As I’ve mentioned before, my Jewish experiences have been heavily influenced by music — and my music by Jewish experiences.
While recording a song parody to the tune of OMI’s “Cheerleader,” I had a crazy idea. I needed to practice blowing shofar to prepare for Rosh Hashanah services, and the best part of that song is its trumpet — could I combine the two somehow?
I picked up my shofar and a microphone and the next thing I knew, I was attempting to auto tune the sound of a shofar. This goofy combination is my way of wishing all of you a Shana Tova. Feel free to use this song with students and encourage them to sing along.
Shana Tova, and I wish you all a sweet new year!
Sweet New Year [Cheerleader parody – lyrics]
as the year comes to its ending
shanah tovah will be the greeting that we’re sending.
ya ya
day of judgement is impending
for forgiveness we are begging
from our friends and from our family
cuz relationships need mending
we will
take some apples, dip them in the honey
bake a challah in the round even though it looks kinda funny and
oh I think that I’ll have myself a sweet new year
five seven seven six will be sweeter
oh I think that I’ll have myself a sweet new year
Five seven seven six will be sweeter
singing shehechiyanu
the book of life is what we need to get into
ya ya
cast our sins into a river
ever humble we are sinners
eat a sweet and festive dinner
til the shofar makes us quiver
we will
take some apples, dip them in the honey
bake a challah in the round even though it looks kinda funny and
oh I think that I’ll have myself a sweet new year
five seven seven six will be sweeter
oh I think that I’ll have myself a sweet new year
Five seven seven six will be sweeter
ooh we hear the blast of the shofar
open up a machzor
listen to the sermon
.` and reflect on our behavior
next year will be better if we make it through yom kippur
all that’s left to do now is to daven and consider that
oh I think that I’ll have myself a sweet new year
five seven seven six will be sweeter
oh I think that I’ll have myself a sweet new year
Five seven seven six will be sweeter
challah
Pronounced: KHAH-luh, Origin: Hebrew, ceremonial bread eaten on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
daven
Pronounced: DAH-vun, Origin: Yiddish, to pray, following the Jewish liturgy.
shofar
Pronounced: sho-FAR or SHO-far, Origin: Hebrew, a ram’s horn that is sounded during the month of Elul, on Rosh Hashanah, and on Yom Kippur. It is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, in reference to its ceremonial use in the Temple and to its function as a signal-horn of war.
