MUSIC - "Shalom Santa," sung by Tovah FeldshuhĮlliott Forrest: That was actress Tovah Feldshuh with "Shalom Santa." Music by Douglas Cohen and lyrics by Tom Toce, with additional material by Judy Gold. Tovah Feldshuh acknowledged the dilemma that children in mixed marriages sometimes face, with her version of the song "Shalom Santa." In America it's a very important counterbalance to the Great American Christmas."Įlliott Forrest: And speaking of that "other" December holiday. It's a nothing." I said, "Nothing to you. Tovah Feldshuh: I remember somebody more religious saying, "Listen, this was just a minor military holiday. And Jan Peerce was one of the great ones who would sing not only his arias, but a slew of Jewish songs in Yiddish and in Hebrew.Įlliott Forrest: Jan Peerce, with the Chanukah song "Al Hanisim" - "For the Miracles" - thanking God for the mighty deeds performed for our ancestors - and for us. Jan Peerce, Beverly Sills, Roberta Peters, Richard Tucker, to name a few. There was a coterie of brilliant Jewish opera singers at City Opera and at the Metropolitan Opera here in New York. And by opening opera to me, they opened a secret door inside of which lay treasures I had never known before. Tovah Feldshuh: My parents had LPs of the opera. Opera played a big role in Tovah Feldshuh's childhood. She lived across the street, and when she was moving out, she called me and she said "Tovah, you want any of my chazzerai?" And I said, "Barbra, the truck is arriving immediately."Įlliott Forrest: Just in case you don't know, "chazzerai" is Yiddish for "junk." You're listening to "Chanukah Memories and Melodies" I'm Elliott Forrest. We light my parents' chanukiah, that's modern from Israel, and we light Barbra Streisand's chanukiah. My children made their own chanukiahs at the 92nd Street Y Nursery School. But in my home we have a multitude of menorahs that we light for Chanukah. Tovah Feldshuh: When I was a little girl, I remember just one big menorah. MUSIC - Third Candle Blessing, from David Ludwig's "Hanukkah Cantata"Įlliott Forrest: That was David Ludwig's arrangement of the Candle Blessings, from his Hanukkah Cantata, sung by Choral Arts Philadelphia, with Matthew Glandorf conducting. Where we say how grateful we are, how glad we are to have made it to this day. Tovah Feldshuh: The third blessing, which is said only on the first night of Chanukah, is one of the favorite blessings of the Jewish religion. MUSIC - Second Candle Blessing, from David Ludwig's "Hanukkah Cantata" Tovah Feldshuh: The second blessing thanks God for the wondrous deeds performed to save our ancestors. MUSIC - Tovah Feldshuh sings "Baruch ata adonai" crossfade to first Candle Blessing, from David Ludwig's "Hanukkah Cantata" The first blessing is about the commandment to kindle the Chanukah lights. These were melodies I had heard my family sing as long as I could remember. Tovah Feldshuh: Once I was bat mitzvah, I was given the privilege of singing the Chanukah blessings. Plus, the menorah has a "helper" candle - the shamash - that's used to light all the others. The first night, just one candle, the second night two candles, and so on. Chanukah lasts eight days, and each evening we light candles in a special candelabra called a menorah, or chanukiah. And I remember feeling connected, not just to my grandparents, who were European, and my great great great great great great great grandparents, but to our Jewish forebears and above all the wonderful Judah Maccabee, that valiant guerilla warrior who with his troops defeated what looked like like an overpowering enemy.Įlliott Forrest: In Judaism, holidays begin at sunset. Tovah Feldshuh: Our festive celebration was very cozy. You could choose your topping.Įlliott Forrest: Latkes are potato pancakes, fried in oil, like most foods associated with Chanukah. And they would be accompanied by Mott's applesauce and sour cream. My Aunt May's apartment was permeated with the delicious aroma of latkes frying in pans. And of course, I had a matching plaid bow for my hair. I had a beautiful plaid taffeta party dress with Mary Jane black patent leather shoes and white anklets that had ruffles on the end. Tovah Feldshuh: Chanukah was always celebrated at my Aunt May and Uncle Harold Silverman's apartment at 955 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. Ruth to Fanny Brice's mother in "Funny Girl." She's played strong Jewish women from Golda Meir to Dr. I'm Elliott Forrest welcome to "Chanukah Memories and Melodies." In this hour we'll hear from six well-known Jewish artists about their memories of Chanukah, and the music the holiday brings to mind.įirst up: Broadway, film, and television star Tovah Feldshuh. Elliott Forrest: Chanukah, a festival of freedom, family, and food.
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