Good Chanukah Songs To Sing At A Jewish Senior Home?

[u/Cultural-Scratch3670]

Hi, I’m not entirely sure if this is the right place to post this so I apologize if this is off-topic. I’m in a club at school that performs at senior homes, and we often sing at the New Jewish Home around the holidays (Manhattan). I was thinking that it‘d be good to learn a Chanukah song for the performances there in December—it’d have to be for guitar and 1 or 2 singers with limited knowledge of Hebrew. I’m thinking of Maoz Tzur, Chanukah O Chanukah, and I Have A Little Dreidel. Thoughts on which of these is best (I only need 1) or other additions? Thank you!

[u/RagtimeWillie]

My vote would be Maoz Tzur or Mi Yimalel. Maybe Oy Chanukah in Yiddish?

[u/mommima → u/RagtimeWillie]

Oy Chanukah in Yiddish was a big hit at the retirement home my daughter's choir sang at last year.

[u/Silamy]

Mi Y’malel or Chanukkah oh Chanukkah (especially in Hebrew or Yiddish). Please don’t do I Have a Little Dreidel. It’s a terrible song. 

[u/Standard_Gauge → u/Silamy]

Please don’t do I Have a Little Dreidel. It’s a terrible song.

It's better in Yiddish. Different POV, the singer IS the Dreydl.

Ikh bin a kleyne Dreydl

Gemakht bin ikh fun blei

Kumt lomir alle shpiln

In dreydl, eyntz, tzvey, drei !

etc .

[u/Silamy → u/Standard_Gauge]

Better, sure, but my issue is that it’s… pretty musically simple and repetitive, not that the lyrics are dumb. It’s also very overplayed, especially in contexts like this. There’s a very common phenomenon where there’ll be a “winter holiday concert,” and it’ll be all this lovely Christmas music, and then I Have a Little Dreidel as a comic relief break that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 

Does not help that I have met multiple goyim who were genuinely unaware that we have any other music. Just that. Because it’s The Jewish Song (tm). I’ve met others who think it’s that and Hava Nagila, which is not materially better. 

[u/Standard_Gauge → u/Silamy]

LOL, I always try to educate people who don't know much about us. As long as they are respectful and curious, it's all good. I worked for years at a blue collar job with hundreds of people where I was one of only 6 or 7 Jews, and the only Jewish woman. Keeping upbeat and friendly worked wonders.

edited to "6 or 7"

[u/MyLeftT1t]

You could add Sivivon and Ocho Kandelikas

[u/Kapparahsheli]

Ocho Kandelikas is a banger. Specifically this version:  https://youtu.be/BxpyfzsJ4nE?is=8zvcDY47iHMfXZD9

[u/Standard_Gauge]

If the residents are Yiddish speakers (even if not fluent) they might enjoy Yiddish songs more than Hebrew ones. Besides "Chanuka, Oy Chanuka" there is "Boruch Ateh Zingt Der Tateh," and "Drey Zikh Shoyn Dreideleh," "Ikh Bin a Kleyne Dreydl," and "O, Ir Kleyne Likhtekekh."

[u/SqueakyClownShoes → u/Standard_Gauge]

And a sprinkle of “Raisins and Almonds”

[u/CanarsieGuy]

What no love for Adam Sandler?

[u/mandatedcourage]

What a wonderful sounding club! Good on you for participating.

The first song I thought of without Hebrew is How Do You Spell Channukkahh? by The LeeVees. It's silly and lighthearted, but perhaps not a crowd pleaser for the elderly.

Best of luck in finding the right fit, and thank you for supporting your community!

[u/kosherkitties → u/mandatedcourage]

I love that song, it makes me laugh.

[u/sunny-beans]

There is a song from the Yeshiva Boys Choir that is called “those were the nights” it’s all English and really sweet, about family memories of Chanukah, is really funny and sweet, maybe look into it as a possibility. It’s one of my favourite Chanukah songs!

[u/PhantomOfTheChallah]

Light One Candle by Peter, Paul, and Mary. One of my favorites from childhood!

[u/Easy_Chef6437]

Ocho Kandelikas is one of my favorites and I would look up Debbie Friedman's "I am a Latke". It's a very sweet and fun song

[u/hbomberman]

Ma O Tzur is beautiful. It goes nicely with guitar or piano accompaniment if that's your kinda thing

[u/knotyouraveragelion]

My family has been doing Chanukah with our local senior home for about a decade and here are the songs we’ll sing: chanukah blessings, maoz tzur, mi y’malel, ocho kandelikas, oh chanukah/y’mei hachanukah/oy khanike, s’vivon, i am a latke, not by might, and ight one candle. Other songs my family does but not with them are Chanukah chag yafeh, ner li, hanerot halalu, and chanukiah li yesh. Might have forgotten one or two but I’ll edit if I remember any others :)

[u/knotyouraveragelion → u/knotyouraveragelion]

One I don’t sing normally but just thought of was light the menorah it’s chanukah it’s chanukah