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Eight Candles Gone: A Goodbye to Chanukah Rock Anthem…                                                       &nbs

12/23/2022 05:31:40 PM

Dec23

Rabbi Moshe Rudin

 

                                                

Every year we wait for it -- the Chanukah songs, parodies, moving stories, recipes, jokes and even memes (what we used to call one-panel cartoons) created in honor of the Festival of Lights.  This year was no different. The Jewish acapella group Six13 (Elton Johnaka) Nissim Black (Victory) and quirky but appealing rap/bluegrass/Klezmer mashup Happy Chinooka by Gangsta Grass and Rapper Kosha Dillz did not disappoint.  

You can find a list of Chanukah memes here including cute cats, delightful dogs and a latke-loving Yoda plus some Covid-inspired panels.  And for new original art, check out the entries in the Atlanta Jewish Times Chanukah Art Contest, especially the grand prize winner, the evocative, very Jewish and very American, Asher and the Hanukkah Moose. 

But we have our own artists and creators right in our community.  Adath Shalom’s own singer-songwriter Karen Kamenetsky’s infectious Klezmer tango Spin the Dreidel is simply incredible musically as it is fun lyrically as is her charming children’s video, Happy Hanukkah Potatoes

But when Chanukah comes to its end, there is only one song to play- now newly released!  When mild-mannered podiatrist and Adath Shalom member Larry Leibowitz dons his sequined jacket and picks up his open-G tuned fender and backed by sons Mark, Ryan, Scott with wife Michele sharing the nachas, then Menorah magic happens.  Check out his classic, beloved by the Temple HaTikvah alums and everyone who's ever heard it, Eight Candles Gone is part Keith Richards, part Mick Jagger and all mensch!  Evoking all of the fun, light and joy of Chanukah, you wish, like Larry does in the song that Chanukah came every week!

Being Jewish doesn’t just mean maintaining and preserving Jewish culture and practice.  It means adding to that practice through our own creative powers.  Being a creator can be a bit scary as you share your own work, be it a musical number, art, recipe, story or any other realized inspiration.  But creativity gives life and tradition meaning.  If tomorrow’s future is built of today’s visions, and if those visions are inspired by Torah, then we can have faith that the legacy we plant is one of light.  May it illuminate the world. 

May the candles of the Menorah continue shine-

Rabbi Rudin

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784