This is interesting and cute, and just kinda nice:
There's also a detailed piece by Jeffrey Goldberg in Tablet about how it came about; meanwhile, enjoy!Senator Orrin G. Hatch, a solemn-faced Republican with a soft spot for Jews and a love of Barbra Streisand, has penned a catchy holiday tune, “Eight Days of Hanukkah.”
The video was posted Tuesday night on Tablet, an online magazine of Jewish lifestyle and culture, just in time for Hanukkah.
Known around the Senate as a prolific writer of Christian hymns and patriotic melodies, Mr. Hatch, 75, said this was his first venture into Jewish music. It will not be his last.
“Anything I can do for the Jewish people, I will do,” Mr. Hatch said in an interview before heading to the Senate floor to debate an abortion amendment. “Mormons believe the Jewish people are the chosen people, just like the Old Testament says.”
In short, he loves the Jews. And based on an early sampling of listeners, the feeling could be mutual.
Eight Days of Hanukkah from Tablet Magazine on Vimeo.
That was very cool- thanks!
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me, since a bunch of the popular Christmas carols were penned by and/or made famous by Jews (exactly what kind of White Christmas did Irving Berlin "use to know" back in the Russian shtetl, anyway?)
ReplyDeleteYes, an enjoyable article and video except for one thing. If the singer is Syrian American, surely the Syrian part should allow her to pronounce Chanukah correctly instead of "hah"nukah?
ReplyDeleteHe does look too solemn to write something so cheerful. But it's such a great little catchy tune.
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