“Light is in the Air”
A Bible Raps Hanukkah Lesson
and Source Packet
Designed by Yael Krieger
Education Director, Bible Raps
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Lesson Plan…………………………………………………….3
Rap Map……………………………………………………….5
Blank Rap Map………………………………………………..6
Rap Lyrics……………………………………………………...7
Sources Used in Rap…………………………………………..8
Fire in TaNaKh Sources………………………………………9
The “How-To” of Bible Rapping…………………………...14
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“Light is in the Air”
A Hannukkah Lesson Plan
Yael Krieger, Bible Raps
This lesson plan is based on using the Bible Rap as a motivational hook into learning about the function
of fire/flame in Torah and Judaism. As Bible Raps works with educators from all sorts of contexts (i.e.
Hebrew Schools, Day Schools, Summer Camps, etc.) and different age groups – this lesson is not directed
to a specific age range and suggests differentiated activities for a variety of settings. Along with the
lesson, we provide the sources so that educators can cut and paste according to their individual needs.
Objectives:
 Students will explore the uses and functions of fire in TaNaKh
 Students will explore the uses and functions of fire in Jewish ritual
 Students will engage in expressing Torah content through the medium of rap/poetry
 Students will analyze the role of fire in the Hanukkah story
Procedure:
 Opening: Chassidic Story
o Use to evoke a discussion of the different functions of fire.
A student once asked his teacher, the Baal Shem Tov, "Why is it that you are constantly travelling from city to city
and village to village, when most Torah scholars stay in their academies and receive students from all over the
world?"
The Baal Shem Tov answered, "My dear, the teachings of Chassidut are like fire, while the teachings of the Talmud
are like water. All those who are thirsty flock to water; however, most people flee from fire. Therefore, I must travel
to my students, and teach them that Chassidut is not a fire that consumes, but one that illuminates and inspires.”

Create a T-Chart on the positive and negative functions that fire has
o
o
Positive: Light, warmth, cooking, ritual/memorial, decoration etc.
Negative: Destruction, harm/pain, etc.

Listen to the Bible Rap “Light is in the Air”

Identify the different ways fire is mentioned in the rap
o

Light, Burning Bush, Revelation, God’s presence, sacrifice, wrath, Judaism, miracle, etc.
Match Torah verses to Rap lyrics
o
For younger students:
o
For older students:



Print out the verses/citations and have them paste it next to the appropriate lyric
Give them the chapter and have them find the appropriate verse
Assign groups of 2 or 3 to a section of text provided on “Fire in TaNaKh” sheet
o
Groups study their section and write a 2 line couplet that expresses the way fire is
functioning in their piece
 Younger students will need more guidance in this process
 “The ‘How To’ of Rapping” sheet included to assist teachers in this
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
Go around to have groups read out their couplet
o

Discuss different ways fire/flame is used in Judaism today
o

By putting together all the couplets, you create a class “Bible Rap” for Hanukkah
Shabbat/Holiday candles, Havdalah Candles, Yertzheit Candles, Hanukkah Candles, Biur
Hametz (burning the hametz before Pesach), “No lighting fire on Shabbat,” Ner Tamid,
etc.
Make 8 flames out of colored paper
o
Assign 8 groups for each flame and each flame represents a different way that fire/flame
is used in Judaism
 Older kids:



Younger kids:



Groups can find on-line articles that are topical with their subject (i.e.
http://haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=candle&itemNo=1130905 –
article about how candles were used to memorialize the Mumbai bombing) –
summarize or paste articles onto flames
Find liturgical passages that represent different usages and use those passages to
decorate the flame
Illustrate the flame to represent the appropriate usage
Go through magazines to find pictures of the different flame usages
Compare students’ Jewish presentation of flame to how it functions in Peter Yarrow’s
song “Light One Candle”
Light one candle for the Maccabee children. Give thanks that their light didn’t die.
Light one candle for the pain they endured when their right to exist was denied.
Light one candle fot the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand.
Light one candle for the wisom to know when the peace-maker’s time is at hand.
Don’t let the light go out: it’s lasted for so many years.
Don’t let the light go out: let it shine through our love and our tears.
