Learn HAVA NAGILA and TEACH the Dance

 

Who wrote Havah Nagilah? Either: Is it either Moshe Nathanson or Abraham Zevi Idelsohn?

Hava Nagila is sung in Hebrew its mode makes it a GREAT example of the influence in Israeli music of the European Jewish wedding band music - the style which has become known these days known these days as Klezmer.
Klezmer (from Yiddish כּלי־זמיר, etymologically from Hebrew k'li zemer כלי זמר, "musical instrument") is a musical tradition which parallels Hasidic and Ashkenazic Judaism. Around the 15th century, a tradition of secular (non-liturgical) Jewish music was developed by musicians called kleyzmorim or kleyzmerim. They draw on devotional traditions extending back into Biblical times, and their musical legacy of klezmer continues to evolve today. The repertoire is largely dance songs for weddings and other celebrations. Due to the Ashkenazi lineage of this music, the lyrics, terminology and song titles are typically in Yiddish. Originally, klezmer (plural klezmorim) referred to musical instruments, and was later extended to refer to musicians themselves. It was not until the mid-to-late 20th Century that the word was used to identify a musical genre. Early 20th Century recordings and writings most often refer to the style as "Yiddish" music, although it is also sometimes called Freilech music.

This is a 6 beat pattern in a 4/4 song.

 

Learn the Hora - Dance Steps for Hava Nagila

1. Step right foot; cross left foot over right
keep weight on right foot - for 2 beats

2. Bringing left foot back to original position,
Step left foot; cross right foot over left
keeping weight on left foot - for 2 beats

3. Step right foot; left foot steps behind right for 2 beats

HEAR Hava Nagila and compare the different styles of each:
To download a sound file of the National Anthem, Hatikva, right-click file name and choose "Save Target As...". PLEASE, DO NOT LINK TO A SOUND FILE DIRECTLY. IF YOU WISH TO USE ONE, DOWNLOAD AND USE AT YOUR OWN SERVER.

Ben Folds Five

Harry Belafonte

Accordian, tamborine, Flute, Choir

Classical Guitar, tamborine, clapping

Klezmer Juice Band

Party Animals

 

Music | Jewish Festival Hanukkah

Hanukkah
Festival of Lights

 

 

Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar (November/December).

This year marks the first year a Hanukkah lamp (a menorah) was lit in the White House residence. President and Mrs. Bush commemorated the holiday by participating with members of their staff and some of their children in lighting the second candle on December 10, 2001. The 100-year-old lamp was borrowed from the collection of the Jewish Museum in New York.

Collection of recipes and cooking ideas for Hanukkah, including traditional foods such as latkes and sufganiyot (Israeli jelly donuts), vegetarian recipes, seasonal menus, kosher wine suggestions, baking projects such as rugelach and cream cheese Hanukkah stars, and more.

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a joyous celebration about the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when there was only enough oil left in the temple for one day!

All About Chanukah. Chanukah or Hanukkah? Why do some people write Chanukah while others say Hanukkah?

The Story of Chanukah

The Online Menorah
Introduction to the meaning of Hanukkah and the Hanukkah menorah. Features background about why Hanukkah is celebrated, the basic rules associated with the use of the menorah (what one may use to light the candles, and how one lights the candles), and audio, with English translations, of three blessings that are recited when the candles are lit. Also includes links to more detailed material about Hanukkah. From a Jewish outreach and education group.

Pre-School Hanukkah songs

HUMOR / FUN

 

Cleaning and Cooking
[Sung to the tune of "These are a few of my favorite things"]

Cleaning and cooking and so many dishes
   Out with the hametz, no pasta, no knishes
   Fish that's gefillted, horseradish that stings
   These are a few of our Passover things.

Matzoh and karpas and chopped up haroset
   Shankbones and Kiddish and Yiddish neuroses
   Tante who kvetches and uncle who sings
   These are a few of our Passover things.

Motzi and maror and trouble with Pharoahs
   Famines and locusts and slaves with wheelbarrows
   Matzoh balls floating and eggshell that cling
   These are a few of our Passover things.

When the plagues strike
  When the lice bite
  When we're feeling sad
  We simply remember our Passover things
  And then we don't feel so bad.


Take Me Out To The Seder
(To the tune of, of course, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!")


Take me out to the Seder
   Take me out with the crowd.
   Feed me on matzah and chicken legs,
   I don't care for the hard-boiled eggs.
   And its root, root, root for Elijah
   That he will soon reappear.
   And let's hope, hope, hope that we'll meet
   Once again next year!

Take me out to the Seder
   Take me out with the crowd.
   Read the Haggadah
   And don't skip a word.
   Please hold your talking,
   We want to be heard.
   And lets, root, root, root for the leader
   That he will finish his spiel
   So we can nosh, nosh, nosh and by-gosh
   Let's eat the meal!!!


