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Meet Orrin Hatch, Hanukkah Songwriter

The Utah Mormon is also a writer of love songs

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 9, 2009 11:02 AM CST
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(Newser) – Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch is a prolific author of love songs and Christian spirituals, but it took about 10 years for Jeffrey Goldberg to cajole the “philo-Semite” Mormon into writing a Hanukkah song. Goldberg first floated the idea for “Eight Days of Hanukkah” as an aside in an interview prior to Hatch’s failed presidential bid, and though he thought the candle of inspiration had dimmed, it hadn’t. Last Dec. 23, he was emailed "five verses of a sincerely felt Hanukkah song" that he didn't quite believe came from Hatch. But on Christmas Eve, he got a call.

"What do you think of the song?" Hatch asked. "Senator, I love the song," Goldberg replied—and he did. "Of course I appreciate the absurdist quality to this project, but I also deeply appreciate Hatch's earnestness," Goldberg writes on Tablet. "His lyrics are not postmodern or cynical, which is a blessing, because I for one have tired of the Adam Sandlerization of Judaism in America." And voila, a recording session in New York—where Hatch proudly showed off the mezuzah he wears around his neck—and this song.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.   (AP Photo)
Rabbi Levi Shemtov speaks during the lighting ceremony of the National Hanukkah Menorah, at the Ellipse, near the White House, last year.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov speaks during the lighting ceremony of the National Hanukkah Menorah, at the Ellipse, near the White House, last year.   (AP Photo)
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Hatch, like many Mormons, is something of a philo-Semite, and though he is under no illusions about Jewish political leanings in America...he possesses a heartfelt desire to reach out to Jews. - Jeffrey Goldberg

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
cornelison
Dec 10, 2009 12:41 PM CST
Where was Senator Hatch when the tea baggers were waving signs of the WWII holocaust victims? Those photos were being exploited by Fox & the baggers in their hate message against the current President.
cornelison
Dec 10, 2009 3:23 AM CST
The signs were against health care reform. The tea baggers wanted to compare The President to Hitler. The Jews were outraged at how they were being exploited by a bunch of radicals who were trivializing The Holocaust. Not only that but one of the dead in that photo may be related to someone who is alive today. There is no way you can compare the health care reform debate to the millions of people who died horrifically in the concentration camps in WWII.
Fondue
Dec 9, 2009 9:31 AM CST
Actually Hy, cool and impressive are in different sentences, but I accept the compliment anyway.=]

 
Senate • Utah • Orrin Hatch • Mormon • Hanukkah • Jewish • popular music • Jeffrey Goldberg • Orrin Hatch Hanukkah song • Eight Days of Hanukkah

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