Video: Orrin Hatch rocks Hanukkah
posted at 5:55 pm on December 9, 2009 by Allahpundit
A palate cleanser offered as proof that the GOP’s leadership isn’t totally useless. Hatch wrote the lyrics after Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic urged him to do so — ten years ago. Flash forward to today:
It’s a delightful thing to have Orrin Hatch write a song for Hanukkah. Of course I appreciate the absurdist quality to this project, but I also deeply appreciate Hatch’s earnestness. His lyrics are not postmodern or cynical, which is a blessing, because I for one have tired of the Adam Sandlerization of Judaism in America. Yes, we are, as a people, funny (at least when compared to other people, such as Croatians) but our neuroses, well-earned though they may be, have caused us to lacerate our own traditions, which are in fact (to borrow from Barack Obama) awesome. The story of Hanukkah is a good case in point–maybe the perfect one…
Hatch said he hoped his song would be understood not only as a gift to the Jewish people but that it would help bring secular Jews to a better understanding of their own holiday. “I know a lot of Jewish people that don’t know what Hanukkah means,” he said. Jewish people, he said, should “take a look at it and realize the miracle that’s being commemorated here. It’s more than a miracle; it’s the solidification of the Jewish people.”
Follow the link for Goldberg’s historical elaboration on that last point. Obvious exit question: Better or worse than Sandler’s song?
Eight Days of Hanukkah from Tablet Magazine on Vimeo.
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So that’s why they named it ZION National Park!
Apologetic California on December 9, 2009 at 6:01 PM
It’s good.
xax on December 9, 2009 at 6:02 PM
No Optimus Prime.
lorien1973 on December 9, 2009 at 6:02 PM
I think Judaism is what Mormons (like Hatch) would call, God’s “first dispensation.” I think I have the terminology right.
RBMN on December 9, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Not better than Sandler’s but quite catchy. I can’t wait to see the costumes he creates for Purim.
myrenovations on December 9, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Let’s make Hatch Congressional art director. It’d be epic.
amerpundit on December 9, 2009 at 6:10 PM
“And Rod Carewwwwww….yeah, he’s a Jew.”
Couldn’t slip that line in there, Orrin?
SteveMG on December 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Orrin can never beat Sandler, but its not bad either. I give it a B+.
Lance Murdock on December 9, 2009 at 6:20 PM
If they don’t even know the meaning of Hanukka do they really want a song for it?
katiejane on December 9, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Paging The Dean. Now’s a good time for that whole “Zionist Lobby” spiel.
TheUnrepentantGeek on December 9, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Not bad! Good for the Senator. Big interfaith props.
alflauren on December 9, 2009 at 6:31 PM
OT: I’m suprised nobody is talking about fistgate here.
boomer on December 9, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Is CJ doing a cover for LGF?
bbz123 on December 9, 2009 at 6:34 PM
I can’t stop listening to it…
Emily M. on December 9, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Wow Jamie Lee Curtis looks old.
faol on December 9, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Very, very OT: and I planned on being OT to ask for recommendations for a good handgun gift for Christmas…but that can wait.
This is much more important. Those of you who know Manly Rash really, really need to visit his sight (Manlyrash.com)and give him some encouragement…if Manly is down, that spells deep, deep doo-doo as he is always so upbeat about the Country!
Chewy the Lab on December 9, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Manlyrash is a foolish old shill. Isn’t that the tool who could ‘feel in his bones’ that Grandpa and the bimbo were going to win? The Pumas haven’t yet spoken!!! Hahahaha!!!
simplesimon on December 9, 2009 at 6:52 PM
I didn’t even recognize her.
boomer on December 9, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Ageism and sexism? Check!
Must be a comment from a liberal.
JadeNYU on December 9, 2009 at 7:03 PM
This is a wonderful song. I’m not a big Hatch fan (amnesty) but credit where it is due. You don’t have to be Jewish to celebrate — I’m not, and I can still celebrate Hannukah.