Light one candle for the strength that we need to never become our own foe.
Light one candle for those who are suffering the pain we learned so long ago.
Light one candle for all we believe in, let anger not tear us apart.
Light one candle to bind us together, with peace as the song in our heart.
What is the memory that’s valued so highly that we keep it alive in that flame?
What’s the commitment to those who have dies when we cry out they’ve not died in vain?
We have come this far always believing that justice will somehow prevail.
This is the burden and this is the promise and this is why we will not fail.

Using the Hanukkah story as told in the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 21b), have students
answer the following essay question.
o
o
Younger kids: Compare the fire/flame of Hanukkah to the miracle of the burning bush.
What are the similarities? What are the differences?
Older Kids: Based on your analysis of all the different ways fire functions in Torah, what
can we learn from the fact that the “miracle of Hanukkah” takes on the form of fire?
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“Light is in the Air”
Matt Bar, Bible Raps
CHORUS
Light is in the air, more fire, more fire
light is in the air more fire (X4)
Exodus 3:2
2 Kings 1:9-14
1 Kings 19:12
2 Maccabees
1:18-19
BT Shabbat 21b
Uh-oh you lit, now we shall revisit
the burning bush is in your building or perhaps you are forgetting
let's go back to the beginning:
Moses - a bush is burning and there is a voice within it,
and there is a voice within it
Echoed to Sinai, the fire that descended, never-ended
through the desert so the night-time was suspended
and its up on Shlomo's altar, ‘til his temple building ended
to Elijah's fire, grilling with a vengeance
cause the fire inside us that is what the light is
that small still voice and it seems to have gone quiet...
So we traveled on to Babylon, stepped on, we got our gravel on
yet knowing we'd return rebuild a temple to put our cattle on
fire, fire, Ezra led the choir
Nehemia will restore ya and the Torah will ignite ya
CHORUS
Exodus
19:18
Exodus
14:21
Rashi
Deut. 33:2
And then the Greeks came with a unique claim
Humans is so perfect you ain't got no need for The Name
or the flame, just like these days,
everybody is expected to be truly the same
and the tide rose high, but the fire survived
and we tucked it inside, just before the darkest night
yes Rome scattered stars, like the lord was shooting dice –
7 need 11 from heaven to exile...
but in the embers of our teachers, in the torches of our seekers
Moshe's moment could still reach us, learn tradition it can be us
put them candles on our mantles so that all the nations see us
go ahead an spark that match, Hanukah's about to blast
it’s a miracle we lit it, we are back at the beginning
the Burning Bush is in your building and the voice is still within it! (singing)
CHORUS
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“Light is in the Air”
Matt Bar, Bible Raps
CHORUS
Light is in the air, more fire, more fire
light is in the air more fire (X4)
Uh-oh you lit, now we shall revisit
the burning bush is in your building or perhaps you are forgetting
let's go back to the beginning:
Moses - a bush is burning and there is a voice within it,
and there is a voice within it
Echoed to Sinai, the fire that descended, never-ended
through the desert so the night-time was suspended
and its up on Shlomo's altar, ‘til his temple building ended
to Elijah's fire, grilling with a vengeance
cause the fire inside us that is what the light is
that small still voice and it seems to have gone quiet...
So we traveled on to Babylon, stepped on, we got our gravel on
yet knowing we'd return rebuild a temple to put our cattle on
fire, fire, Ezra led the choir
Nehemia will restore ya and the Torah will ignite ya
CHORUS
And then the Greeks came with a unique claim
Humans is so perfect you ain't got no need for The Name
or the flame, just like these days,
everybody is expected to be truly the same
and the tide rose high, but the fire survived
and we tucked it inside, just before the darkest night
yes Rome scattered stars, like the lord was shooting dice –
7 need 11 from heaven to exile...
but in the embers of our teachers, in the torches of our seekers
Moshe's moment could still reach us, learn tradition it can be us
put them candles on our mantles so that all the nations see us
go ahead an spark that match, Hanukah's about to blast
it’s a miracle we lit it, we are back at the beginning
the Burning Bush is in your building and the voice is still within it! (singing)
CHORUS
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“Light is in the Air”
Matt Bar, Bible Raps
CHORUS
Light is in the air, more fire, more fire
light is in the air more fire (X4)
Uh-oh you lit, now we shall revisit
the burning bush is in your building or perhaps you are forgetting
let's go back to the beginning:
Moses - a bush is burning and there is a voice within it,
and there is a voice within it
Echoed to Sinai, the fire that descended, never-ended
through the desert so the night-time was suspended
and its up on Shlomo's altar, ‘til his temple building ended
to Elijah's fire, grilling with a vengeance
cause the fire inside us that is what the light is
that small still voice and it seems to have gone quiet...
