Note that I spell Chanukah differently each time I use it...
Since Christmas starts the minute Chanukah finishes I wanted to get in first and post some cute Hanukkah videos for your enjoyment.
First, here's a lovely video showing what Hanukah looks like in Jerusalem. I just wish they had added the real background sound rather than this bland playback. But the visuals are great.
Next we have a great rendering by of the Maoz Zur hymn that we sing after lighting the candles. It is sung by soldiers of the IDF. They may be great fighters but singers? Not so much... LOL.
And last but not least, for those of you who are not too sure what Hanukah is all about - don't worry! You are not alone!
Happy Hannukah to all those celebrating! (and also to those who aren't)
(And by the way, I love the pretty Menorah you've posted on the sidebar!)
Happy Hanukkah Annie, thanks for the fun post ! I'm glad the IDF are better at defending Israel than they are at singing :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the guy in the final video who said there are nine candles, one for every day of the week! LMAO.
And you see them in all 57 states!
DeleteLOL!!!!
DeleteLOL! I hadn't even registered that! My mind automatically took him to mean there's one candle for every night of the festival. :))
Delete:))
DeleteWonderful, annie, I enjoyed all 3 videos even though I had no clue what they were singing about. I just enjoyed the gusto and participation. Hopefully, the Israeli atheists aren't trying to ruin it for everyone else like they do here for Christmas. I'm so happy to see the public celebrations and those chocolate-covered pastries, mmmmmm. I loved the man's menorah shirt ;-)
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was pronounced "dree-del" not "dray-del". So now I know :-) No one has ever spoken the word to me before.
Happy Hanukkah, everyone!
Florrie, the song is a kind of potted history of the Jews. Each verse (there are 6) talks about a different period. The first is about Hannukah, then it goes back in time to Egypt, then the Babylonian exile, then Purim, then back to Hannukah and the Greeks, and the last verse is a wish for the exile to end and for our enemies to be destroyed.
DeleteIsrael doesn't really have "real" atheists. There are plenty of people who are not religious, even anti-religious, but when it comes to the festivals, they are out there with the best of us! And don't you dare try and take a doughnut from an Israeli! Not even an atheist! :))
Seriously, we don't have the "religion in the public domain" arguments. It is very clearly accepted by everyone that the religion of the country is Judaism and it is celebrated openly, publicly and loudly by everyone everywhere. Even in the non-religious schools the children learn about the festivals, because they're as much Jewish history as Jewish religion. It's all intertwined here.
But it's not like we don't see other religions marked here. In the Christian communities, like in Nazareth and Bethlehem (though there the Palestinians have hijacked the festival for their own political Israel-bashing purposes) there are Christmas trees in the public squares, and the Israeli authorities even donate trees to the Christian communities.
Muslim festivals of course are celebrated very noisily and publicly in the Muslim towns, and they are official holidays for those who want to celebrate, i.e. they are allowed to take time off work.
Israel is a true multi-culti society, but it works in the main.
As for dreidel - we are here to edjukate you! :D
Thank you, annie. I didn't understand that about the atheists but of course, it makes allot of sense! I'm so glad it's that way in your beautiful country.
Deleteannie, thanks for the videos - (c)happy (C)Han(n)uk(k)a(h)!
DeleteChristmas trees in the middle east? Ah, yes, just like that Byzantine emperor Justinian had... yep, they decorated a 17 foot spruce in the forum at Antioch in 512AD... not...
Seriously, the Tannenbaum is a seriously viral meme if it's reaching into the middle east. How the heck to you keep the needles falling off?
(sorry for the rant, just had a moment of #facepalm. I'm fine now!)
What was your facepalm lewy? Inquiring minds demand to know! :p
DeleteRe the Christmas trees, yeah, they're relatively new historically speaking, but they've been a standard now for some years. I don't know how many local Christians put trees in their homes but you certainly see them in the public squares of Christian towns.
And don't ask me about the needles. I know about Christmas trees like the guys in that video know about Hanukah! :))
annie, just kinda amazed that Christmas trees are a "thing" in the mid east.
DeleteThe region is a net exporter of history and tradition - kinda weird when ya'll import something... :P
I have a couple Hanukkah contributions...here is a video that I always think of during the season.
ReplyDeleteHanukkah Song
Also, not to do with the celebration but a wonderful company I order from - Gans - is going out of business. I have bought some beautiful things from them, they sell items made by Israeli artists and they are extremely affordable and shipping is very low as well. I'm sorry to see them go out of business, they are such a pleasure to deal with and I've got a final order in with them. So I'd urge you all to get an order in now, you won't be sorry!!
No, I am not getting a commission... :-)
This is what I get for the video: The uploader has not made this video available in your country.
DeleteBut I can see it's the Adam Sandler Hannukah song from the title. That's hilarious! :)
I didn't know Gans are going out of business! So sorry to hear.
I don't know why, their prices are so reasonable, the crew there are a lovely bunch. I'm sad they are going out of business but I've looked up several of my favorite artists and have bookmarked them. One is named Vered so naturally, I think of you :-)
DeleteAdam Sandler hit it out of the park with his Hanukkah Song. Every year I enjoy watching it. :)
DeletePS - you can only order through Dec. 31st, they close with the new year.
ReplyDelete(C)happy (C)hannuka, (CH)Annie! And to all those who celebrate, or just enjoy the holiday
ReplyDeleteThanks Dances. Chappy Hristmas to you too! :p (Well, two can play at that game!)
DeleteI love the huge, ginormous menorah in the first video! Great videos Annie! Happy Hanukkah (or however you spell it!). :)
ReplyDeleteHeh. Thanks Lady Red. Happy Christmas to you and all the fellow Kitcheners :)
Delete(The giant Menorah is at the Western Wall. Yeah, you certainly cannot miss THAT!)