An Online Treasure Trove for Jewish Music Fans

Hat tip to my offspring who sent me the following link. It's a free archive of 100 Jewish music albums out of Florida Atlantic University. Lots of chazanus and plenty of classic other Jewish albums.


http://faujsa.fau.edu/jsa/home.php

A Wholly Different Side of Brooklyn

G6 gritted her teeth and made a shopping trip into Brooklyn. I, for one, avoid it whenever possible. And yet.......how come nothing like the action in the clip below ever happens at Shoprite or King Kullen? And that it happened in Brooklyn? And at Pomegranate? Amazing! Don't know what I'm all excited about? Click on the link below and grab a few moments of enjoyment. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=3fXIMUyrw7s&vq=medium

Something to Perk up the Blahs

While out running errands I got the unwelcome news that our area is going to be hit again with snow, for Friday and Shabbos. Although how much it's going to be will depend on how the storm veers, the talk was from 2 to 12 inches. That was enough to depress me thoroughly. And then I got home and in checking emails got a wonderful gift from one of my students that brightened the day considerably.

I seem to have a reputation as a rather strict instructor who doesn't hand out A marks like they were candy (okay, deserved but still). A major report got handed in and this student was rather nervous as to what the mark would be. It happens that the report was stellar and earned an A. When I notified the student he sent me back an email along with a link that he said pretty much illustrates how he felt while waiting to hear the mark.

I'm posting the link without further commentary because I think you'll get it when you hear what he sent me. Not bad advice for a dreary Tuesday or any other time when you wonder if it's worth it to put in all that work and not have any idea if anything will come of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIztqPlJ3w

No, Letting Go is not Easy

It has ever been thus, that mothers do not find it easy to let go of their children and let them spread their wings and fly free. But yes, eventually all those little "birdies" find their wings and off they go. And yes, those mothers end up facing their empty nests, with sighs for what once was and deep hopes for what will be

As children my mother and my aunt sang the old lullaby to us, "Ofyn veg steyt a boym." (Ever notice how a whole lot of those Yiddish songs and lullabies for children have some seriously depressing and/or sad elements in them?) For all moms who wonder what will be I offer the following (Hebrew subtitles).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq6LMaFu2OI

For the Yiddish lyrics and English translation, go to
http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=oyfnvegshteytaboym

Art and Jewish Art

This Motzoai Shabbos there's an interesting program taking place at The Jewish Alliance. If you're looking for a way to spend the evening, read on. From the advertisement:

What Does it Mean to Be a Jewish Artist? When Does Art Become Jewish Art?

Poetry, Film Screening, Discussion, Q & A, Book Signing

Yehoshua (Josh) November, author of God's Optimism, and Ari Mark, film director & writer of "The Gift," are reunited 10 years after college graduation for a reading, screening and conversation about their award winning work. Catch these two artists with strong connections to our Lower East Side. Moderated by David Deutsch, Humor Editor, Heeb Magazine.

8pm Wine & Cheese Reception
Program begins at 8:30pm

Join author Yehoshua (Josh) November as he reads from his debut poetry collection God’s Optimism, which was selected as the winner of the 2010 Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award, nominated for an LA Times Book Prize, and named a finalist for the Tampa Review Prize for Poetry & the Autumn House Poetry Prize. November’s work has appeared in The Forward, Zeek, Prairie Schooner, The Sun, & more. His poetry has been anthologized, nominated for Pushcart Prize, and selected as the winner of the Bernice Slote Award.

Join film director and writer Ari Mark’s as he screens and discusses his new short film “The Gift,” which was recently acquired by the Sundance Channel and will air in 2011. His previous film, “The Metamorphosis," screened at more than 15 film festivals around the world and was winner of the Audience Film Award at Washington Jewish Film Festival, Honorary Diploma for Best Short Film at Warsaw Film Festival, was selected by PBS' Independent Lens festival, and was licensed & broadcast by Sundance for the past 3 years.

For more information and for pre-payment ($7 charge) go to:
http://www.edalliance.org/index.php?src=events&submenu=AboutUs&srctype=detail&category=Events%20%28Lower%20East%20Side%29&refno=30412

Note: For those who may think of it as not exactly being an "artsy" kind of place, please note that Josh November is also a professor of English at Touro College.