So we traveled on to Babylon, stepped on, we got our gravel on
yet knowing we'd return rebuild a temple to put our cattle on
fire, fire, Ezra led the choir
Nehemia will restore ya and the Torah will ignite ya
CHORUS
And then the Greeks came with a unique claim
Humans is so perfect you ain't got no need for The Name
or the flame, just like these days,
everybody is expected to be truly the same
and the tide rose high, but the fire survived
and we tucked it inside, just before the darkest night
yes Rome scattered stars, like the lord was shooting dice –
7 need 11 from heaven to exile...
but in the embers of our teachers, in the torches of our seekers
Moshe's moment could still reach us, learn tradition it can be us
put them candles on our mantles so that all the nations see us
go ahead an spark that match, Hanukah's about to blast
it’s a miracle we lit it, we are back at the beginning
the Burning Bush is in your building and the voice is still within it! (singing)
CHORUS
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Sources that are Referred to in the Rap
Exodus 3:1-2
‫כּ ֵֹהן‬--‫צֹאן יִ ְתרוֹ ח ְֹתנוֹ‬-‫ ָהיָה ר ֶֹעה ֶאת‬,‫ א וּמ ֶֹשׁה‬1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law,
-‫ ַו ָיּבֹא ֶאל‬,‫אַחר ַה ִמּ ְד ָבּר‬
ַ ‫ ַהצֹּאן‬-‫ ִמ ְדיָן; וַיִּ נְ ַהג ֶאת‬the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the farthest end of
.‫ ַהר ָה ֱאל ִֹהים ח ֵֹר ָבה‬the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb.
‫תּוֹך‬
ְ ‫ ִמ‬--‫ ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ְבּ ַל ַבּת‬,‫אַך יְ הוָה ֵא ָליו‬
ְ ‫ֵרא ַמ ְל‬
ָ ‫ ב ַויּ‬2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of
,‫ וְ ַה ְסּנֶה‬,‫ וְ ִהנֵּה ַה ְסּנֶה בּ ֵֹער ָבּ ֵאשׁ‬,‫ַרא‬
ְ ‫ ַה ְסּנֶה; ַויּ‬fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the
.‫ ֵאינֶנּוּ ֻא ָכּל‬bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
Exodus 13:21-22
,‫יוֹמם ְבּ ַעמּוּד ָענָן‬
ָ ‫ֵיהם‬
ֶ ‫ כא וַיהוָה ה ֵֹל ְך ִל ְפנ‬21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud,
--‫ ְל ָה ִאיר ָל ֶהם‬,‫ וְ ַליְ ָלה ְבּ ַעמּוּד ֵאשׁ‬,‫ ַלנְ ח ָֹתם ַה ֶדּ ֶר ְך‬to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give
.‫ָליְ ָלה‬
ָ ‫יוֹמם ו‬
ָ ,‫ ָל ֶל ֶכת‬them light; that they might go by day and by night:
,‫ וְ ַעמּוּד ָה ֵאשׁ‬,‫יוֹמם‬
ָ ,‫ָמישׁ ַעמּוּד ֶה ָענָן‬
ִ ‫י‬-‫ כב לֹא‬22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night,
{‫ }פ‬.‫ ָה ָעם‬,‫ ִל ְפנֵי‬--‫ ָליְ ָלה‬departed not from before the people. {P}
Exodus 19:18
,‫ָרד ָע ָליו יְ הוָה‬
ַ ‫ ִמ ְפּנֵי ֲא ֶשׁר י‬,‫ ָע ַשׁן כֻּלּוֹ‬,‫ יח וְ ַהר ִסינַי‬18 Now mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the
.‫ ָה ָהר ְמאֹד‬-‫ֶח ַרד ָכּל‬
ֱ ‫ ַויּ‬,‫ֲשׁנוֹ ְכּ ֶע ֶשׁן ַה ִכּ ְב ָשׁן‬
ָ ‫ַעל ע‬
ַ ‫ ָבּ ֵאשׁ; ַויּ‬LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof
ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount
quaked greatly.
