As the season turns and the tradition of lighting the menorah approaches, the Recorded Sound Archives (RSA) at FAU Libraries is ready to celebrate! We are delighted to share our annual musical gift: The RSA Chanukah Playlist 2025! This curated selection of eight tracks offers a vibrant, diverse soundtrack for your eight nights of celebration, drawn directly from the RSA’s extensive collection of Jewish sound recordings.
This playlist captures the light and global spirit of the Festival of Lights by highlighting a variety of essential musical styles. For a traditional start to your nightly ritual, we feature the contemplative beauty of Ariel Silber’s stirring rendition of the blessing over the candles. This track sets a powerful and reflective tone, honoring the miracle of the oil.

The collection also celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Jewish tradition. You’ll find the beautiful Sephardic favorite “Ocho Kandelikas” (Eight Little Candles) performed by the Lachan Toronto Jewish Chamber Choir, sung entirely in Ladino. For a completely different, nostalgic folk sound, we included Lori Cahan-Simon’s delightful Yiddish track, “A Tsindt on Likhtekh” (Light the Candles).
To round out the soundscape, the playlist offers unique contemporary arrangements. Don’t miss Benjamin Roth-Aroni’s “Chanukah Piano Medley,” which provides a smooth, instrumental backdrop perfect for a quiet evening or sophisticated holiday gathering. Read More About This…

When it comes to blending the spirit of Chanukah with the soulful sounds of jazz, Kenny Ellis shines brightly. His album, Hanukkah Swings, is a festive treat that reinvents traditional Chanukah melodies with a toe-tapping, swing-inspired twist.

Ellis, a talented cantor and performer, brings a joyful exuberance to the album, making it a perfect soundtrack for the Festival of Lights. Tracks like “Swingin’ Dreidel” and “Chanukah Swings” showcase his ability to infuse Jewish holiday classics with the lively, improvisational spirit of jazz. The result is a collection that feels both timeless and refreshingly original. Read More About This…

This Chanukah we wanted to highlight the voice of Cindy Paley.

For over 20 years, Cindy Paley, musical educator and performer, has brought the joys of Jewish music to teachers, students and families throughout North America. She has combined education and entertainment to teach Jewish values, holidays and traditions. With eight recordings to her credit, Cindy has provided musical tools for teachers, families and children that enrich lives and insure that the best of our heritage will continue.

Cindy has served as the Music Educator at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California since 1977. After receiving her teaching credential at UCLA, she chose to devote her career to songleading and music as a Jewish educator. In addition to her recordings and family concerts, Cindy often serves as a cantorial soloist, and is currently involved in creative prayer services for women.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CW36_Z8phW_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Please enjoy this album and share it with family and friends from the Recorded Sound Archives.

https://rsa.fau.edu/album/36470

You can listen to this album along with 50 other albums to choose from this Chanukah by visiting:

https://rsa.fau.edu/chanukah-collection

Whether you celebrate Chanukah or Christmas, here at the Recorded Sound Archives we’ve got you covered.

You can listen to the story of Chanukah, or have you ever wonder how Christmas is celebrated in Israel? Discover how both Christmas and Chanukah are celebrated in Israel in the late 50s and 60s. Along with Christmas hymns such as Oh, Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night, Holy Night or silly songs like I want a hippopotamus for Christmas and All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.

We even have a few Hanukkah sing-alongs (Volume 2, Volume 3) for you to sing-a-long and enjoy with children. Or perhaps you’re looking for a modern take on some old Chanukah classics, discover Kenny Ellis Hanukkah Swings.

With over 100 recordings for you to choose from between our Chanukah and Christmas collections, the Recorded Sound Archives staff has put together a list of our favorite songs for you to listen to with family and friends.

Enjoy!

RSA Staff Shares Holiday Music Favorites!

1. Chanukah in Song: Mi yimalel/(Yeladim binerot) by Gladys Gerwirtz; Eve Lippman

2. Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / __ days ’till Christmas (15 through 9) by Spike Jones

3. Ocho Kandelikas by Kenny Ellis

4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra

5. Chanukah in Song (Side 4): Oy Chanukah by Gladys Gewirtz; Eve Lippman

6. Silent Night, Holy Night (Stille Nacht) by Helen Traubel

7. Chanukah Piano Medley by Benjamin Roth-Aroni

8. We Wish You a Merry Christmas by The French Quarter Band

9. Medley: Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah; Who Can Retell by Kenny Ellis

10. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey

Please note, due to copyright some items may only be available as a 45-second snippet.

If you are a Researcher or Educator in need of full access to these recordings, click here.

Have you recently typed “Chanukah” into Google? No….please go and try now and discover the beautiful animated image Google’s put together to celebrate Chanukah.

Here at the Recorded Sound Archives we celebrate with music, sharing over 50 Chanukah albums for you to enjoy with family and friends. The Songs of Chanukah Collection consists of what is considered traditional, children’s songs that teach about the holiday and a few old favorites with a new twist.

There is a little bit of something for everyone in this collection, so please share it with friends and family. In years prior we’ve highlighted the voice of Gladys Gewirtz and Kenny Ellis.

This year on the Recorded Sound Archives website we are highlighting the voice of Margie Rosenthal and Ilene Safyan, who were brought together by a mutual love of Jewish music in 1979 and are both featured performers on the Recorded Sound Archives website. The music on their album Just In Time for Chanukah is a blend of old and new melodies and words, and we think you’ll enjoy them this holiday season.

Click here to view this collection.

Click here to learn more about Margie Rosenthal and Ilene Safyan and their music.

Please note, due to copyright some of these recordings may only play for 45 second snippet to give the user a taste of what this music sounded like back in the day, if you are interested in full access considering applying for Research Station Access. Access to Research Station is limited to educators, students and serious researchers.