Why Are There No Great Hanukkah Songs?

Some of the best Christmas songs were written by Jews ("White Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays," "Rudolph The Red-Nose Reindeer," "Silver Bells," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!").

So, why are there no great Hanukkah songs?

There's a few funny ones (Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song"), and a few lame ones ("The Dreidel Song"), but nothing like the list above of great American popular songs. One could suppose that during the era those songs were written, a Hanukkah song might not have been viewed as a highly commercial prospect.

So, maybe it's time to correct that.

My challenge to composers Jewish and gentile (only fair): write a great Hanukkah song in the tradition of the great holidays songs above. Nothing "ironic" or glib. Remember, you've got great material to work with: war, liberation, religious freedom, the victory of the underdog, miracles, family, and, especially, presents.