Hanukkah is officially the Feast of the Maccabees, or the Feast of Dedication. It is celebrated over eight days to commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire (the successor state to the Near-Eastern kingdom of Alexander the Great) as well as the reestablishment of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E. But it is traditionally called the Festival of Lights, in honor of the “miracle of the oil,” in which a single day’s supply of lamp oil burned for the original festival’s full eight days.
That’s why Jews kindle candles in a menorah over eight days while chanting an accompanying prayer. The Ma’oz Zur, a hymn later paraphrased as “Rock of Ages,” is then sung. In the synagogue, the usual daily blessings are chanted, with the addition of the Hallel, a collection of Psalms 113–118. These psalms were most likely written for Hanukkah, in view of their references to giving thanks, a bloody war, and the recovery of the Temple: “Open to me the gates of righteousness.” Hear musical examples at the Jewish National & University Library Web site.
Scholar Francesco Spagnolo, director of research and collections at Berkeley’s Magnes Museum, explains that the holiday was originally simple, founded more on a political action than on a religious ideal, until in the 19th century it became bigger. “It was an attempt by Jews to define themselves and their religion in the context of the assimilation that was popular around them. The rise of Zionism and the ideas of creating a Jewish state also echoed the militaristic and political ideals of Hanukkah,” Spagnolo adds.
“The musical material therefore means different things to different groups of people in the Global Diaspora. It is the dialogue between Jews and their surrounding cultures.” And because Jews live in various regions, different tunes have been developed for the same texts. Says Spagnolo, “In America, Hanukkah is a religious holiday for the not very religious. It’s close to Christmas, and provides a sense of communal gathering.”
Cantor Rosalyn Barak of San Francisco’s Temple Emanu-El agrees that, religiously speaking, the holiday and its music are “not a big deal.” She continues, “Composers write songs about light and candles, but it’s nothing that’s inspiring. We’ve had some fun songs that go with games; songs about spinning dreidels and eating potato latkes, or sweet little folk songs in Yiddish or various Jewish dialects. But as far as any liturgy or anything magnificent or beautiful ... not really. There is not a huge amount of musical splendor in this holiday.” She says her Temple regularly holds Hanukkah pageants and sing-alongs for the community, though no big musical programs.
Home, Sweet Jewish Musical Home
Yet in Jewish homes it’s a different story, as families gather to light the menorah and sing beloved songs like Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel and Hanukkah, O Hanukkah. In Israel some of the best-known are Hanukkah Li Yesh (I have a Hanukkah menorah), Kad Katan (A small jug), S’vivon Sov Sov Sov (Dreidel, spin and spin), Haneirot Halolu (These candles that we light), Mi Yimalel (Who can retell?) and Ner Li, Ner Li (I have a candle).
Lisa Behar Greenberg, the recreation director of the San Francisco Parks Department, grew up in a culturally Spanish Sephardic tradition, and observes most religious holidays. “My mother was a music teacher, and always had Jewish/Sephardic music playing when I was growing up,” she says. “She sings traditional songs in Ladino [Judeo-Spanish] and even has a solo in her 100-person, multicultural choir holiday concert in Southern California. We are all going to see her perform Ocho Kandelikas (Eight candles).”
Writer Talia Baruch’s family emigrated here from Israel and describe themselves as culturally Jewish. “The holiday is mainly celebrated at home with friends and relatives, and the songs are more recent folk tunes and lyrics, sung in Hebrew,” says Baruch. “Most songs involve body gestures and movement; for example S’vivon Sov Sov Sov is sung while spinning the dreidel, Banu Hoshech le’garesh is accompanied by stamping of the foot, and so on.”
As with Christmas songs, Hanukkah songs have been reinvented (sometimes tortured) in pop, rock, jazz, classical, and other musical idioms. Public menorah-lighting ceremonies can feature virtually anything. Lisa Behar stumbled on three in Orange County last year, with sponsors ranging from Orthodox to liberal, and all had the same traditional prayers and songs. Meanwhile, Rabbi Joseph Langer, head of Chabad of San Francisco and also known as the “Rock ’n’ Roll Rabbi,” began the Union Square menorah lighting with concert promoter Bill Graham 25 years ago. Orthodox Grateful Dead–inspired bands perform Hanukkah songs beginning Dec. 13.
With the exception of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Judas Maccabaeus and several modern choral composers, traditional classical composers have not created a body of works to celebrate this holiday. Yet that does not diminish the importance of its music for members of the faith. The plethora of Hanukkah tunes available in all media makes that much clear. (Tell us your favorites, in the comments area below.)