The Porcelain Unicorn

Ezzie may not be posting all that often but this post is so worthwhile seeing. You might want to have a hankie with you when you view it.

http://serandez.blogspot.com/2010/11/porcelain-unicorn.html

An Oldie but a real Goodie

My father introduced me at a young age to the recordings of some of the finest chazonim the world has ever known. He loved the music of Yossele Rosenblatt, and particularly before Yom Kippur he would spend time listening to Rosenblatt's rendition of Kol Nidre. The link below is to Rosenblatt's Kol Nidre, and for those of you who appreciate the output of a talented chazan, even the age of the recording cannot take away from the obvious feeling that poured forth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioaPlfe-noQ

Alas, No Trumpets

It's our anniversaries tomorrow (both Hebrew and English, a really rare occurence) and someone asked me a kind of strange question that relates to them. She asked me if there is anything that I would have done differently at my wedding if I had it to do over today. Well, there is something that I regret didn't happen at our wedding, but I'm not sure that it would be any different if the wedding were first taking place tomorrow.

Young girls have all kinds of dreams. They play wedding at the drop of a hat. And yes, I had one dream that sprouted when I was very young. A bit of background necessary. Both of my parents loved classical music and opera in particular. I can still see our first record player--one of those old RCA Victor turntables with the wide horn speaker. And the first record bought for that machine? An operatic recording. I could sing in Italian before I could parse verbs in English. And I fell in love with Verdi's Aida. And somewhere in my mind lodged the notion that the Triumphal March from Act II was the absolutely most perfect music for a kallah to come down to the chupah to.

Now it happens that my mother also loves the music from Aida, but...when it came time to choose my chupah music I was steered in a different direction. Mom agreed that a kallah coming to the chupah would certainly deserve a triumphal march, but it was going to be just a tad difficult to hire a full orchestra plus all the extra trumpet players, not to mention an 80 member chorus. I was willing to compromise and do without the chorus, but alas, "saner" voices prevailed. I came down to Dodi Li, and yes, the music is beautiful, but Aida it isn't.

So yes, if I have any regrets about my wedding it's that my dream music and my real music were not one and the same. We got married when wedding films were without sound. I'm going to be having our wedding films put on a DVD, and they are offering an option to add sound. And oh yes, I am so tempted to finally get what I wanted then. Wouldn't change the husband for any money on earth, but the music? Hmmm, I wonder if they would make me two copies: one with Aida and one with Dodi Li.

You'll have to excuse me now; I've just put on a copy of Aida, and I'm not missing those trumpets for anything.

If you have never--gasp--heard the Triumphal March you are in for a treat. The entire march is gorgeous but the part that I wanted for the chupah can be heard here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeuFK61YNIg&feature=related And for any opera buffs out there, just get a load of the pictures of La Scala in the accompanying slides.

Those Crazy Questions? Nothing New

Those inane questions that seem to get asked when people are redting shidduchim? Not all that new really. Oh, the particular types of questions may be different, but the question asking is well-rooted in our history.

The song Tumbalalaika, a yiddish folk song out of Russia, illustrates perfectly that men have long been asking the strange questions and women have, somewhat impatiently, long been answering them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NghNUQ3V7Zs&feature=related


Original lyrics in Yiddish

שטײט אַ בחור און ער טראַכט,
(או: שטײט אַ בחור, שטײט און טראַכט)
טראַכט און טראַכט אַ גאַנצע נאַכט:
וועמען צו נעמען און ניט פֿאַרשעמען,
וועמען צו נעמען און ניט פֿאַרשעמען?

טום־באַלאַ, טום־באַלאַ, טום־באַלאַלײַקע
טום־באַלאַ, טום־באַלאַ, טום־באַלאַלײַקע
טום־באַלאַלײַקע, שפּיל באַלאַלײַקע,
טום־באַלאַלײַקע, פֿריילעך זאָל זײַן!
(או: שפּיל באַלאַלײַקע, פֿריילעך זאָל זײַן!)

