Hanukkah (meaning "dedication" in Hebrew) refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Macabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "re-dedication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern home celebration of Hanukkah centers around the lighting of the chanukiah (special menorah for Hanukkah), eating unique foods such as latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and singing special songs and playing games.

Each year Temple Beth Am commemorates this eight-day holiday with a congregation-wide party and a variety of activities for everyone in the family, including performances around Seattle by our own KlezKidz.

Hanukkah Songs to Sing with Family and Friends

• Ma'oz Tzur (Rock of Ages) - liturgical 14th Century poem
• S'vivon - a popular Hebrew Hanukkah song
• Ner Li - a simple Hanukkah folk song
• Oh Chanukah Oh Chanukah - in the original Yiddish and English
• Ocho Kandelikas - a modern Sephardic Hanukkah song by Flory Jagoda
• Light One Candle - social action song Hanukkah song by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary)
• I Have A Little Dreidel (English) and I Am A Little Dreydl (Yiddish)
• Miracles - by Matisyahu
• Candlelight, Miracles, Shine,  Burn, All About That Neis, and Latke Recipe (new for 2015) - by the Maccabeats
• Eight Nights - by StandFour
• Chanukah - by Six13
• Chanukah in Santa Monica - by satirist Tom Lehrer
• Hanukkah Blessings - by Barenaked Ladies

Sound files and sheet music for many of these songs and more can be found here.