We Have Come To Oust The Dark/Banu Hoshech Ligaresh

Hannukah

Hannukah is the winter festival of lights, the one Jewish holiday

that most non-Jewish people are familiar with. It commemorates the

victory of the Maccabee soldiers in 164 BCE over the Greek armies

that had conquered Israel and were forbidding the Jewish people from

practicing the Jewish religion. The Jewish temple had been defiled

with animal sacrifices, and after the Maccabees cleaned and purified the

temple, they looked for holy oil (oil that had been purified in a process

that took eight days) to relight the eternal lamp and rededicate the

temple (Hannukah means dedication). Legend has it that the soldiers

found one small vial of oil that was enough to last just one night, but

instead it burned for eight nights, which is why Hannukah is celebrated

for eight nights.

Banu Hoshech Ligaresh – words by Sara Levi-Tanai, music by

Emanuel Amiran-Punichov

This is a joyful celebration song. Children march around with

one hand extended up into the air as though they are carrying a

torch to light the night. On the word “surah,” stomp one foot and

throw your arm up in a cheering motion to emphasize those words,

(“go away” in English.)

Banu Hoshech Ligaresh, Bayadeinu or va-esh.

Col echad hu or katan, Vikulanu or eitan.

Surah hoshech! Hala shchor! Surah mipnei ha’or!

Surah hoshech! Hala shchor! Surah mipnei ha’or!

We have come to oust the dark, in our hands the light and spark.

Each of us is one small light, but together we shine bright.

Go away deepest darkest night! Go away, give way to the light!

Go away deepest darkest night! Go away, give way to the light!

Banu Hoshech Ligaresh, Bayadeinu or va-esh.

Col echad hu or katan, Vikulanu or eitan.

Surah hoshech! Hala shchor! Surah mipnei ha’or!

Surah hoshech! Hala shchor! Surah mipnei ha’or!