Kavod and High Holy Days Songs
Listen to these songs all week long—as lullabies or car music, or as background music for dancing and art activities! Integrate the activities into mealtime, nighttime preparation, or daily play and family time.
Songs for Review
Slichah, Todah, B’vakashah (C. Paley)
Excuse Me, Thank You, Please/You’re Welcome
Slichah, Todah, B’vakashah, with them you’re always right
Slichah, Todah, B’vakashah, it’s good to be polite
My father gets me a new toy, I say todah to show my joy
I give a chair to my Grampa and I say b’vakashah
Slichah, Todah, B’vakashah, shalosh milim yafot (three nice words)
Slichah, Todah, B’vakashah, shalosh milim kalot (three easy words)
Aba notein li matanah (Dad gets me a gift)
Ani omeir todah, todah (I say thank you)
Ani magish kisei lasav (I offer a chair to my grandfather)
V’omeir b’vakashah (and say please/you’re welcome)
Slichah (סְלִיחָה): Sorry or excuse me
Todah (תּוֹדָה): Thank you
B’vakashah (בְּבַקָּשָׁה): Please or you’re welcome
Alef-bet Song (Hebrew Alphabet)
David Melech (David, King of Israel)
This song helps children learn some basic vocabulary: kein (yes), lo (no), ima (mother), aba (father), geshem (rain), and shemesh (sun).
David Melech Yisra-eil
דָוִד מֶלֶךְ יְשׂרָאֵל
Chai, chai v’kayam (3×)
חַי חַי וְקַיָם
Ken / Lo (yes / no): כֵּן / לֹא
Ima / Aba (mother / father): אִמָא / אַבָּא
Geshem / Shemesh (rain / sun): גֶּשֶׁם / שֶׁמֶשׁ
More Songs and Activities
Watch: Shaboom, “All the Respect”
This video may especially appeal to younger children.
Discuss: Respecting People
What does it look and sound like when you show respect to a grown-up or a friend?
How can you show kavod to someone who has a different opinion than you do?
Is it easy or hard to be nice to someone who is mean to you? Why?
How do you feel inside when someone shows respect to you?
Be a Mensch (Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin)
What should you do when you hurt someone?
What should you do when your playing’s done?
How should you act, do you have a clue?
Just ask yourself what a mensch would do.
Be a mensch, (be a mensch) be a mensch. (be a mensch)
Think of other people, be a mensch.
Be a mensch, (be a mensch) be a mensch. (be a mensch)
Act before you’re asked, be a mensch.
(Spoken: Beep beep! Get out of my way! Oops! I should behave like a mensch! Excuse me. Could you please let me through? Thank you!)
A mensch is kind, a mensch is polite.
A mensch will always try to do things right.
Act like a mensch, show the best that’s in you.
Just ask yourself what a mensch would do. Be a mensch...
(Spoken: Hey, give me that toy! Uh-oh, I know better. What would a mensch do? Excuse me, may I please play with that toy when you’re finished? Thanks a lot!)
So say you’re sorry when you hurt someone.
Put your toys away when your playing’s done.
Use your words saying “please” and “thank you,”
That is what a mensch would do. Be a mensch...
Songs for the Upcoming High Holy Days
Avinu Malkeinu (Traditional)
God is our parent (Avinu) and our ruler (Malkeinu)—different ways we can view or experience God. We want God to be compassionate (choneinu) like a parent and answer us (va’aneinu). Listen for the word tzedakah (justice). Our “deeds are wanting”—we want to do better in our actions.
This is closely related to the task of “returning” during the High Holy Days: we come humbly before God to ask forgiveness.
L’shanah Tovah (High Holy Days Niggun)
May you be written in the Book of Life for a good year. In this song, Bikel adds v’tichateimu: “and may you be sealed” for a good year.
Shofar Blast Song (Ellen Allard)
V’al Kulam (Traditional)
In the Al Cheit, we list missteps that we or our community might make. Then we sing v’al kulam—“for all of these”—and ask God to forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement.
Apples and Honey (Julie Silver)
If you’re gonna eat an apple apple apple
Don’t forget to have some honey honey honey
Apples and Honey, it may sound funny
But you can make the New Year sweet and sunny
Eating apples and honey
Don’t forget to ask the Rabbi Rabbi Rabbi
Why we bid the old year good-bye good-bye good-bye
We start a new year, the shofar we hear
Every year it’s in the month of Tishrei
Don’t you know that it’s the first day
Tell your sister and your brother brother brother
Tell your father and your mother mother mother
L’shanah Tovah it’s Rosh Hashanah
We’re spending the New Year with each other
Sister brother father mother
Apples and Honey, it may sound funny
But you can make the New Year sweet and sunny
Eating apples and honey