Deuteronomy 33: 1-2
--‫ ֲא ֶשׁר ֵבּ ַר ְך מ ֶֹשׁה ִאישׁ ָה ֱאל ִֹהים‬,‫א וְ זֹאת ַה ְבּ ָר ָכה‬
.‫ מוֹתוֹ‬,‫ ִל ְפנֵי‬:‫ ְבּנֵי יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‬-‫ֶאת‬
‫יע‬
ַ ‫הוֹפ‬
ִ --‫ָרח ִמ ֵשּׂ ִעיר ָלמוֹ‬
ַ ‫ יְ הוָה ִמ ִסּינַי ָבּא וְ ז‬,‫ֹאמר‬
ַ ‫ב ַויּ‬
ִ ‫וְאָתה ֵמ ִר ְבבֹת ק ֶֹדשׁ; ִמ‬
ָ ,‫ארן‬
ָ ‫ֵמ ַהר ָפּ‬
‫ אשדת ) ֵאשׁ‬,‫ימינוֹ‬
.‫ָדּת( ָלמוֹ‬
,‫ָד ָך; וְ ֵהם ֻתּכּוּ ְל ַר ְג ֶל ָך‬
ֶ ‫ ְקד ָֹשׁיו ְבּי‬-‫ ָכּל‬,‫ג אַף ח ֵֹבב ַע ִמּים‬
.‫יך‬
ָ ‫יִ ָשּׂא ִמ ַדּ ְבּר ֶֹת‬
1 And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God
blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 And he said: The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir
unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and He came
from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law unto
them.
3 Yea, He loveth the peoples, all His holy ones--they are in Thy
hand; and they sit down at Thy feet, receiving of Thy words.
Rashi Deuteronomy 33:2
A fiery law for them: It was originally written before
God in black fire upon white fire. He gave it to them on
tablets, inscribed, by His right hand. Another
explanation of ‫ אֵשׁ דָּת‬: As the Targum renders it, that He
gave it to them from amidst the fire
‫ שהיתה כתובה מאז לפניו באש שחורה על גב אש‬:‫אש דת‬
‫ דבר אחר אש דת‬.‫ נתן להם בלוחות כתב יד ימינו‬,‫לבנה‬
:‫ שנתנה להם מתוך האש‬,‫כתרגומו‬
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I Kings 19:11-12
‫ וְ ִהנֵּה יְ הוָה‬,‫ ֵצא וְ ָע ַמ ְד ָתּ ָב ָהר ִל ְפנֵי יְ הוָה‬,‫ֹאמר‬
ֶ ‫יא ַויּ‬
‫וּמ ַשׁ ֵבּר ְס ָל ִעים‬
ְ ‫דוֹלה וְ ָחזָק ְמ ָפ ֵרק ָה ִרים‬
ָ ‫רוּח ְגּ‬
ַ ְ‫ע ֵֹבר ו‬
ַ ‫וְאַחר ָה‬
ַ ;‫רוּח יְ הוָה‬
ַ ‫ לֹא ָב‬,‫ִל ְפנֵי יְהוָה‬
‫ לֹא‬,‫רוּח ַר ַעשׁ‬
.‫ָב ַר ַעשׁ יְ הוָה‬
11 And He said: 'Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the
LORD.' And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and
strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks
before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind; and after
the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the
earthquake;
,‫אַחר ָה ֵאשׁ‬
ַ ְ‫ לֹא ָב ֵאשׁ יְ הוָה; ו‬,‫אַחר ָה ַר ַעשׁ ֵאשׁ‬
ַ ְ‫ יב ו‬12 and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the
.‫ קוֹל ְדּ ָמ ָמה ַד ָקּה‬fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
II Kings 1:9-14
,‫ַעל ֵא ָליו‬
ַ ‫ַח ִמ ָשּׁיו; ַויּ‬
ֲ ‫ ו‬,‫ ֲח ִמ ִשּׁים‬-‫ ט וַיִּ ְשׁ ַלח ֵא ָליו ַשׂר‬9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty.
