Country Music Chanukah Song

An Orthodox Jewish couple from Israel, Yoseph and Leah Urso, are the creators of “Eight Candles Burning,” a new viral video sensation that celebrates Chanukah with animation and country music.

The catchy, upbeat song tells the story of a group of Chabad emissaries who hand out menorahs to fellow Jews and educate them about Jewish observance.

The recipient of the menorah tells of how each year he continues to do the mitzvah that his rabbi friends taught him. For its writers, the song is closer to reality than fiction.

Leah, a lifelong professional fiddler and songwriter, landed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1990 to work in the Country Music studios.

There she met Rabbi Zalman Posner, a shliach of the previous Rebbe, and became religious. Yoseph, a country/bluegrass guitar player, also lived in Tennessee and was a regular at the Knoxville Chabad House.

They met at a friend’s Shabbos table and married soon after. In 2004 they made aliyah. Although they play Chabad niggunim for many events, their Country Music connection is still strong, so naturally they incorporate Jewish lyrics with Country Music.

The Ursos also operate Morah Leah Music recording and performing children’s music in Israel and the U.S. and hope to release more original Jewish Country music videos in the future.

VIDEO: Courtesy of Jewish.tv