The Menorah Hora (2022 Version)
When we were young, Mom gave us this dance
A Chanukah shimmy-shake, made-up? passed-down?
THAT we don't know, we just annually prance it
no matter how much it makes us feel like clowns
we go—
💃
"First you jump out
Then you jump in
You turn like a dreidel -
Go SPIN SPIN SPIN!
Shine like a Shamash: tall and thin
Doing the Menorah Hora"
🕎
With some easy lyrics that tell you what to do
call it, darling-DIY music, linked to each move
looks like candlelight or melting wax swirling,
feels funny, but then natural, to groove to
To go—
💃
First jumping out
Then jumping in
Turning like a dreidel
Go SPIN SPIN SPIN!
Shine like a Shamash: tall and thin
Doing the Menorah Hora
🔯
Now next, bring your arms body-cross
Put your hands on your waist
Forward-left, move-right, dreidel-toss
Go STEP, TURN, SWAY!
Back-right, back-left, menorah-walk
Doing the Menorah Waltz
💃
Next, knees bent, step on count
Back then forth, then we bounce
Like Menorah shadow and light
Go BOUNCE, STEP, BOUNCE!
Like Chanukah nights, in and out,
Doing the Menorah Samba
🕎
Finally, join the circle at the front
Then grip your hand into a fist tight
Like a flashing spark of blown candlelight
Jump UP, DOWN, AROUND!
Like Maccabees rage into the fight
Doing the Menorah Mosh
💃
How Jewish is that?
First being out -
Then being in
Swirling tops of the world circle dancing
Following a shamash-leading tradition
We're sharing bright like a Menorah Hora
🔯
Chanukah, Rebel Chanukah!
Celebrate in Dark with Light
Miraculous Renewable Phenomena
Rededicated Every Night
💃
Chanukah, Ohhh Chanukah
How Old Songs and Stories Go
Like Overcoming Odds Together
Like Menorahs in Windows Glow
🕎
First We jump out
Then We jump in
We turn like a dreidel
Go SPIN SPIN SPIN!
Shine like a Shamash: tall and thin
Doing the Menorah Hora.
💃
— Adam Powers