dkatz
This post provides an audio recording from the Sephardic Hazzanut Project and the Hebrew, English and transliterated lyrics for Ya Hatzel, a traditional Sephardic Hannukah song that includes praise to God and a prayer for the future redemption, similar to that experienced by our ancestors in the miracle of Hannukah. Throughout the song, the nation of Israel is compared to a dove waiting to be saved.
יָהּ הַצֵּל יוֹנָה מְחַכָּה
יָהּ הַצֵּל יוֹנָה מְחַכָּה וְדִמְעָתָהּ לָךְ מְפַכָּה
וְתִשְׂמַח בָּךְ אַתָּה מַלְכָּהּ בִּשְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה:
הוֹדוּ לְגֵאֶה עַל גֵּאִים וְנוֹרָא עַל כָּל נוֹרָאִים
הִצִּיל אֶת נִין חַשְׁמוֹנָאִים
מִיָּד צָר כִּי בָהֶם הִכָּה: יָהּ הַצֵּל יוֹנָה…
וְיָשִׁירוּ עַמָּךְ שִׁירוֹת וּזְמִירוֹת מִפָּז יְקָרוֹת
בְּהַדְלִיקָם אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת
בִּשְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה: יָהּ הַצֵּל יוֹנָה…
דִּרְשׁוּ לָאֵל כָּל לְבָבוֹת כִּי גָמַל עָלֵינוּ טוֹבוֹת
שִׂמְחוּ בָנִים עִם הָאָבוֹת
בְּדָת מִנִּי יָם אֲרֻכָּה: יָהּ הַצֵּל יוֹנָה…
הָאֵל יָמֵינוּ יְחַדֵּשׁ וְצָר לַהֲרִיגָה יְקַדֵּשׁ
יִשְׁלַח עֶזְרְךָ מִקֹּדֶשׁ
וּמִצִּיּוֹן יִסְעָדֶךָּ: יָהּ הַצֵּל יוֹנָה…
God Save the Waiting Dove
Yah, save the waiting dove who tearfully longs for you.
And the dove will rejoice in You, her King, throughout the eight days of Hanukkah.
Give thanks to the strongest of the strong, to the most awesome of all
God rescued the Hasmoneans’ offspring and struck the enemy’s hand.
Your people will sing songs and hymns more precious than gold
As they light the candles for the eight nights of Hanukkah.
All hearts shall seek God, for all the good things he has done for us.
Children and parents, rejoice together in our faith, which is as endless as the sea.
God will renew our days and set in motion our enemies’ destruction.
God will send you help from God’s sanctuary and fortitude from Zion.
Yah Hatzel Yona Mehaka
Yah hatzel yona mehaka Vedim’atah lakh mefaka
Vetismah bakh ata malkah bishmonat yemei hanuka.
Hodu lege-e al ge-im Venora al kol nora-im
Hitzil et nin hashmona-im
Miyad tzar ki vahem hika. Yah hatzel yona…
Veyashiru amakh shirot Uzmirot mipaz yekarot
Behadlikam et hanerot
Bishmonat yemei hanuka. Yah hatzel yona…
Dirshu la-el kol levavot Ki gamal aleinu tovot
Simhu vanim im ha-avot
Bedat mini yam aruka. Yah hatzel yona…
Ha-el yameinu yehadesh Vetzar lahariga yekadesh
Yishlah ezrekha mikodesh
Umitziyon yis’adeka. Yah hatzel yona…