except Uncle Alec and Joe from Poznan
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
They argued in Yiddish for half of the night
One from the left side and one from the right
Till they reached an entente, ordered schnapps, and got tight
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz.
My bobie and zeyda kept time one-two-three
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
Mother and Dad tripped the light so carefree
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
Even the rabbi was out on the floor
He and the rebbetzin sure knew the score
They called “Mazel tov!” then sashayed out the door
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz.
We cha-cha’d and hora’d, we circled and swayed
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
But no matter what music the orchestra played
We were dancing the bar mitzvah waltz
There were blessings and speeches and even some tears
But I think I can say after all of these years
The music still echoes so sweet in my ears
Dancing the bar mitzvah waltz.
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8. |
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CHORUS
I’ll see you Rosh Hashana
I’ll see you in the fall
T’kiya, shvarim, tru’ah
We’ll hear the shofar call
Eat apple dipped in honey
The family will be here
See you Rosh Hashana, see you
In the new year.
On erev Rosh Hashana
We have a family feast
Talk of friends and loved ones
Both the living and deceased
Eat khala dipped in honey
And apple slices too
And teyglakh and lekakh
For a sweet year through and through.
What will the new year bring us?
Will it be good or bad
Will there be want or plenty
Will we be content or sad
Will we live ’til Rosh Hashana
Comes around again?
Shana tova tikateyvu
Tikhateymu—oy, omeyn!
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9. |
Miracles
03:07
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Chanukah comes once a year
With latkes, lights, and laughter
But I’ve a wish for you my dear
All Chanukahs hereafter—
May your miracles last much longer
Than just eight days
May your Chanukah lights burn stronger
And shine always
May your memory of those candles
And their cheery blaze
Keep the joy of Chanukah ever in your heart.
The Maccabees were fighters
Our sages tell us so
And we’ve been candle lighters
Since the very first Chanukah long ago
May your miracles last much longer
Than just eight days
May your Chanukah lights burn stronger
And shine always
May your memory of those candles
And their cheery blaze
Keep the joy of Chanukah ever in your heart.
There’s always times of danger
There’s always times of strife
But hope is not a stranger
If you’ve got a little Chanukah in your life
May your miracles last much longer
Than just eight days
May your Chanukah lights burn stronger
And shine always
May your memory of those candles
And their cheery blaze
Keep the joy of Chanukah ever in your—
Joy of Chanukah—dreydls spin for—
Joy of Chanukah ever in your heart.
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10. |
Khagim uZmanim
07:16
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The time passes onward, the years circle round
With feasts, fasts, and festivals each season is crowned
They join past and present, bring distant lands near
Unite friends and families as year follows year—
In autumn when Tishrei’s new moon is agleam
Rosh HaShana begins the yamim nora’im
Shana tova tikateyvu, good wishes abound
While apple and honey go cheerfully round.
Soon t’kiya! will sound as Yom Kippur begins
The Day of Atonement, forgiveness from sins
The solemn Kol Nidre, the shofar’s loud blast
The Book of Life sealed as the judgment is passed.
Yom, layla, shavua, shavua, shanim
Yom tovim, khagim uzmanim.
Just after Yom Kippur, sukkot can be seen
In backyards and laneways, their roofs topped with green
We welcome ushpizin—in Hebrew, orkhim
Shake etrog and lulav—the arba minim.
On Shmini Atzeret, we leave the sukkah
In time to rejoice upon Simkhat Torah
Read the last of Dvarim and the first of Breyshit
Then dance with the Torah—its cycle complete.
When freezing winds blow through the long winter’s night
The candles of Chanukah shed a sweet light
As frost nips the air and snow covers the ground
We eat golden latkes and dreydls spin round.
Yom, layla, shavua, shavua, shanim
Yom tovim, khagim uzmanim.
More bleak winter days when the fields and lakes freeze
Then comes Tu biShvat, the New Year of the Trees
Dried figs, dates, and raisins midst winter’s dark gloom
Remind us in Israel, the almond’s in bloom.
Then Purim, and Esther saves all of the Jews—
And with Mordechai evil Haman subdues
Megilla and gragars and costumes and fun
We eat homentashn—prune filling or mohn.
At last winter’s over and springtime draws near
We clean out our chometz for Peysakh is here
Haroset, maror, karpas, zroah, matzah
We sing through the seder right to Chad Gadya.
Yom, layla, shavua, shavua, shanim
Yom tovim, khagim uzmanim.
The Omer begins when the seders are done
Then it’s forty-nine days to the sixth of Sivan
No weddings, bar mitzvahs, or such revelry
Except Lag Ba’Omer (that’s day thirty-three).
Shavuot is one of the shlosh regalim
To the Temple they came with the first bikurim
Today we eat cheesecake and blintzes likewise
Then read from the Sages from dusk till sunrise.
We grieve for Jerusalem on Tisha B’av
The day of deep mourning all others above
Our sad lamentations the centuries cross
For the Temple’s destruction, and exile and loss.
Yom, layla, shavua, shavua, shanim
Yom tovim, khagim uzmanim.
But hope for the new year becomes our refrain
For now Rosh Hashana comes round once again
Another year ended, another begun
The cycle starts over – but my song is done.
Yom, layla, shavua, shavua, shanim
Yom tovim, khagim uzmanim
Yom, layla, shavua, shavua, shanim
Yom tovim, khagim uzmanim.
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11. |
Packed
02:32
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I’ve got a bag packed – always do
You never know when they’ll come for you
I’ve got some coins sewn in a hem
In case there should be need of them
Buy safe passage through the strife
Buy some food, buy my life.
My bag is packed – I’m set to leave
I don’t expect that I will grieve
If things go south and hell breaks loose
It won’t be my head in a noose
One if by land, two if by sea
They won’t even see the back of me.
My bag is ready – odd to some
But you just won’t know, until they come
In the front, out the rear
They’ll find the place, and no one here
Come at twilight, come at dawn
Come for me and I’ll be gone.
My bag is packed—it’s pretty small
Shouldn’t weigh me down at all
There isn’t much I really need
None to clothe, none to feed
Things are better down the road
Travel light—Unload! Unload!
My bag is packed—I know the score
Like so many gone before:
When the time comes, have no doubt
No hesitation, tears—get out!
Open the door a tiny crack
Whsht! I’m gone—I won’t be back.
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Shelley Posen Ottawa, Ontario
SHELLEY POSEN is a Canadian songwriter and performer of his own and traditional songs. He writes in many styles and on many subjects. His songs are widely recognized for their wit, craftsmanship, and the profound effect many seem to have on listeners.
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