‫ ִאישׁ‬,‫ וַיְ ַד ֵבּר ֵא ָליו‬,‫רֹאשׁ ָה ָהר‬-‫ וְ ִהנֵּה י ֵֹשׁב ַעל‬And he went up to him; and, behold, he sat on the top of the
.‫ ָה ֱאל ִֹהים ַה ֶמּ ֶל ְך ִדּ ֶבּר ֵר ָדה‬hill. And he spoke unto him: 'O man of God, the king hath said:
Come down.'
-‫ וְ ִאם‬,‫ ַשׂר ַה ֲח ִמ ִשּׁים‬-‫ וַיְ ַד ֵבּר ֶאל‬,‫י ַו ַיּ ֲענֶה ֵא ִליָּהוּ‬
‫ֹאכל‬
ַ ‫ ַה ָשּׁ ַמיִ ם וְ ת‬-‫ ֵתּ ֶרד ֵאשׁ ִמן‬,‫ִאישׁ ֱאל ִֹהים אָנִ י‬
,‫ ַה ָשּׁ ַמיִ ם‬-‫ַתּ ֶרד ֵאשׁ ִמן‬
ֵ ‫יך; ו‬
ָ ‫ ֲח ִמ ֶשּׁ‬-‫א ְֹת ָך וְ ֶאת‬
.‫ ֲח ִמ ָשּׁיו‬-‫אכל אֹתוֹ וְ ֶאת‬
ַ ֹ‫ַותּ‬
10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty: 'If I be
a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume
thee and thy fifty.' And there came down fire from heaven, and
consumed him and his fifty.
2 Maccabees 1:18-19
18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of
the month Kislev, we thought it necessary to certify you, that you also might keep it, as the feast of the tabernacles,
and of the fire, which was given us when Nehemia offered sacrifice, after he had built the temple and the altar.
19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privately, and
hid it in a hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.
BT Shabbat 21b
‫מאי חנוכה‬
What is 'Hanukah?
The rabbis taught:
"On the twenty-fifth day of Kislev Hanukah commences
and lasts eight days, on which lamenting and fasting are
prohibited. When the Hellenists entered the sanctuary,
they defiled all the oil that was found there. When the
government of the House of Hasmoneans prevailed and
conquered them, oil was sought (to feed the holy lamp in
the sanctuary) and only one vial was found with the seal
of the high priest intact. The vial contained sufficient oil
for one day only, but a miracle occurred, and it fed the
holy lamp eight days in succession.
‫דתנו רבנן‬
‫בכ"ה בכסליו יומי דחנוכה תמניא אינון דלא למספד בהון‬
‫ודלא להתענות בהון שכשנכנסו יוונים להיכל טמאו כל‬
‫השמנים שבהיכל וכשגברה מלכות בית חשמונאי ונצחום‬
‫בדקו ולא מצאו אלא פך אחד של שמן שהיה מונח בחותמו‬
‫של כהן גדול ולא היה בו אלא להדליק יום אחד נעשה בו‬
‫נס והדליקו ממנו שמונה ימים‬
‫לשנה אחרת קבעום ועשאום ימים טובים בהלל והודאה‬
These eight days were the following year established as
days of good cheer, on which psalms of praise and
acknowledgment (of God's wonders) were to be recited.
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Fire in TaNaKh
Sources copied from www.mechon-mamre.org
1) Fire as Destruction
Gen 19:24
‫ָפ ִרית‬
ְ ‫גּ‬--‫ ֲעמ ָֹרה‬-‫ ְסדֹם וְ ַעל‬-‫ ִה ְמ ִטיר ַעל‬,‫ כד וַיהוָה‬24 Then the LORD caused to rain upon Sodom and upon
.‫ ַה ָשּׁ ָמיִ ם‬-‫ ִמן‬,‫ ֵמ ֵאת יְ הוָה‬:‫ָאשׁ‬
ֵ ‫ ו‬Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
2) Fire as Sacrifice
Leviticus 1:7-9
;‫ ַה ִמּ ְז ֵבּ ַח‬-‫ ֵאשׁ— ַעל‬,‫אַהרֹן ַהכּ ֵֹהן‬
ֲ ‫ָתנוּ ְבּנֵי‬
ְ ‫ ז וְ נ‬7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar,
.‫ ָה ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫ וְ ָע ְרכוּ ֵע ִצים‬and lay wood in order upon the fire.