DaMav on December 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM
That’s my senator! . . . ?
thomashton on December 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I listened to this and want to thank Orrin for this. My faith says, the Jews and Israel will come out on top. Only time will tell. If you believe or not, this time of the year is the birth of God’s Son. Orrin made a statement giving the Jewish people his respect to their Holy time of the year.
L
letget on December 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM
You must be in the Holiday mood Allah- or as you people call it December.
A whole clip where you didn’t attack the LDS church or Mitt Romney! What’s up with that?
highhopes on December 9, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Hannukah??? I didn’t know that Scientologists celebrate that.
simplesimon on December 9, 2009 at 7:13 PM
I worked like a dog, side-by-side with a lot of PUMA’s and I found them to be a very nice group of folks…and they ADORED Sarah!
As for Manly, he’s made more sense than most of you folks over a long period of time…and I know that Ed and Allahpundant dislike him, but they really should acknowledge the contribution he made in the early days to the success of this site. Truly. For y’all that don’t have a clue, just go to Manly’s website: Manlyrash.com
Chewy the Lab on December 9, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Jews don’t accept Christ as their Savior and in fact think he’s a complete fabrication.
In that case, outside of their self serving support of Israel – don’t Christians think Jews are going to burn in hell fire for not accepting Christ?
I’ve never gotten a straight answer from Christians on this matter – just alot of schucking and jiving.
rickyricardo on December 9, 2009 at 7:15 PM
I’ll give ya one: Yes.
boomer on December 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Sen. Hatch is a good guy.
Jill1066 on December 9, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Probably wants to convert our deceased relatives….
Seriously, here are the lyrics to Tom Lehrer’s song:
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on December 9, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Senator Hatch has talent. I liked the song. And I wish all our Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah.
WyoMike on December 9, 2009 at 8:39 PM
RickyRicardo, this is what the Bible says about how Christians should think of Jews. Nevermind what someone who may not have read the Bible might tell you
Romans 11:17-18
“If some of the branches [The Jewish People/Israel] have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot [Gentiles], have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
Romans 11:25-32
All Israel Will Be Saved
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is[f] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”
The Jews are God’s chosen people. Period. God doesn’t break his promises. If he does, how can Christians trust him?
Read all of Romans Chapter 11 at Bible Gateway.com if this doesn’t explain it clearly
rootabaga on December 9, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Not even close.
The song is pretty decent. Orrin Hatch’s hobby, I guess, is writing music.
Same here. Happy Hanukkah to you all!!
Conservative Samizdat on December 9, 2009 at 9:34 PM
After I listened to it, I was thinking “Wow, I’m absurdly touched by this,” but I didn’t think that was worth saying.
But 15 minutes later, it’s still stuck in my head. Catchy + touching = comment. Nicely played, Senator.
(Also, I’ve met plenty of people — all of them non-Jewish, to the best of my knowledge — who don’t know what Hanukkah’s about. Why not give them an easy way to find out? Or, er, an incentive to google…)
Tanya on December 9, 2009 at 9:38 PM
It’s crap. This one is way better.
There’s a Jerusalem flash mob to it.
And gee, I’m so happy that a Mormon—a member of the church that is posthumously baptizing Jews—thinks he needs to step into our holidays and tell us what we should be listening to.
Meryl Yourish on December 9, 2009 at 10:03 PM
The one blond singer is pretty hot.
There. Someone had to say it.
More on topic, it’s not a bad song for an old white Mormon guy.
UltimateBob on December 9, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Let’s see the One match that!
ToddonCapeCod on December 9, 2009 at 11:16 PM
FIFY
Shy Guy on December 10, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Meryl Yourish as a mormon with jewish heritage i’ll make sure i baptize you too when you are dead
and no i don’t think the jews or most anyone else is going to hell for not being christian
dirksilver on December 10, 2009 at 1:00 AM
If you want to write a Christmas song, go ahead. “White Christmas” and “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” turned out pretty good, so have at it. You may not have the right attitude, but give it a shot. And if you don’t believe in baptism, then how can you believe it affects you, one way or the other? If you don’t believe in it, then it’s just people wasting their time.