מיידל, מיידל, כ'וויל בײַ דיר פֿרעגן:
וואָס קאַן וואַקסן, וואַקסן אָן רעגן?
וואָס קאַן ברענען און ניט אויפֿהערן?
וואָס קאַן בענקען, וויינען אָן טרערן?

טום־באַלאַלײַ, טום־באַלאַלײַ...

נאַרישער בחור, וואָס דאַרפֿסטו פֿרעגן?
אַ שטיין קאַן וואַקסן, וואַקסן אָן רעגן,
ליבע קאַן ברענען און ניט אויפֿהערן,
אַ האַרץ קאַן בענקען, וויינען אָן טרערן!

טום־באַלאַלײַ, טום־באַלאַלײַ...

וואָס איז העכער פֿון אַ הויז?
וואָס איז פֿלינקער פֿון אַ מויז?
וואָס איז טיפֿער פֿון אַ קוואַל?
וואָס איז ביטער, ביטערער וי גאַל?

טום־באַלאַלײַ, טום־באַלאַלײַ...

אַ קוימען איז העכער פֿון אַ הויז,
אַ קאַץ איז פֿלינקער פֿון אַ מויז,
די תּורה איז טיפֿער פֿון אַ קוואַל,
דער טויט איז ביטער, ביטערער וי גאַל!

טום־באַלאַלײַ, טום־באַלאַלײַ... Transliteration

Shteyt a bocher, shteyt un tracht
Tracht un tracht a gantse nacht
Vemen tzu nemen un nisht farsheimen
Vemen tzu nemen un nisht farsheimen

((chorus))
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika, shpil balalaika
Tumbalalaika freilach zol zayn

Meydl, meydl, ich vil dir freigen,
Vos ken vaksen, vaksen on reigen?
Vos ken brenen un nisht oyfheren?
Vos ken benken, veynen on treren?

((chorus))

Di narisher bocher, vos darfstu fregen?
A shtein ken vaksen, vaksen on regen.
Liba ken brenen un nisht oyfheren.
A hartz ken benken, veinen on treren.

((chorus))

Vos iz hecher fun a hoyz?
Vos iz flinker fun a moyz?
Vos iz tiefer fun a kval?
Vos iz bitter, bitterer fun gal?

((chorus))

A koymen iz hecher fun a hoyz.
A kats iz flinker fun a moyz.
Di toyre iz tifer fun a kval.
Der toyt iz bitter, bitterer fun gal.

((chorus))
Translation:

A young lad stands, and he thinks
Thinks and thinks a whole night
Whom to take and not to shame
Whom to take and not to shame

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika, strum balalaika
Tumbalalaika, may we be happy

Girl, girl, I want to ask of you
What can grow, grow without rain?
What can burn and never end?
What can yearn, cry without tears?

Foolish lad, why do you have to ask?
A stone can grow, grow without rain
Love can burn and never end
A heart can yearn, cry without tears

What is higher than a house?
What is swifter than a mouse?
What is deeper than a well?
What is bitter, more bitter than gall?

A chimney is higher than a house
A cat is swifter than a mouse
The Torah is deeper than a well
Death is bitter, more bitter than gall

Music from In Der Heim

That place we fondly call In Der Heim doesn't exist anymore, and hasn't for decades. But thanks to the wonder of computers and the Internet, bits and pieces of that In Der Heim are available for us to see and hear. The music linked to below is accompanied by pictures of Jews and life in the shtetls of yesteryear. Not a comprehensive listing by any means but certainly a flavorful bite. Just a suggestion--share these with your children. And while you are at it, tell them the stories of their great grandparents and great greats and and the bits and pieces of your personal family history that are going to form the family mesorah that is their inheritance.

rare old Russian Jewish songs and dances, with a video of pictures from life in Russia 100-200 years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkMyEAJEmo4&feature=related

1938-9 Jewish Life in Cracow (Kazimierz)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QNO-hIembc&feature=related

Jewish folklore from Romania before WW2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28gvugqGJsw

Boris Savchuk - Oyfen Pripitchik - Authentic Jewish melody This song illustrates the Jewish community life in Eastern Europe, most of which was destroyed in the Holocaust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhK9CUktcPc

Entertaining the little ones

Some of you may be hosting get togethers over Chanukah for family and/or friends. If those get togethers include young children you may be heading to toy boxes or toy stores to get something to keep those kiddies entertained so that the adults can actually get in a word or two of conversation. Let me offer the following as one way to keep them happy and busy.

