Celebrate the Last Night of Hanukkah with Eight Jewish-Themed Showtunes!

By: Dec. 13, 2015
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As millions of the faithful around the world light the last candles of their menorahs, we take a look at a handful of musical moments that have a decidedly Jewish flair. On the last night of Hanukkah, we want to celebrate some of our favorite Broadway tunes about the faith while honoring the contributions of our immensely talented Jewish legends who have helped mold the American musical into what it is today. Therefore, we have selected eight Jewish-themed showtunes for the occasion. You can watch a video of each below, along with an incredible film about the importance of Jewish writers to the history of the musical theatre.

On New Year's Day 2013, PBS released a documentary entitled BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY. The film chronicles the enormous contributions that Jewish writers and composers have made to the history and evolution of the Broadway musical. From Irving Berlin to the Gershwins to Rodgers and Hammerstein to Bernstein, Sondheim, and more, many of the greatest works in the artform were crafted by brilliant Jewish writers.

The film, directed by Michael Kantor, and narrated by Joel Grey, features performances from over 70 years of Broadway musicals with clips of Zero Mostel, Fanny Brice, Barbra Streisand, Ethel Merman, Dick Van Dyke, Kelli O'Hara, Idina Menzel, and many more. Check out the film below, and then enjoy our eight favorite Jewish-themed showtunes.

"The Chanukah Party" from CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Set in Louisiana during the Civil Rights Era of the early 1960s, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE takes a look at the political and social changes of that volatile time. With music by Jeanine Tesori and a libretto by Tony Kushner, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE blends blues, gospel and traditional Jewish melodies. An African-American housemaid develops a special friendship with a young Jewish boy in the midst of the myriad changes taking place in the world outside.

One song from the score could not be timelier: "The Chanukah Party."

Video: Harrison Chad at last year's "A Very Broadway Holiday" at 54 Below.

Medley from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

When it comes to the "tradition" of Jewish musicals on Broadway, no show looms as large as FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Based on the short stories of Sholem Aleichem, in 1964 Joseph Stein (book), Jerry Bock (music), and Sheldon Harnick (music) created a phenomenon about a loveable milkman named Tevye. As their five daughters grow up and fall in love, Tevye and his wife, Golde, are forced to confront the fact that their lives in the small, Russian town of Anatevka are changing forever.

In the video, Tevye's daughters Tzeitel (Alexandra Silber), Hodel (Samantha Massell) and Chava (Melanie Moore) sing "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," Tevye (Danny Burstein) sings "If I Were a Rich Man," and the cast sings "To Life."

Video: Alexandra Silber, Melanie Moore, Samantha Massell, Danny Burstein, Adam Kantor, and the cast of the current FIDDLER Broadway revival.

If you haven't watched the full documentary above yet, check out the FIDDLER section here:

"Rags" from RAGS
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

The book writer of the landmark musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF was not done with Eastern European immigrants. Calling on cross-over opera soprano Teresa Stratas and a bevy of Broadway veterans, RAGS featured a book by Stein with a score by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The ambitious musical followed Rebecca Hershkowitz (Stratas, in her Broadway debut) as she made it to New York City in 1910. As poor Jews from Eastern Europe, Herskowitz and her family finds struggles they did not expect. Personal tragedy, labor disputes, and disappointments mingle with romance on the Lower East Side. Among the original cast members were Larry Kert, Dick Latessa, Terrence Mann, and a young Judy Kuhn as a Jewish sweatshop worker.

Video: Judy Kuhn and Dick Latessa at the 41st Annual Tony Awards.

"Shiksa Goddess" from THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

When Jewish writer Jamie Wellerstein met gentile actress Cathy Hiatt in Jason Robert's Brown two-person musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS, the two fell quickly in love and began a tumultuous five year relationship. While the innovative, semi-autobiographical, musical doesn't exactly end on the most happy of notes, in "Shiksa Goddess" Jamie is full of excitement in spite of, and because of, the fact that Cathy is not the type of girl of which his family would ever approve.

Video: Norbert Leo Butz in the original Off-Broadway production.

"Shalom" from MILK AND HONEY
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Lonely American widows head to Israel to nab husbands - sounds like a perfect plot for a musical, right? Composer-lyricist Jerry Herman's first book musical (after years writing revue material) opened in 1961 with a book by Don Appell. Set against the backdrop of Israel's pursuit to be recognized as an independent nation, MILK AND HONEY boasted Yiddish-crossover musical star Molly Picon and opera-cross-over baritone Robert Weede. It opened October 1961 and received four Tony nominations, including one for Picon's performance and another for Herman's score and lyrics.

Video: Klezmer Company Orchestra with the Ebony Choir of the Palm Beaches at Florida Atlantic University.

"Meeskite" from CABARET
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

Despite all of the dark, Nazi themes in the Kander and Ebb classic CABARET, Jewish fruit shop owner Herr Schultz sings a number of charming songs while attempting to woo boarding house owner Fräulein Schneider. At their engagement part, he sings, "Meeskite" (a Yiddish word for "ugly"). Slightly intoxicated, and typically self-deprecating, the song serves as Schultz's fable reminding everyone that "Anyone responsible for loveliness, large or small/Is not a meeskite at all."

Video: Pete Pollard in the Highlands Little Theatre 2005 production.

"Gliding" from RAGTIME
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Opening in 1997 after a tryout in Canada, RAGTIME was based on E. L. Doctorow's popular novel. Using a variety of musical styles and an ambitious structure, RAGTIME looked at how three distinctly different segments of society intersected in 1902. The privileged whites, African-Americans, and the influx of Jewish immigrants struggle to make sense of the rapidly changing world. Within the fabric of Terrence McNally's award-winning book and a score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is the story of Tateh and his daughter who arrive in their adopted country and learn that working hard is the ticket to success. At one point, Tateh consoles his daughter with a lovely song, "Gliding."

Video: Robert Petkoff in the 2009 Broadway revival.

"You Won't Succeed On Broadway" from SPAMALOT
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

As we have seen from Michael Kantor's documentary and the previous seven songs, the Jewish contributions to the Broadway stage are nearly incalculable. So much so, that when British comedy legends Month Python made their Broadway debut with the musical version of their film MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, they wrote a song for the "Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir-Lancelot" Sir Robin informing them that they would never find success on Broadway, because they didn't have enough Jews in their company.

Video: David Hyde Pierce and the original Broadway cast.

What Jewish-themed songs would you add to the list? Anything from JOSEPH, TWO BY TWO, CHILDREN OF EDEN, and any other Old Testament musicals? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter at @jeffwalker66 and @BWWMatt.

With this feature, Jeff and I have put together a year's worth of unique showtunes lists. Take a look back at the last 12 months with our January feature on the Most Hummable Sondheim Songs, February's Valentine's Day list of Broadway's best Anti-Love Songs, March's Ides themed collection of Shakespeare Inspired Showtunes, odes to April showers and young love, Jeff's collection of Songs of Lust to celebrate May, Matt's Birthday showtune party, July's Bastille Day-inspired Parisian celebration, August's Dog Days of Summer animal-themed celebration, September's collection of Back-to-School showtunes, October's nine innings of sports showtunes, and last month's feature giving thanks for family feuds.

Jeff and Matt also write about TV, movies, and theatre in Washington D.C. (Jeff) and Orlando, Florida (Matt).


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