A Star Wars Chanukah

"DO, OR DO NOT -- THERE IS NO TRY." Little known fact: though Baby Yoda's cousin delivered this sage advice to Luke Skywalker, he took his inspiration from the Maccabees. Like the Jedi years later, against all odds (never tell us the odds!) they fought off a great empire who sought their destruction.

Today, we celebrate the miracles of that time with presents, dreidels and latkes -- and our tribute to the music of one of the greatest film franchises of all time. CHAG SAMEACH... may the force be with you!

Song: “A Star Wars Chanukah” by Six 13
Video credit: Daled Studio

Lyrics and translation:

(CHANUKAH BLESSINGS)
ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו
Baruch ata Hashem Elokeinu,
Blessed are You, Lord our God,

מלך העולם
Melech haolam
King of the universe

אשר קדשנו במצוותיו 
Asher kidishanu bemitzvotav
Who has sanctified us with His commandments

וצונו להדליק נר של חנוכה 
Vitzivanu lehadlik ner shel Chanukah
And commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light

שעשה ניסים לאבותינו 
She'asa nisim la'avoteinu  
Who performed miracles for our forefathers

בימים ההם בזמן הזה
bayamim ha'hem baz'man hazeh
in those days at this time

(SEVIVON, SOV SOV SOV)
סוב סוב סוב סביבון סביבון 
Sov, sov, sov, sevivon, sevivon
Spin, spin, spin, dreidel, dreidel

חנוכה הוא חג טוב סביבון 
Chanukah hu chag tov, sevivon
Chanukah is a great holiday, dreidel

חג שמחה הוא לעם 
Chag simcha hu la'am
It is a happy holiday for the nation

נס גדוֹל היה שם
Nes gadol haya sham 
A great miracle happened there

סוב סוב סביבון סביבון 
Sov, sov, sevivon, sevivon
Spin, spin, dreidel, dreidel

(MA'OZ TZUR)
מעוז צור ישועתי
Ma'oz tzur y'shuati
Mighty stronghold of my salvation

לך נאה לשַבח 
L'cha na'eh l'shabe'ach
To praise You is a delight

תכוֹן בית תפילתי 
Tikon beit t'filati
Restore my house of prayer

ושם תודה נזַבח 
V'sham todah n'zabe'ach
And there we will bring an offering of thanks

Rock of Ages, praise Your saving power

Furious they assailed, but Your armor veiled us
And Your word broke their sword when our own strength failed us
Yes, Your word broke their sword when our own strength failed us
Rock of Ages, let our song praise Your saving power

(DUEL OF THE FOODS)
Latke!! Sufganiyah!!
Happy Chanukah, happy Chanukah...

(AL HANISIM)
על הניסים ועל הפורקן ועל הגבורות 
Al hanisim, v'al hapurkan, v'al hag'vurot,
For the miracles, and for the redemption, and for the mighty deeds,

ועל התשועות, ועל המלחמות 
v'al hat'shu'ot, v'al hamilchamot
and for the saving acts, and for the wonders

שעשית לאבותינו 
She'asita la'avoteinu
which performed miracles for our forefathers

בימים ההם בזמן הזה 
bayamim haheim baz'man hazeh
in those days, at this time

(CHANUKAH BLESSINGS)
שהחיינו וקיימנו 
shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu
He has granted us life, sustained us,

והגיענו לזְמן הזה 
v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh
and enabled us to reach this day.

!אמן
Amen!

!חג שמח
Chag Sameach!

---