Whenever my youngish great nieces and nephews are expected as guests I put together arts and crafts folders to keep them occupied. I use brightly colored 2-pocket folders. The Internet is full of sites that have all kinds of pictures to be colored that are Chanukah themed. I found some pencil mazes appropriate for younger kids. I also found some pages with cut outs of dreidles and menorahs that can be made into rings or bracelets or hair ornaments. In addition, I got some really nice Chanukah stickers that they can use to decorate those pictures and the folders with. Party City also had dreidle shaped crayons and Chanukah decorated pencils and erasers.

For just a few dollars and a little time researching on the Net the little ones are going to be happy, and so will their parents be. I download way more pictures and activities then they will be able to do in just one sitting and then send the folders home with them so they can continue the fun in their own homes. Lots of artistic creations going to be possible to hang on refrigerators so parents and grandparents can kvell.

Those Were the Days

For the better part of a year people have been walking around in deep denial; things couldn't possibly be as bad as others were making them out to be. Until recently no one wanted to name the economic mess we are in by it's real name: a recession. Some people hoped that if they just took a deep breath and looked the other way that things would go back to "normal." Other people took the view that if they just carried on with business as usual that things would right themselves automatically. But here we are in the last month of the year and there is no way to put off facing the truth any longer: we've got problems. Those halcyon days of yesteryear are just that: gone. We can't afford to live looking backwards at what was any longer; we need to face what is our lot right now.

But yes, the nostalgia for the good times of the past tugs at us: the dreams of yesterday die hard. Nor are we the only generation ever to face what we face now, and to sigh for what once was. The music of our pop culture stands as a record of the yearnings of the past for what no longer is. And yes,


Those Were the Days

(Music & Lyrics: Gene Raskin; performed by Mary Hopkins)(1968 based on a Russian folk song)
Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVhB0jGP7I (Those who are makpid on Kol Isha might want to avoid going to this video because Mary Hopkins does the singing)

"Those Were The Days"
by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse

Theme song for "All in the Family"

Boy, the way Glenn Miller played. Songs that made the Hit Parade.
Guys like us, we had it made. Those were the days.
Didn't need no welfare state. Everybody pulled his weight.
Gee, our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the days.

And you know who you were then. Girls were girls and men were men.
Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again.
People seemed to be content. Fifty dollars paid the rent.
Freaks were in a circus tent. Those were the days.

Take a little Sunday spin, go to watch the Dodgers win.
Have yourself a dandy day that cost you under a fin.
Hair was short and skirts were long. Kate Smith really sold a song.
I don't know just what went wrong. Those Were The Days.

A Chanukah Present Across the Generations

Way back when, one the the stellar performers of the time was a Danish pianist and comedian by the name of Victor Borge. I remember many an evening spent with my parents and siblings watching him perform on television--despite the age differences, we all loved him. When I arrived in New York I spent my first year in Stern College. There was no money to fly me home for our intersession so I stayed in the dormitory with the other handful of students who also could not get home. We entertained ourselves for that week and the real highlight was when we were able to get student tickets to see Victor Borge perform at Carnegie Hall. The enchantment of that night has remained with me all these years.

So thank you to Youtube for the many video clips of Victor in performance. He was a gifted pianist but also a comedian with an incredible sense of timing. His facial expressions were incredible as well. So as a Chanukah present to those of you born well after Victor's star was no longer visible, may I suggest a few moments with Victor Borge's Phonetic Pronunciation. I think you'll be pleased by the gift. And do take a few moments to view some of the other clips of Victor in performance. Should you not like the gift, well, there's always next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF4qii8S3gw&feature=related

A Chanukah Gift for Mothers

Those who are mothers (and those who have mothers) should appreciate the sentiments in the linked video.