 The Eight Nights of Passover
 (To the tune of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas')

On the first night of Passover my mother served to me:
   1) a matzo ball in chicken soup
   2) two dipped herbs
   3) three pieces of matzah
   4) four cups of wine
   5) five gefilte fish
   6) six capons baking
   7) seven eggs a boiling
   8) eight briskets roasting

 Pharaoh doesn't Pay
(To the tune of "I've been Working on the Railroad")

We've been working on these buildings;
   Pharaoh doesn't pay.
   We've been doing what he tells us
   Mixing straw with clay.
   Can't you hear the master calling,
   "Hurry up, make that brick!"
    Can't you feel the master whip us
   'Til we're feeling sick.

   Oy vay, it's a mess,
   A terrible distress,
   Oy vay, it's a mess for Jews, us Jews.

Moshe's in the palace with Pharaoh,
   Warning of all God's clout, clout, clout.
   Moshe's in the palace with Pharaoh,
    And God's gonna get us out!

We're singing . . . .
   Fee, Fi, Fiddely eye oh,
   Make our matzahs "to go" oh oh oh.
   Fee, Fi, Fiddely eye oh,
   Stick it to the ol' Pharaoh!


Moses Island
 (Sung to the tune of Gilligan's Island)

Just recline right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a dreadful trip.
That started with ten awful plagues brought onto Egypt, brought unto Egypt.

The boss he was a Jewish man raised as a Pharaoh's son.
Then G-d he did come calling and soon the fun begun.
Soon the fun begun.

More blood, such frogs, and all those bugs,  Pharaoh could just barely see.
The Jews were really scoring points and soon they would be free.
And soon they would be free.

They shlepped and shlepped for forty years across a desert land.
He went up to Mt Sinai and a party soon began.
A party soon began.
Moses, the Pharaoh too, Aaron and his wife. Marianne the skipper too here on the desert island.


Twas the night after Seder

'Twas the night after Seder, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The matzah, the farfel, the charoset I ate,
After both the Sedarim, had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked over to shul (less a walk than a lumber),

I remembered the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The turkey with gravy, the beef nicely rared,

The wine and the matzo balls, the Migdal pareve cheese
The way I'd never said, "I've had enough; no more, if you
please."

As I tied myself into my apron again I spied my reflection and disgustedly, then I said to myself, "you're such a weak wimp,"
"You can't show up at shul resembling a blimp!"

So--away with the last of the meatballs so sweet,
Get rid of the turkey, chopped liver and meat.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have any more macaroons from the box,
I can't wait til next week. (Ah, the bagels and lox.)

I won't have any luxion, farfel or p'chah,
I'll munch on a carrot or wire shut my own jaw.

It's a three day yom tov and shabbas is still
Ahead of me with another fleshiks meal to fulfill.

If I have to cook one more chicken, I think I will riot.
So a zisn pesach to you all and to all a good diet!

Israeli Music

Israeli music is diverse and combines elements of both western and eastern music. It tends toward eclecticism and contains a wide variety of influences from today's Jewish diaspora. It also makes use of modern cultural importation. Hassidic songs, Asian and Arab pop, especially Yemenite singers, hip hop and heavy metal are all part of the musical scene.
Israel's canonical folk songs often deal with Zionist hopes and dreams and glorify the life of idealistic Jewish youth who intend on building a home and defending their homeland. These are usually known as Songs of the land of Israel (י ארץ ישראל). Israel is also well-known for its famous classical orchestras and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra under the management of Zubin Mehta has a worldwide reputation. Dudu Fisher, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman are some of the more renowned classical musicians from Israel.
Music styles popular in Israel include pop, rock, heavy metal, hip hop and rap, trance (especially Goa trance and psychedelic trance), Oriental Mizrahi music and ethnic music of various sorts. Israel has won the Eurovision Song Contest three times (1978, 1979, 1998).

Read the history and listen to HaTikvah the Israeli National Anthem

JEWISH MUSIC CENTER ONLINE BIOGRAPHIES

Jewish American Heritage Month This Web site, created collaboratively by the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, offers students a glimpse into the life experiences of the generations of Jewish Americans who contribute to the fabric of American history, culture, and society.

The Hebrew Bible in English

 

ROSH HASHANA CHANT - PLAYED ON KING DAVID'S LYRE!!!

My second unique arrangement of the Rosh Hashana chant "Avinu Malkeinu"(Our Father,Our King), played on the ancient Kinnor Lyre, last played by the Levites in the Temple of Jerusalem,almost 2000 years ago...ENJOY!
This replica of the ancient Jewish Kinnor Lyre is based on a contemporary illustration of this amazing lyre, inscribed on an ancient Jewish coin -
Please see photos and my detailed article about this somewhat unique musical experiment:
http://klezfiddle1.spaces.live.com/blog/

 

Rosh Hashana party in Bhagsu India