-‫ ֶאת‬,‫ ֵאת ַהנְּ ָת ִחים‬,‫ֹהנִ ים‬
ֲ ‫אַהרֹן ַהכּ‬
ֲ ‫ ְבּנֵי‬,‫ ח וְ ָע ְרכוּ‬8 And Aaron's sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, and the
,‫ ָה ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ָה ֵע ִצים ֲא ֶשׁר ַעל‬-‫ ַעל‬--‫ ַה ָפּ ֶדר‬-‫ ָהרֹאשׁ וְ ֶאת‬head, and the suet, in order upon the wood that is on the fire
.‫ ַה ִמּ ְז ֵבּ ַח‬-‫ ֲא ֶשׁר ַעל‬which is upon the altar;
‫ יִ ְר ַחץ ַבּ ָמּיִ ם; וְ ִה ְק ִטיר ַהכּ ֵֹהן‬,‫וּכ ָר ָעיו‬
ְ ‫ ט וְ ִק ְרבּוֹ‬9 but its inwards and its legs shall he wash with water; and the
‫יחוֹח‬
ַ ִ‫נ‬-‫יח‬
ַ ‫ ע ָֹלה ִא ֵשּׁה ֵר‬,‫ ַהכֹּל ַה ִמּ ְז ֵבּ ָחה‬-‫ ֶאת‬priest shall make the whole smoke on the altar, for a burnt{‫ }ס‬.‫ ַליהוָה‬offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the
LORD. {S}
3) Fire as Miracle
Exodus 9: 22-24
-‫ָד ָך ַעל‬
ְ ‫י‬-‫ נְ ֵטה ֶאת‬,‫מ ֶֹשׁה‬-‫ֹאמר יְ הוָה ֶאל‬
ֶ ‫ כב ַויּ‬22 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch forth thy hand
‫אָדם‬
ָ ‫ ָה‬-‫ ַעל‬:‫ ֶא ֶרץ ִמ ְצ ָריִ ם‬-‫ ְבּ ָכל‬,‫יהי ָב ָרד‬
ִ ִ‫ ו‬,‫ ַה ָשּׁ ַמיִ ם‬toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt,
.‫ ְבּ ֶא ֶרץ ִמ ְצ ָריִ ם‬--‫ ֵע ֶשׂב ַה ָשּׂ ֶדה‬-‫ וְ ַעל ָכּל‬,‫ ַה ְבּ ֵה ָמה‬-‫ וְ ַעל‬upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field,
throughout the land of Egypt.'
‫ָתן‬
ַ ‫ וַיהוָה נ‬,‫ ַה ָשּׁ ַמיִ ם‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫ ַמ ֵטּהוּ‬-‫ כג ַויֵּט מ ֶֹשׁה ֶאת‬23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the
‫ַמ ֵטר יְ הוָה‬
ְ ‫אָר ָצה; ַויּ‬
ְ ‫ַתּ ֲה ַל ְך ֵאשׁ‬
ִ ‫ ו‬,‫וּב ָרד‬
ָ ‫ קֹלֹת‬LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth;
.‫ ֶא ֶרץ ִמ ְצ ָריִ ם‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫ ָבּ ָרד‬and the LORD caused to hail upon the land of Egypt.
:‫תוֹך ַה ָבּ ָרד‬
ְ ‫ ִמ ְת ַל ַקּ ַחת ְבּ‬,‫וְ ֵאשׁ‬--‫ כד וַיְ ִהי ָב ָרד‬24 So there was hail, and fire flashing up amidst the hail, very
‫ ֶא ֶרץ‬-‫ ָהיָה ָכמֹהוּ ְבּ ָכל‬-‫ ֲא ֶשׁר לֹא‬--‫ ָכּ ֵבד ְמאֹד‬grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it
.‫ ֵמאָז ָהיְ ָתה ְלגוֹי‬,‫ ִמ ְצ ַריִ ם‬became a nation.