With no apologies to William Tell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6P2w5GkXmU

A New Take on An Old Song

Chanukah has arrived, and with it comes songs that have become traditional here in the States. One of those "must sings" is the dreidle song. You know, the one that begins "I have a little dreidle, I made it out of clay." I ran across an interesting site--THE HAVA NASHIRA SITE,A JEWISH SONGLEADERS RESOURCE--that offers a whole slew of new takes on this old song. I'm reproducing some of their offerings below in the hopes that a good laugh will overcome the nastiness the weather is slinging outside the windows.

Compiled by Marcy Mirkin
I have a little dreidel I made it out of wood And when I spin my dreidel I always feel so good
I H A L D I made it out of plastic And when I spin my dreidel I always feel fantastic
I H A L D I made it out of bread It looked so very yummy I ate it up instead
IHALD I made it out of snow But when I looked last summer Where did my dreidel go?
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of glass, My mom says I can spin it, But only on the grass!
I have a little dreidel, It’s made out of a shoe, It smells a little funny, But what can you do?
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of fur, It was warm and cuddly, And the spinning made it purr!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of snow I baked it in the oven... Where'd my dreidel go?
I have a little dreidel, I carved it from a log And when I threw it on the floor it nearly killed the dog
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of plastic I put a gimel on every side, that dreidel is fantastic!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of soap I carved a shin on every side, why am I such a dope?
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of soap I put it in the bathtub To see if it would float
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of glue The baby tried to spin it, and now she's spinning too
I have a little dreidel, I made it from cement And now our lovely hardwood floor has a nasty dent
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of gin That dreidel wouldn't turn, but the room began to spin
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of pasta It got all tangled in my hair, and now they call me "rasta"
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of gum, And when I tried to spin it, it stuck to my thumb!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of fire, I tried to tell my mommy, she thought I was a liar!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of dirt, And when I tried to spin it, I got a dirty shirt!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of egg, I dropped it on the floor one day, and the yolk spun down my leg!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of cloth, I put it in the closet, it got eaten by a moth!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of pencils, And when I tried to spin it, it made a circle stencil!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of pearls, I showed it to my friends, it's the envy of the girls!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of ice It melted when I spun it, that wasn't very nice!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of meat I can't stand to be near it it smells just like my feet
I have a little dreidle, I made it out of mud and when I tried to spin it, I found it was a dud
I have a little dreidle, I made it out of pot and when it started spinning, I just sat and stared at it a lot
I have a little dreidle, I made it out of shmaltz it don't make healthy eatin' but, that dreidle sure can waltz
I made a little dreidle in virtual reality. If you wear the right headgear, it's there for you to see.
I had a little dreidle, I made it out of latke. I left it on the shelf and it turned into vodka.
I had a little dreidle, I made it out of sand, but when I went to spin it, it crumbled in my hand.
I had a little dreidle, I made it out of air, but when I went to spin it, it wasn't even there!
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of clay, Said a Kabbalistic blessing and it got up and walked away
I had a little dreydl, I made it from a broom I think I'll try to talk it into cleaning up my room
I had a little dreydl, I made it from a bush But, when I tried to lift it, It knocked me on my tush
I had a little dreydl, I made it out of meat Forget about the spinning, let's all sit down and eat
I had a little dreydl, I made it from a guitar And if it's not too heavy, I will put it in my car.
I have a little dreidl, I made it out of metal And if it doesn't spin at all, I'll use it for a kettle!
I have a little dreidl, I made it from gefilte fish My mother served it for Shabbat, but it spun right off my dish!
I had a little dreidl, I made it out of a Reese's peanut butter cup; I never got to play with it, because I ate it up!
I have a little dreidl, I made it on my pc It's really fun to spin it in virtual reality.
I have a little dreidle, I made it out of rice it wasn't great for spinning, but it tasted rather nice
I have a little dreidle, I made it from a chip and when I tried to spin it, it jumped into the dip
I have a little dreidle, I made it out of lox it tastes good on a bagel, but it smells worse than my socks
I have a little dreidle, I made it out of straw! It went 80 miles an hour, and broke the speeding law!!
I have a little dreydle, I made it out of mud, and when I went to spin it, it fell down with a thud.
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of clay, and when I tried to eat it My tummy went "oy vey"
I have a little dreidel, I made it from a stone A little doggie ate it, cause he thought it was a bone!
My dreidel's very lucky, it wins at every game I¹ll let you know my secret, the letters are all the same!
I had a little dreydle, I made it in my mind, and imaginary dreydle, is the hardest one to find.
Yesh li sevivon katan, asui mizahav, Hu matana meabba, bo, n'sachek achshav
I have a little dreidel, it¹s made out of guitars, I put it in a rocket ship, and it blasted right off to Mars!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of wood My little brother ate it cause he thought it tasted good!

