This is a traditional song sung at Chanukah. Youngsters spin a small top called a dreydl. The 4 sides of the dreydl are adorned by the first letters of the phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” which in Hebrew means “A great miracle happened there”. Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights which celebrates the Maccabees’ victory over the Greek Syrians in 165 BCE. After the battle, when the Hebrews returned to their Temple, they found only enough oil to kindle the Temple’s Perpetual Light for one day. Nevertheless, they lit the lamp.
The miracle was revealed when the lamp was still burning the second day, and the third day, and continued burning until the eighth day when more oil was prepared.
S’vivon, sov, sov, sov, Chanukah hu chag tov!
Chag simcha hu la-am, Nes gadol haya sham!
Dreidel, spin, spin, spin, Chanukah is a great holiday!
A holiday of happiness it is for the nation. A great miracle happened there.