2 Kings 2: 11-12
-‫ וְ ִהנֵּה ֶר ֶכב‬,‫לוֹך וְ ַד ֵבּר‬
ְ ‫ ֵה ָמּה ה ְֹל ִכים ָה‬,‫ יא וַיְ ִהי‬11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that,
,‫ ֵא ִליָּהוּ‬,‫ַעל‬
ַ ‫ֵיהם; ַויּ‬
ֶ ‫ַפ ִרדוּ ֵבּין ְשׁנ‬
ְ ‫ ַויּ‬,‫סוּסי ֵאשׁ‬
ֵ ְ‫ ֵאשׁ ו‬behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire,
.‫ ַה ָשּׁ ָמיִ ם‬,‫ ַבּ ְס ָע ָרה‬which parted them both assunder; and Elijah went up by a
whirlwind into heaven.
‫אָבי ֶר ֶכב‬
ִ ‫אָבי‬
ִ ‫ וְ הוּא ְמ ַצ ֵעק‬,‫ישׁע ר ֶֹאה‬
ָ ‫ֶא ִל‬
ֱ ‫ יב ו‬12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried: 'My father, my father, the
,‫ָדיו‬
ָ ‫ ִבּ ְבג‬,‫ַחזֵק‬
ֲ ‫ עוֹד; ַויּ‬,‫ וְ לֹא ָראָהוּ‬,‫וּפ ָר ָשׁיו‬
ָ ‫ יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‬chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!' And he saw him no
.‫ ִל ְשׁנַיִ ם ְק ָר ִעים‬,‫ וַיִּ ְק ָר ֵעם‬more; and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two
pieces.
;‫ָפ ָלה ֵמ ָע ָליו‬
ְ ‫ ֲא ֶשׁר נ‬,‫אַדּ ֶרת ֵא ִליָּהוּ‬
ֶ -‫ָרם ֶאת‬
ֶ ‫ יג ַויּ‬13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and
.‫ַר ֵדּן‬
ְ ‫ ְשׂ ַפת ַהיּ‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫ָשׁב ַו ַיּ ֲעמֹד‬
ָ ‫ ַויּ‬went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
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4) Fire as Ritual
Exodus 12:7-12
-‫ וְ ַעל‬,‫ ְשׁ ֵתּי ַה ְמּזוּזֹת‬-‫ָתנוּ ַעל‬
ְ ‫ וְ נ‬,‫ ַה ָדּם‬-‫ ִמן‬,‫ ז וְ ָל ְקחוּ‬7 And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side.‫ ָבּ ֶהם‬,‫ֹאכלוּ אֹתוֹ‬
ְ ‫י‬-‫ ֲא ֶשׁר‬,‫ ַה ָבּ ִתּים‬,‫ ַעל‬--‫ ַה ַמּ ְשׁקוֹף‬posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it.
‫ ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ְצ ִלי‬:‫ ַבּ ַלּיְ ָלה ַהזֶּה‬,‫ ַה ָבּ ָשׂר‬-‫אָכלוּ ֶאת‬
ְ ְ‫ ח ו‬8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and
.‫ֹאכלֻהוּ‬
ְ ‫ ְמר ִֹרים י‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫וּמצּוֹת‬
ַ unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
‫ ִכּי‬:‫ֻשּׁל ַבּ ָמּיִ ם‬
ָ ‫וּב ֵשׁל ְמב‬
ָ ,‫ֹאכלוּ ִמ ֶמּנּוּ נָא‬
ְ ‫תּ‬-‫ ט אַל‬9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with
.‫ ִק ְרבּוֹ‬-‫ ְכּ ָר ָעיו וְ ַעל‬-‫ רֹאשׁוֹ ַעל‬,‫ ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ְצ ִלי‬-‫ ִאם‬fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof.
‫בּ ֶֹקר; וְ ַהנּ ָֹתר ִמ ֶמּנּוּ‬-‫ ַעד‬,‫תוֹתירוּ ִמ ֶמּנּוּ‬
ִ -‫ י וְ לֹא‬10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but
.‫ ָבּ ֵאשׁ ִתּ ְשׂרֹפוּ‬,‫בּ ֶֹקר‬-‫ ַעד‬that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with
fire.
