In "Halleluyah Hoedown," Part A is easy and fun for students of almost all ages. The "yee-haw" is spoken rather than sung. Part B is more of a harmony part and best sung by older students or a youth choir. First performed on stage at the 2002 CAJE conference in San Antonio, TX by a CAJE youth choir. Cowboy hats get lifted off the head on the

In "Halleluyah Hoedown," Part A is easy and fun for students of almost all ages. The "yee-haw" is spoken rather than sung. Part B is more of a harmony part and best sung by older students or a youth choir. First performed on stage at the 2002 CAJE conference in San Antonio, TX by a CAJE youth choir. Cowboy hats get lifted off the head on the "yee-haw." Published in "Gan Shirim" (along with info on Jewish cowboys).

We all know the birthday song, "Yom Huledet Sameach," which does not include the name of the birthday child. In contrast, "Happy Birthday" does so. The lyrics are "Yom huledet to ______, our friend. May your happiness never end. Yom huledet sameach to you! We wish you happiness all year through." Remember to teach the words "yom huledet sameach"

We all know the birthday song, "Yom Huledet Sameach," which does not include the name of the birthday child. In contrast, "Happy Birthday" does so. The lyrics are "Yom huledet to ______, our friend. May your happiness never end. Yom huledet sameach to you! We wish you happiness all year through." Remember to teach the words "yom huledet sameach" carefully before teaching the song; otherwise, preschoolers have been known to go through years of singing "yom hu-lettuce sameach!" Published in "Gan Shirim."

A sweet little holiday song, with a range of just five notes, from the "Super Simple Songs" collection. Lyrics: "Happy birthday to the world 'cause Rosh Hashanah's here. Now's the time we celebrate the start of a new year. Dip an apple in the honey, mmm, that tastes so good. We'll start the new year out just right by doing what we should." You can

A sweet little holiday song, with a range of just five notes, from the "Super Simple Songs" collection. Lyrics: "Happy birthday to the world 'cause Rosh Hashanah's here. Now's the time we celebrate the start of a new year. Dip an apple in the honey, mmm, that tastes so good. We'll start the new year out just right by doing what we should." You can see this one in the High Holidays video on the Children's Music Videos page.

"Happy Hanukkah," with more than 70,000 views on YouTube and a performance at the Kennedy Center, is an upbeat, major-key Hanukkah song that works for kids in grades 3+ through adults in both religious and secular settings. The song has hard-copy octavo arrangements (with piano) elsewhere on this website for unison choir, 2-part choir, and SAB

"Happy Hanukkah," with more than 70,000 views on YouTube and a performance at the Kennedy Center, is an upbeat, major-key Hanukkah song that works for kids in grades 3+ through adults in both religious and secular settings. The song has hard-copy octavo arrangements (with piano) elsewhere on this website for unison choir, 2-part choir, and SAB choir, as well as pop piano/vocal sheet music, and the Sweet Adelines have an authorized arrangement, too. But right here is the place to download the lead sheet--melody line, lyrics, and chords for guitar or piano.

I set out to compose my prettiest melody, and "Hashkiveinu," a bedtime prayer, was the result. The download is in unison, but there's also an SAB choral octavo available. Some Hebrew plus these English lyrics: "Cause us, Adonai, to lie down in peace. Wake us every morning, life and strength renewed." Like all the songs published in "Voices in

I set out to compose my prettiest melody, and "Hashkiveinu," a bedtime prayer, was the result. The download is in unison, but there's also an SAB choral octavo available. Some Hebrew plus these English lyrics: "Cause us, Adonai, to lie down in peace. Wake us every morning, life and strength renewed." Like all the songs published in "Voices in Prayer," this is appropriate for either congregational singing or can be used as an easy-to-sing solo. Have a listen on the "Voices in Prayer" Jewish Music Tracks page.

This English-and-Hebrew setting of "Hayom Harat Olam," with its shofar-like. melodic intervals and majestic feeling, says "Rosh Hashanah" to many people in the Northern Virginia area who hear or sing it each year. Lyrics include "Today the world is born. Now we each stand before the One who made us all, the One who we adore. Creator of the earth

This English-and-Hebrew setting of "Hayom Harat Olam," with its shofar-like. melodic intervals and majestic feeling, says "Rosh Hashanah" to many people in the Northern Virginia area who hear or sing it each year. Lyrics include "Today the world is born. Now we each stand before the One who made us all, the One who we adore. Creator of the earth and sky and of the nights and days, Creator of all living things, to You we sing our praise." It's a favorite of my adult choir. This download is the unison version from "Voices in Prayer." There's also SAB choral music available.

Fun, children's Purim song. "Hey! Hey! What do you say? Let's sing Purim songs today" is a perfect way to start a Purim-themed music class or Purim spiel. There are verses for Esther, Mordechai, and Haman ("Turn your groggers, all girls and boys. Now's the time to make a loud noise. Haman! Haman was a bad man. Down his name out loud as you can!)

Fun, children's Purim song. "Hey! Hey! What do you say? Let's sing Purim songs today" is a perfect way to start a Purim-themed music class or Purim spiel. There are verses for Esther, Mordechai, and Haman ("Turn your groggers, all girls and boys. Now's the time to make a loud noise. Haman! Haman was a bad man. Down his name out loud as you can!) This song captures the festive spirit of the holiday. Published in "Gan Shirim."

I'll always remember at Hava Nashira when Debbie Friedman decided to try singing the traditional waltz-like "Hinei Mah" Tov while I sang my setting, as she thought they might fit together. Turns out they don't--the chords show up in a different order--but they do have a similar feel. This setting has one verse of Hebrew (from Psalm 133:1) and one

I'll always remember at Hava Nashira when Debbie Friedman decided to try singing the traditional waltz-like "Hinei Mah" Tov while I sang my setting, as she thought they might fit together. Turns out they don't--the chords show up in a different order--but they do have a similar feel. This setting has one verse of Hebrew (from Psalm 133:1) and one verse of English: "How good it is for us together to sit and sing in unity. How good it is for us together to live our lives in harmony. How good it is for us together to help bring peace throughout the land, hinei mah tov, hinei mah tov, bring peace together hand in hand." A song for adults and older children, this was published in "Voices in Prayer," "Gan Shirim," and "Family Shabbat."

I imagined "Hodu L'Adonai" as a quiet, graceful, children's song thanking God for the blessings in our lives, and I recorded it that way. But while in the recording studio, I was encouraged to also make a pop version of the same song--so I did. What fun! All lyrics are in English except for the words "hodu l'Adonai." The sheet music, from "Gan

I imagined "Hodu L'Adonai" as a quiet, graceful, children's song thanking God for the blessings in our lives, and I recorded it that way. But while in the recording studio, I was encouraged to also make a pop version of the same song--so I did. What fun! All lyrics are in English except for the words "hodu l'Adonai." The sheet music, from "Gan Shirim," includes verses for a new day, for Shabbat, and for our families, but feel free to right your own as well. Perfect for Shabbat, Thanksgiving, etc.