We are the wheat (clap, clap), anachnu hahitah (clap, clap)
Every week you use our flour to make hallah. (clap, clap)
We are the barley (clap, clap), anachnu hase’ura (clap, clap)
We were the grain that made the bread at the time of Grandpa. (clap, clap)
We are the grapes (clap, clap), anachnu ha’anavim(clap, clap)
We make the wine for kiddush to bring the shabbat queen. (clap, clap)
We are the figs (clap, clap), anachnu hate’anim (clap, clap)
Our trees and our fruit thrive in hot sunbeams. (clap, clap)
We are pomegranates (clap, clap), anachnu harimonim (clap, clap)
Our seeds are plentiful as mitzvot* six hundred and thirteen. (clap, clap)
We are the olives (clap, clap), anachnu hazeitim (clap, clap)
From our oil the candles burn to light our homes and dreams. (clap, clap)
We are the dates (clap, clap), anachnu hatmarim (clap, clap)
Our fruit is as sweet as the love of elohim*. (clap, clap)
We are the Seven (clap, clap), Shivat HaMinim (clap, clap
B’Tu B’Shvat we come and celebrate with the etzim*. (clap, clap)
La la la la (clap, clap), La la la la (clap, clap),
La la la la……… (clap, clap)
"It is a land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates - a land of olives and honey-dates." [D’varim 8:8]
* mitzvot means good deeds that one does every day
* elohim means God
* etzim means trees
For Preschoolers:
1. Show pictures of each of the fruits and the vegetables in the song and ask who has tasted any of them.
2. Teach the rhythmic response of two claps at the end of every phrase.
3. Review the Hebrew words.
4. Review the concepts: in Judaism, there are 613 mitzvot, which are the good deeds that one does every day. There is a legend that pomegranates are special because they have 613 seeds. Ask the children if they think that this is true? Ask if they think that pomegranates always have 613 seeds? How would we know?
5. Turn the song into a partner activity: Instead of clapping one's own hands, clap hands with a partner in rhythm.
6. Add rhythm instruments: Have the children only play on the claps.
7. Make it a mixer activity: Children can move on the words and then clap hands with the person near them on the claps. For every verse, the children must find a new partner.
CMN's Multicultural Songbook is an anthology of some of the best songs originating from (or about) countries beyond the United States, often sung in languages other than English. In sharing songs of other cultures, we broaden the global understanding of our children so that they might see themselves as part of a larger world of people, not so unlike themselves, who hope, dream, play and learn in far-away lands sometimes in unfamiliar--but equally interesting--languages.