Arise and Be Free

A Suite for Chanukah

arr. Steve Barnett

Y'Mei Chanukah

Y'mei ha-Chanukah, Chanukat mikdasheinu
In the days of Chanukah we tell of the renewal of our holiness
B'gil uvsimcha m'mal im et libeinu
Our hearts are filled with celebration and happiness
Lailah vayom s'vivoneinu yisov
Our draydles spin night and day
Sufganiyot nochal bam larov
We'll eat mostly latkes then.
Hairu hadliku nerot Chanukah rabim
Shine, light the many Chanukah candles
Al hanisim v'al haniflaot asher chol¹lu haMakabim
In honor of the miracles and wonders which the Maccabees did
Nitzchon hamakabim n'sapeir n'zameirah,
We will recount and sing of the victories
Alei hasonim az yadam ki gaveirah
In the end the enemies' hands were weakened.
Y'rushalayim shava litchiya,
Jerusalem will return to life.
Am Yisraeil asah tushiah.
The Nation of Israel will be aided.

 

S'vivon

S'vivon sov sov sov
Little top spin spin spin.
Chanukah hu chag tov
Chanukah is a good holiday
Chag simcha hu la'am
It is a joyous holiday for our people
Nes gadol haya sham
A great miracle happened there.

 

Mi Y'maleil

Mi y'maleil g'vurot Yisrael
Who will acclaim the heroes of Israel
Otan my yimneh?
Who can count them?
Hein b'khol do yakum ha gibor
In every generation a hero arises to
Goeil haam
Save the nation.
Sh'ma! Bayam haheim baz'man hazeh
Listen! In the olden times
Makabi moshiyah ufodeh
The Maccabees helped and freed us
Uv'yameinu kol a, Yisrael,
In our time, the whole nation of Israel
Yit'ached yakum l'higael
Will arise and be free.

 

Mi Zeh Hidlik

Mi zeh hidlik neirot dakim kakochavim barom?
Who will light the narrow candles like the stars in the heavens
Yodim gam tinokot rabim ki Chanukah hayom.
Even the many little children know that today is Chanukah.

 

 

These pieces were performed on Octarium’s Holidays with Octarium, December 2004 and Holidays with Octarium, December 2007.