RBMN on December 10, 2009 at 2:40 AM
We Jews believe it is pure hogwash. However, we view it as an insult to the dead. It’s just plain insensitive.
Shy Guy on December 10, 2009 at 2:49 AM
You may find Baptism for the dead insulting, but it is not ment that way at all.
We believe that God has charged us (Mormons) to find and keep the records of all the families of the earth. Not just Jews and not excluding Jews. All families of the earth. That is why we do family history.
We believe we are fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi that in the last days the hearts of the children will turn to the fathers, if not, the earth, and our time here will be utterly wasted.
In preserving the names and family connections of all the earth you will have a family to claim in the next life. They belong to you, you belong to them for eternity.
The doctrine of baptism is important to us. And we believe it must be performed on earth. If at any point in the long long eternities someone wants to accept Jesus Christ they will be limited if they have never been baptised. So this baptism is an offering to them. But it is not forced. If they never want to use it, they don’t have to.
The Church has agreed with Jews who have expressed animosity over our doctrine that only Jews who have Mormon descendants will be baptised. I have nieces and nephews whose father is a Jew and also a Mormon. They want their ancestors and have as much claim as anyone else to them.
I wonder if Mormons excluded Jews from our doctrine of eternal families if Jews would then feel discriminated against.
petunia on December 10, 2009 at 9:53 AM
When someone else feels insulted or derided by your derogatory implication of their imperfection, it makes no difference to them what rationale or excuse you have for insulting them.
Your beliefs imply that other people are not good enough unless they are dealt with and “corrected” by you. It’s just plain derogatory and includes anyone of any other faith (or lack thereof).
If the reason would be because you do not wish to insult others, it would be highly praised. Try us or anyone else, for that matter. If the reason would be because you think you wish to damn us Jews by exclusion, then you’ve done nothing but alternate to a different insult.
It’s really simple: how about letting everyone else be?
Shy Guy on December 10, 2009 at 10:10 AM
That would be Adam and Eve and their kids.
hanzblinx on December 10, 2009 at 12:54 PM
You see this is based on your own view of the after life. We do not see anyone as “damned” in the way that you do. Or other Christians do.
Damned to Hell is not really a Mormon concept, except sort of figuratively, hell is more a mental anguish than a physical place. Damned for us is more like being stopped in progression, growth, and learning.
We believe everyone who comes to this earth has already qualified for a degree of glory by virtue of keeping their “first estate”. This can only be lost by becoming a son of perdition and there will be only a few of those.
What we offer in our Temple ordinances is an opportunity for more glory, more knowledge, more growth. We are trying to offer the full range of blessings the Father has to everyone. But it is of course based on if you choose those blessings.
There is no judgement implied in baptism. It is offering a door which they may open or not according to they’re own wishes.
We believe that God has given us the charge to bless all the families of the earth in this way. What ever work He has given others is not our concern but we are trying to accomplish the work He has given us.
The Church has an official policy of following the wishes of Jewish leaders… because somehow according to your view of the afterlife this is insulting. And the Lord will remember his people and provide a way for their work to be done.
petunia on December 10, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I used the word “damned” in a generalized sense, ala Rhett Butler, not referring to any specific theological use of the term.
Once again, your explanations only confirm the condescending connotation to others. The church’s policy of consideration, however, does remove that.
Shy Guy on December 10, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Okay… this is meant in jest…. but an accusation of condescending from a member of God’s chosen people is a bit funny.
Happy Hanukkah! Whenever it is… soon I think.
petunia on December 10, 2009 at 4:11 PM
This year, the first day of Chanukah begins this Friday evening, ending 8 days later, next week Saturday night.
Shy Guy on December 11, 2009 at 12:10 AM