Song for the Rededication of the Altar

[bnewman]

Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Temple, and because of the miracle of the oil we celebrate with fried food.  When circumstances permit, I like to invite friends over for a deep-fried party.  I also take the opportunity to rededicate the vessels of the altar with oil, that is, to season my wok, so here is a wok-seasoning song based on the traditional (and problematically triumphalist) Chanukah classic "Ma'oz Tzur".

lyrics by Benjamin Newman, after "Ma'oz Tzur", trad. Hebrew

listen to this song

מה חכם יוצר כל כלי לך נאה לשבח

תכון כלי מטבחוני ושם תודה נזבח

לעת תכין מתבח ועם אורחים נשמח

אז אגמר בשיר מזמור חנכת המזבח

Mah chacham yotzer kol kli, lecha na'eh l'shabe'ach

Tikon klei mitbachoni, v'sham todah n'zabe'ach

L'et tachin mitbach, v'im orchim nismach

Az egmor b'shir mizmor chanukat hamizbe'ach

How clever is the maker of every utensil, it is fitting to praise you

Restore the vessels of my kitchen, and there I will offer up thanksgiving

When you have prepared the kitchen, and we are rejoicing with guests

Then I will complete with musical song the dedication of the altar