Shakin’ the Lulav (Sukkot Parody)

In this playful Sukkot-themed parody of The Beatles’ «Twist and Shout,» David Bar-Cohn and friends dance around Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh, singing about the Four Species. Despite its silly nature, the song actually teaches a lot about the rituals and themes of the holiday, including the English and Hebrew names of all Four Species, how we shake them, and the importance of inviting guests and Jewish unity on this special festival. The lyrics can be seen below.

Shakin’ the Lulav

We’re shaking the lulav now (Shaking the lulav)
Up and down (Back and forth)
Take it into the Sukkah now (Into the Sukkah)
All seven days (But not on Shabbos — oooh)

I got the four species now (Arba minim)
My willow branches, yeah (Aravot)
I shaka, shaka shake my myrtle now (That’s Hadassim)
And now I’m feeling b’simcha (I knew you would — ooooh)

We’re shaking the lulav now (Shaking the lulav)
Front and back (6 directions)
Take it back to the center now (Back to the center)
Hodu LaShem Ki Tov (Ki L’olam Chasdo — ooooh)

A got a bumpy little esrog now (Yellow citron)
You know it looks so fine (Smells so good)
It’s gonna make some tasty jelly, yeah (Havdala spice)
But during Sukkos you’re mine (I know you’re mine — ooooh)

Hoshia na Hatzlicha na Hoshia na Hatzlicha na
We’re shaking the lulav now (Shaking the lulav)
Up and down (Back and forth)
Come on, come on, come on, in the sukkah now (Into the Sukkah)
Get on under the s’chach (Under the s’chach — oooh)

Come on invite the Ushipzin now (Avraham Avinu)
You gotta open your heart (Open wide)
I’m loving loving Am Yisrael (The Jewish people)
We’re all together now (All together now — oooh)

We’ll shake-a, shake-a, shake-a lulav now (Shake the lulav)
We’ll shake-a, shake-a, shake-a lulav now (Shake the lulav)
We’ll shake-a, shake-a, shake-a lulav now (Shake the lulav)