Hanukkah Zimriya at Golda Och Academy

Elements of music and dance wove together in a sea of blue and white as Golda Och Academy students gathered together to celebrate Hanukkah with their annual Hanukkah Zimriya Singing Festival.

Energy and excitement were evident on the students' faces as they gathered in the school’s gymnasium, and sat in a circle, forming a tight community. Students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade then took turns showcasing the spirit of the holiday through song and dance.

The festival started with the choir singing the prayers to light the Hanukkah menorah candles. Ruthie Cohen and Richard Perini organized the music portion of the program. Perini accompanied on piano while Cohen went from grade to grade as they performed providing vigor and direction as each group sang Hanukkah melodies.

"They are pretending to be Maccabees chasing away the darkness in the holy temple," explained teacher Paula Spack of the first graders performing Banu Choshech, which means chasing away the darkness. Under the guidance of Cohen, the mostly six year olds pretended to draw swords as Maccabee warriors defending their temple. Then through the song, they rejoiced in their victory.

"We celebrate the joy of Hanukkah with as much ruach (spirit) here as we hope they celebrate at home and out in their community," said Gena Rosenberg, Program Coordinator for the Lower School. "It is that ruach that we are seeing here today," she added.

After each grade sang, the dance performances began. Sarah Reinholtz led the first and second grade dancers in two songs. The first was Kemach Kemach which means Flour Flour in which the dancers simulated making latkas, a traditional Hanukkah food. Their second performance was Bo-oo Yiladeem, Come on Kids, where they danced about coming to a land of imagination.

Closing the festival were the third through fifth grade dancers led by Paula Spack. They performed three dances; Numa Hey, Al Hanisim and Amen.

"Numa Hey is a troupe favorite as it is a more upbeat and modern dance," said Spack, adding, "our second dance is a traditional Chanukah prayer Al Hanisim, for the miracles." The third dance, Amen, was debuted at the Zimriya with musical accompaniment provided by a CD produced by the academy’s upper school choir.

"We want the kids to feel the positive energy of Judiasm. Coming together, to celebrate like this we want them to feel how rich our culture, history and heritage are," said Carrie Zuker-Siegel, Assistant Principal at Golda Och. "Our Hanukkah Zimriya is a tradition we look forward to each year."

Zimriya is the Hebrew word for singing festival. Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday known as the festival of lights. It celebrates the miracle of the Maccabees finding oil which should have lasted only one night, lasting eight nights in the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem around 200 B.C.