Compiled by Rick Lupert
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of chocolate, but when I went to spin it, it had melted in my pocket.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of mud and when I tried to spin it I found it was a dud
I have a little dreidel I made it out of pot and when it started spinning I just sat and stared at it a lot
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of bread, It looked so very yummy, I ate it up instead!
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of Jelly beans. And when I tried to spin it, it blew to smithereens.
I have a little latka, I made it out of clay And when I tried to eat it, my stomach said Oy Vey!
I had a little dreidel I made it from a broom I think I'll try to talk it into cleaning up my room
I had a little dreidel I made it from a bush But, when I tried to lift it, It knocked me on my tush
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of a road. And when I tried to spin it, it smashed a little toad.
I had a little dreidel, I made it from a rock. But when I tried to spin it, it turned into a block.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of hair. When I tried to spin it, it was just barely there.
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of dust. But when I tried to spin it, it blew away with a gust
I have a little dreidel, I made if from a stone, A little doggie ate it, he thought it was a bone.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of light, But for some strange reason, it only works at night.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of wood, I set it on fire, then it didn't spin so good.
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of wood, and when I went to spin it, it spun just like it should.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of wood, My little brother ate it, he thought it tasted good.
I had a little dreidel I made it out of meat Forget about the spinning Let's all sit down and eat
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of meat I can't stand to be near it -- it smells just like my feet
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of string, And when I went to spin it, it began to sing.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of spice, And when I went to spin it, it smelled really nice.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of light, But for some strange reason, it only works at night.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of bubbles, But whenever I spin it, I can only see in doubles.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of pickles, And when I put it on my hand, it always spins and tickles.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of leather, And when I throw it in the air, it grows a little feather.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of broccoli, and when it's dry and ready, I fed it to my doggie
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of metal And if it doesn't spin at all, I'll use it for a kettle!
I have a little dreidel, I made it from gefilte fish My mother served it for Shabbat, but it spun right off my dish!
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of a Reese's peanut butter cup I never got to play with it, because I ate it up!
I have a little dreidel, I made it on my pc It's really fun to spin it in virtual reality.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of Boron It spun into my SEND key, So tell me, who's the moron?
I have a little dreidel I made it out of rice it wasn't great for spinning but it tasted rather nice
I have a little dreidel I made it from a chip and when I tried to spin it it jumped into the dip
I have a little dreidel I made it out of lox it tastes good on a bagel but it smells worse than my socks
I have a little dreidel, I made it in my mind, my imaginary dreidel is very hard to find.
yesh li sevivon katan asui mizahav hu matana me-abba bo, n'sachek achshav

From Linda Barton
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of glass My mom said when I spin it, to spin it on the grass.
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of wood, and when I went to spin it, it spun just like it should.
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of ice, but when I went to spin it, it melted...that's not nice!!
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of mud, and when I went to spin it, it fell down with a thud. (a real stretch!)

