Chanukah Songs
Oy Chanuka, Oy Chanuka a yomtov a shener,
A lustiker; a freylicher; nito noch azoyner.
Alle nacht in dredlech,
Shpiln mir, zudik hese latkes, est on a shir.
Geshvinder, tsindt kinder,
Dee deninke lichtelech ohn.
Zingt "Al Hanisim",
Loibt Gott far di nisim,
Un kumt giher tantzn in kohn.
Zingt "Al Hanisim",
Loibt Gott for di nisim.
Un kumt giher tantzn in kohn.
(Al Hinism refers to the miracle of the oil
lasting for eight days. Nisim is the miracle.)
Various aspects of Jewish Life (in German)
Gut Yontif is the Yiddish idiom for "Have a nice holiday," a greeting of
hello on most Jewish holidays (but not Chanukkah, which isn't a holiday that
keeps us from work). The first word is Germanic, and the other two are from
Hebrew yom tov, a good day (literally, day (yom) good (tov). The Hebrew is
Hag Sameach. I believe I've heard Hag Hanukkah Sameach.
During Jewish holidays in our conservative synagogue in St. Petersburg,
Florida, I hear both used interchangeably. The same is true of Shabbat
Shalom (Hebrew) and Gut Shabbos (Yiddish) on Friday evening and Saturday
morning. A lot of idiomatic Yiddish is around. There is a world-wide
movement to keep Yiddish alive, especially through theater, literature, and
Klezmer and other music.
The saftige Latkes are plump, not dry or hard.
Thank you, Listlers, and Happy Chanukah to fellow celebrants!
Carol Gray Marger
Lakewood High School & Bay Point Middle School
St. Petersburg, Florida (Pinellas County Schools)
hello on most Jewish holidays (but not Chanukkah, which isn't a holiday that
keeps us from work). The first word is Germanic, and the other two are from
Hebrew yom tov, a good day (literally, day (yom) good (tov). The Hebrew is
Hag Sameach. I believe I've heard Hag Hanukkah Sameach.
During Jewish holidays in our conservative synagogue in St. Petersburg,
Florida, I hear both used interchangeably. The same is true of Shabbat
Shalom (Hebrew) and Gut Shabbos (Yiddish) on Friday evening and Saturday
morning. A lot of idiomatic Yiddish is around. There is a world-wide
movement to keep Yiddish alive, especially through theater, literature, and
Klezmer and other music.
The saftige Latkes are plump, not dry or hard.
Thank you, Listlers, and Happy Chanukah to fellow celebrants!
Carol Gray Marger
Lakewood High School & Bay Point Middle School
St. Petersburg, Florida (Pinellas County Schools)