We are honored that Jewish Holiday Rap is a part of the upcoming Rosenfield Legacy Project, a resource guide of lessons connecting Jewish values to children's literature for grades K-2.  Originally planned to be a gift to Jewish Day Schools in South Florida, the vision of this project has expanded and will hopefully be able to be made available to non-profit Jewish educational organizations throughout the country.

Jewish Holiday Rap

by Lisa Baydush © 2004

capo 1
Song-sheet with Schtick

Chorus:

[G]Rosh [F]Ha[C]shana, Yom [F]Kippur, [G]Sukkot, Simchas [C]Torah

[F]Chanukah, [C]Tu B’Shvat, [G]Purim, and Pass[C]over,

[F]Shab[C]bat, [G]Yom Ha-atzma’[C]ut,

[F]Shavu[C]os and [G]Tisha B’Av to [C]boot!

[C]Rosh Hashanah is [F]just the be[C]ginning of a [F]year filled with [C]Jewish holi[G]days;

Yom Kip[C]pur is [G]next - it’s not [F]fun, we don’t eat [G]food,

But we [F]take the time to [G]say, “I’m [F]sor[C]ry…” [F-G]

Then we [C]celebrate the [F]harvest on [G]Sukkot - we pick [F]apples from the [G]trees,

And build a [F]sukkah in the [G]yard with [C]Dad, or with Mom, depending on

Who is more skilled with a hammer and a [F]na-[G]ail!  Knock, knock… OUCH! (chorus)

On [C]Simchas Torah, we [F]re-roll the [C]Torah, we [F]start to read the[C]books a[G]new. 

And then [C]Chanu[G]kah is [F]really, really [G]fun – [F]dreidels, latkes, candles, gelt, [G]and soufgani[F-C]ot… 

[F]Jelly donuts are so [G]good!  Can I have one?  Have an apple dear.  Mom!

Next we [C]celebrate the [F]harvest once [G]again,

With [F]apples, raisins, walnuts, dates, and [G]figs for Tu B’She[C]vat. (chorus)

[C]Next comes Purim, we [F]read the Me[C]gillah, we wear [F]costumes for this[C]joyous holi[G]day.

Soon it’s [C]Passo[G]ver, my most [F]favorite one of [G]all! 

We [F]celebrate with all our fami[G]ly at the [F]se[C]der, where [F]we [G]eat…

[C]Matza balls, gefilte fish, and [G]chocolate maca[C]roons;

We sip wine when no one’s looking, and we [G]dance around the [C]room;

We sing [F]songs and tell the [C]story of our [G]people long [F]ago…

You know… I think we do that at nearly EVERY holiday! Yeah, you’re right!  Like… (chorus)

[C]Can you name the most im[F]portant holi[G]day? We [F]celebrate it every [G]week!  Shabbat!

And we [C]ho[G]nor, [F]Yis-[E7]ra-[Am]el on [G]Yom Ha-[F]atzma’[C]ut! Yay, Israel!

[C]We celebrate [F]receiving the [C]Torah [F]on [C]Shavu[G]os! 

And [C]Tisha B’[G]Av, you [F]might [G]not [F]know...

That’s [G]when we remember the destruction of the [F]tem[C]ples. 

Ohh… that’s so sad… we should fast… again?! (chorus)

Let’s do it faster!  Okay!  Let’s go! (chorus)