Hanukkah Songs

Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov

A popular song, "sevivon" is Hebrew for "dreidel", which is the Yiddish word for a spinning top.

Transliteration from Hebrew

Sivivon, sov, sov, sov
Hanukkah, hu chag tov
Hanukkah, hu chag tov
Sivivon, sov, sov, sov!
Chag simcha hu la-am
Nes gadol haya sham
Nes gadol haya sham
Chag simcha hu la-am.

Dreidel, spin, spin, spin.
Hanukkah is a great holiday.
Hanukkah is a great holiday.
Dreidel, spin, spin, spin.
It is a celebration for our nation.
A great miracle happened there.
A great miracle happened there.
It is a celebration for our nation.

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

A very famous song in the English speaking world for Chanukah, based on the original Yiddish lyrics. It is well associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike.

I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.
When it's dry and ready, with dreidel I shall play.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with dreidel I shall play.
It has a lovely body, with leg so short and thin.
When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win!
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win!
My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin.
A happy game of dreidel, come play now let's begin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let's begin.
I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.
When it's dry and ready, with dreidel I shall play.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with dreidel I shall play.

Yiddish version

Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl
Gemakht bin ikh fun blay
To lomir ale shpiln
In dreydl eyns tsvey dray.
Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl
Oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey
To lomir ale shpiln
In dreydl eyns un tsvey.
Un ikh hob lib tsu tantsn
Zikh dreyen in a rod
To lomir ale tantsn
A dreydl-karahod.
Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl
Oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey
To lomir ale shpiln
In dreydl eyns un tsvey.

Chanukah, Oh Chanukah

Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we'll all have a treat
Sivovim to play with, and latkes to eat
And while we are playing
The candles are burning bright
One for each night, and they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago
One for each night, and they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago

This medley of Hanukkah songs includes some of the most well-known and most loved Hanukkah melodies. The blessings recited over the menorah lighting and the hymn Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) sung afterward evoke the history and religious significance of the holiday, while kids' tunes such as "Sivivon" remind us of the more playful side to Hanukkah.

Selected lyrics and translation

First Blessing

Lyrics

Baruch ata adonai
eloheinu melekh ha-olam
asher kidishanu
b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu
l'hadlik ner shel chanuka.

Translation

Blessed are you God, ruler of the Universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments
and has commanded us to light the Hanukkah candle.

Second Blessing

Lyrics

Baruch ata adonai elohenu melekh ha-olam she-asa
nisim la'avoteinu ba-yamim ha-hem ba-zman ha-zeh.

Translation

Blessed are you God, ruler of the universe, who has done
miracles for our ancestors in those days at this season.

Maoz Tzur/Rock of Ages

Lyrics

Maoz tzur yeshuati
L'kha na-eh l'shabeakh
Tikon beit t'filati
V'sham todah n'zabeakh
Le-et takhin matbeakh
Mitzur ham-nabeakh
Az egmor b'shir mizmor
Khanukhat ha-mizbeakh

Translation

Rock of Ages let our song,
Praise thy saving power;
Thou amidst the raging foes,
Wast our shelt'rng tower.

Furious they assailed us,
But Thine arm availed us,
And Thy word broke their sword,

When our own strength failed us.

And Thy word broke their sword,

When our own strength failed us.

MI YIMALEL

Lyrics

Mi yimalel givurot Yisrael Otan mi yimne
Hen b'khol dor yakum hagibor Goel ha-am.

Shma! Ba-yamim ha'hem
ba'zman ha'zeh.
Macabim moshia u'phodeh
U'vyameinu kol Am Yisrael
Yitakhed yakum lehigael.

Translation

Who can retell the things that befell us?
Who can count them?
In every age, a hero or sage
Arose to our aid.

Hark! In days of yore in Israel's ancient land
Brave Maccabeus led the faithful band

But now all Israel must as one arise
Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice.