Candles Burning Brightly

Hosted by Mindy Ratner, Candles Burning Brightly is a one-hour celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights with an exploration of holiday foods and traditional activities — and plenty of music. 

Playlist

Dov Frimer (arr. Netsky and Jacobson): Al HaNissim — Zamir Chorale of Boston and Ensemble, conducted by Joshua Jacobson

Traditional: Blessing Melody — Andrea Stern, harp

Traditional (arr. Ellstein; choral arr. Jacobson, orch. Gelber): Candle Blessings — Cantor Morton Shames, Aram Demirjian; New England Conservatory Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Tamara Brooks

Howard Schwartz: "The Lost Menorah" — Theodore Bikel, reader (rec. MPR, June 2013) Original story from the book Adam's Soul: The Collected Tales of Howard Schwartz (Jason Aronson, 1992). Used by permission.

Samuel Adler: To Celebrate a Miracle (excerpts) — University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony, conducted by Rodney Winther

Traditional (arr. Netsky; lyrics Rosenfeld) O Ir Kleyne Likhtelekh — Marissa Steingold, voice; Hankus Netsky, piano

Louis Lewandowski: Hanerot Halalu — Eaken Piano Trio

Jay Ungar: Lights of Chanukah — The Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Family Band; University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Kevin P. Bartram

Flory Jagoda (arr./prod. S. Barnett): Ocho Candelikas — Chanticleer and the Chanticleer Holiday Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Jennings

Traditional (arr. L. Hochman, J. Clurman, B. Mitchell): Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah (excerpt): O Chanukah — Ron Raines, baritone; Essential Voices USA and Ensemble, conducted by Judith Clurman

Chasia Segal: Latke Cooking Demonstration

Traditional Sephardic (arr. H. Netsky): Kitaltas — Theodore Bikel, Elizabeth Parvin, George Kirby; Members of New England Conservatory Jewish Music Ensemble, conducted by Hankus Netsky

Traditional (arr. L. Hochman, J. Clurman, B. Mitchell): Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah (excerpt): S'vivon — Essential Voices USA and Ensemble, conducted by Judith Clurman

Mikhl Gelbart (arr. Mlotek; lyrics Aaron and Gelbart): Ikh bin a Kleyner Dreydl — New England Conservatory Children's Chorus; Julianna Mullen, soloist; Hankus Netsky, piano; conducted by Jean Meltaus

Mikhl Gelbart (arr. Lazar and Tayku): I Have a Little Dreydl — Thomas Jacobs, vocals; Kevin Harris, piano; New England Conservatory Chorus and Ensemble, conducted by Tamara Brooks

Folksong (arr. Prussing): Hayo, Haya — Sursum Corda, conducted by Lester Siegel

Joshua Jacobson: Mi Zeh Yemalel — Chaim Parchi, baritone; Zamir Chorale of Boston, conducted by Joshua Jacobson

Traditional (arr. L. Hochman, J. Clurman, B. Mitchell): Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah (excerpt): Maoz Tsur — Essential Voices USA and Ensemble, conducted by Judith Clurman

Traditional Yiddish (arr. H. Netsky): Oy, Chanukah — New England Conservatory Jewish Music Ensemble, conducted by Hankus Netsky

Dreidels

The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top used for a little low-level gambling game played at Hanukkah.

The sides of the dreidel show the Hebrew letters נ (nun), ℷ (gimel), ה (hei) and ש (shin), which stand for the words "nes gadol haya sham" — meaning, "A great miracle happened there."

So what's at stake? Pennies, or nuts-in-the-shell, or small pieces of chocolate.

Learn how to play.

See more on dreidels in the photos below.

Gallery

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Bonus content

Enjoy these additional features and stories to enhance your experience of Candles Burning Brightly®.

1. Mindy writes about a special menorah

2. 8 songs for 8 nights: Music for Hanukkah

3. Harpist Sunita Staneslow plays 'Ocho Candelikas'

4. Itzhak Perlman's Chanukah Radio Party