Compiled by Mike Duchin
IHALD, I made it out of air, and when I tried to spin it, it wasn't really there.
IHALD, I made it out of bread, it looked so very yummy, I ate it up instead.
IHALD, I made it from a bush, but when I tried to lift it, it knocked me on my tush!
IHALD, I made it from a broom, I think I¹ll try to talk it into cleaning up my room!
IHALD, I made it from cement, and now our lovely hardwood floor has a nasty dent
IHALD, I made it from a chip, and when I tried to spin it, it jumped into the dip
IHALD, I made it out of chocolate, but when I went to spin it, it had melted in my pocket.
IHALD I made it out of clay, and when I tried to eat it, my tummy went "no way"!
IHALD, I made it out of cloth, I put it in the closet, it got eaten by a moth!
IHALD, I made it out of dirt, and when I tried to spin it, I got a dirty shirt!
IHALD, I made it out of dust, but when I tried to spin it, it blew away with a gust
IHALD, I made it out of egg, I dropped it on the floor, and the yolk spun down my leg!
IHALD, I made it out of fire, I tried to tell my mommy, she thought I was a liar!
IHALD, I made it out of fur, it was warm and cuddly, and the spinning made it purr!
IHALD, I made it from a guitar, and if it's not too heavy, I will put it in my car.
IHALD, it¹s made out of guitars, I put it in a rocket ship, and it blasted right off to Mars!
IHALD, I made it out of glue, the baby tried to spin it, and now she's spinning too!
IHALD, I made it out of gum, and when I tried to spin it, it stuck right to my thumb!
IHALD, I made it out of hair, when I tried to spin it, it was just barely there.
IHALD I made it out of ice, it melted when I spun it, which wasn't very nice.
IHALD, I made it out of Jelly beans, and when I tried to spin it, it blew to smithereens.
I have a little latka, I made it out of clay, and when I tried to eat it, my stomach said Oy Vey!
IHALD, I made it out of leather, and when I throw it in the air, it grows a little feather.
IHALD, I made it out of light, but for some strange reason, it only works at night.
IHALD, I carved it from a log, and when I threw it on the floor it nearly killed the dog
IHALD, I made it out of lox, it tastes good on a bagel, but it smells worse than my socks
My dreidel¹s very lucky, it wins at every game, I¹ll let you know my secret, the letters are all the same!
IHALD I made it out of meat, forget about the spinning Let's all sit down and eat
IHALD, I made it out of metal, and if it doesn't spin at all, I'll use it for a kettle!
IHALD, I made it in my mind, an imaginary dreydle, is the hardest one to find.
IHALD, I made it out of an orange, it spun so fast and crazy that it smacked into a door hinge!
IHALD, I made it out of pasta, it got all tangled in my hair, and now they call me "rasta"
I have a little dreidl, I made it on my pc, it's really fun to spin it in virtual reality.
IHALD, I made it out of pearls, I showed it to my friends, it's the envy of the girls!
IHALD, I made it out of peas. When I tried to spin it, it dripped right down my knees.
IHALD, I made it out of pencil, and when I tried to spin it, it made a circle stencil!
IHALD, I made it out of pickles, and when I put it on my hand, it always spins and tickles.
IHALD, I made it out of plastic, I put a gimel on every side, that dreidel is fantastic!
IHALD, I made it out of a Reese's peanut butter cup, I never got to play with it, because I ate it up!
IHALD, I made it out of a road, and when I tried to spin it, it smashed a little toad.
IHALD, I made it from a rock, but when I tried to spin it, it turned into a block.
IHALD I made it out of sand, and when I spun my dreidle, it slipped right through my hand.
IHALD, I put it on the shelf, and if you'd like more verses, you can make them up yourself!!
IHALD, it's made out of a shoe, it smells a little funny, but then what can you do?
IHALD, I made it out of snow. But when I looked last summer, where did my dreidel go?
IHALD, I made it out of soap, I put it in the bathtub to see if it would float
IHALD, I made it out of spice, and when I went to spin it, it smelled really nice.
IHALD, I made it from a stone, a little doggie ate it, cause he thought it was a bone!
IHALD, I made it out of straw! It went 80 miles an hour, and broke the speeding law!!
IHALD, I made it out of string, and when I went to spin it, it began to sing.
I made a little dreidle in virtual reality. If you wear the right headgear, it's there for you to see.
IHALD, I made it out of wood, my little brother ate it cause he thought it tasted good!

Attributed to Robin Selinger
I have a little dreidel Made from a CD-ROM It helped me launch a start-up Called DreidelSpin-dot-com!

http://ot006.urj.net/