The Noisemaker Song/Shir HaRa'ashan

Purim

Purim is a holiday that celebrates the story of Jewish people being

rescued by Queen Esther from a murderous plot as told in the Book

of Esther, (Megillat Esther) in the Tanach. It is a fun holiday, when

children dress up in costumes, people make plates of special cookies

(hamentaschen) to share with their friends, and prepare plates of sweets

(mishloach manot) to give to both their friends and the poor. Traditionally,

the book of Esther is read in synagogue, and every time the name of

Haman (the bad guy) is mentioned, the audience all yells and boos.

Shir HaRa’ashan – words by Levin Kipnis, music by Nachum Nardi

This song tells the story of Haman’s end. It is another great song

for ear-training for non-Hebrew speakers. Ra’ashan means noisemaker,

and is the traditional noise-maker used on Purim when

we hear Haman’s name during the reading of the Book of Esther

(Megillat Esther). It comes from the word ra’ash, or noise, and in this

song I invite the children to play their ra’ashanim whenever they

hear the words ra’ash, ra’am (thunder) or ra’ashan.

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash!

Mi ba Ra’ash, Mi ba Ra’am, Anochi ha Ra’ashan!

Sipuri Shmatem kvar pa’am, zeh sipur yashan noshan.

Chorus:

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash,

Zeh sipur yashan noshan.

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash,

Zeh sipur yashan noshan.

Bimgilah lechu tikra’u

Zeh sipur yafeh v’tov.

V’ani im rak tishma’u

Esaper rak et hasof!

Chorus:

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash,

Esaper rak et hasof!.

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash,

Esaper rak et hasof!

Sof sipur Haman eineno

Sha’alu anaf u’vad.

V’nishar lizecher meno,’

Rak oznei Haman bilvad.

Chorus:

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash,

Rak oznei Haman bilvad.

Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash, Ra’ash,

Rak oznei Haman bilvad.