Sivivon Sov Sov Sov

The iconic dreidel song for Hanukkah.

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    "Sivivon Sov Sov Sov" is known as the other dreidel song--not to be confused with the one about making dreidels out of clay. A dreidel has two sets of letters--outside of Israel, a shin, which stands for sham, or "there," in the phrase "A great miracle happened there." Instead, in Israel, there's a pey, which stands for po, or "here," since the miracle of Hanukkah actually happened in Israel.

    Similarly, "Sivivon" has two sets of lyrics: one sung in Israel, which refers to the "great miracle" as happening "here," and one that references it "there."

    Sivivon (outside of Israel)

    English (translation):
    Dreidel, spin, spin, spin
    Chanukah is a great holiday.
    Chanukah is a great holiday.
    Dreidel, spin, spin, spin.

        A holiday of happiness it is for the nation.
        A great miracle happened there.
        A great miracle happened there.
        A holiday of happiness it is for the nation.

    Hebrew:
    Sivivon, sov, sov, sov
    Chanukah, hu chag tov
    Chanukah, hu chag tov
    Sivivon, sov, sov, sov!

        Chag simcha hu la-am
        Nes gadol haya sham
        Nes gadol haya sham
        Chag simcha hu la-am.

    סֵבִיבוֹן סב סב סב
    חנכּה הוא חג טוב
    חנכּה הוא חג טוב
    סֵבִיבוֹן סב סב סב

    חַג שִׂמְחָה הוּא לַעָם
    נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה שָם
    נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה שָם
    חַג שִׂמְחָה הוּא לַעָם

    Sivivon (in Israel)

    English (translation):
    Dreidel, spin, spin, spin
    Chanukah is a great holiday.
    Chanukah is a great holiday.
    Dreidel, spin, spin, spin.

        Spin, please, spin like this and that.
        A great miracle happened here
        A great miracle happened here
        Spin, please, spin like this and that.

    Hebrew:
    Sivivon, sov, sov, sov
    Chanukah, hu chag tov
    Chanukah, hu chag tov
    Sivivon, sov, sov, sov!

        Sov na sov ko va'cho
        Nes gadol haya po
        Nes gadol haya po
        Sov na sov ko va'cho!

    סֵבִיבוֹן סב סב סב
    חנכּה הוא חג טוב
    חנכּה הוא חג טוב
    סֵבִיבוֹן סב סב סב

    סב נא סב כה וכה
    נס גדול היה פה
    נס גדול היה פה
    סב נא סב כה וכה

    Alicia Jo Rabins

    Alicia Jo Rabins found herself playing a super tiny violin at age three. Her new band and album, Girls in Trouble, was released on JDub Records. She also sings and plays violin for the band Golem. She has earned two Masters degrees, one in Jewish women's studies, the other in poetry.