Leviticus 6: 5-6
‫וּב ֵער‬
ִ ,‫בּוֹ לֹא ִת ְכ ֶבּה‬-‫תּוּקד‬
ַ ‫ ַה ִמּ ְז ֵבּ ַח‬-‫ ה וְ ָה ֵאשׁ ַעל‬5 And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereby, it
‫יה‬
ָ ‫יה ַהכּ ֵֹהן ֵע ִצים ַבּבּ ֶֹקר ַבּבּ ֶֹקר; וְ ָע ַר ְך ָע ֶל‬
ָ ‫ ָע ֶל‬shall not go out; and the priest shall kindle wood on it every
.‫יה ֶח ְל ֵבי ַה ְשּׁ ָל ִמים‬
ָ ‫ וְ ִה ְק ִטיר ָע ֶל‬,‫ ָהע ָֹלה‬morning; and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it,
and shall make smoke thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.
{‫ }ס‬.‫לֹא ִת ְכ ֶבּה‬--‫ ַה ִמּ ְז ֵבּ ַח‬-‫תּוּקד ַעל‬
ַ ‫ ָתּ ִמיד‬,‫ ו ֵאשׁ‬6 Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall
not go out. {S}
5) Fire as Prohibition
Exodus 35:1-3
--‫ֲדת ְבּנֵי יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‬
ַ ‫ע‬-‫ ָכּל‬-‫ ֶאת‬,‫ַק ֵהל מ ֶֹשׁה‬
ְ ‫ א ַויּ‬1 And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of
,‫ ִצוָּה יְ הוָה‬-‫ ֲא ֶשׁר‬,‫ ַה ְדּ ָב ִרים‬,‫ ֵא ֶלּה‬:‫ֹאמר ֲא ֵל ֶהם‬
ֶ ‫ ַויּ‬Israel, and said unto them: 'These are the words which the
.‫ ַל ֲעשֹׂת א ָֹתם‬LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.
‫יעי‬
ִ ‫וּביּוֹם ַה ְשּׁ ִב‬
ַ ,‫אכה‬
ָ ‫ ֵתּ ָע ֶשׂה ְמ ָל‬,‫ָמים‬
ִ ‫ ב ֵשׁ ֶשׁת י‬2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there
‫ ָהע ֶֹשׂה‬-‫ ַליהוָה; ָכּל‬,‫ יִ ְהיֶה ָל ֶכם ק ֶֹדשׁ ַשׁ ַבּת ַשׁ ָבּתוֹן‬shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest to the
.‫יוּמת‬
ָ ,‫אכה‬
ָ ‫ בוֹ ְמ ָל‬LORD; whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.
,‫ ְבּיוֹם‬,‫יכם‬
ֶ ‫ ְבּכֹל מ ְֹשׁב ֵֹת‬,‫ ְת ַבעֲרוּ ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ג לֹא‬3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the
{‫ }פ‬.‫ ַה ַשּׁ ָבּת‬sabbath day.' {P}
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6) Fire as Punishment
Numbers 3:4
‫ַא ִביהוּא ִל ְפנֵי יְ הוָה ְבּ ַה ְק ִר ָבם ֵאשׁ‬
ֲ ‫ָדב ו‬
ָ ‫ָמת נ‬
ָ ‫ד ַויּ‬
‫ ָהיוּ‬-‫ לֹא‬,‫וּבנִ ים‬
ָ ,‫ ְבּ ִמ ְד ַבּר ִסינַי‬,‫ָרה ִל ְפנֵי יְ הוָה‬
ָ‫ז‬
‫אַהרֹן‬
ֲ ‫ ְפּנֵי‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫ית ָמר‬
ָ ‫ָל ֶהם; וַיְ ַכ ֵהן ֶא ְל ָעזָר וְ ִא‬
{‫ }פ‬.‫יהם‬
ֶ ‫ֲא ִב‬
4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they
offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of
Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar
ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their
father. {P}
Lev 9:23-24-10:1-2
,‫ֵצאוּ‬
ְ ‫ ַויּ‬,‫מוֹעד‬
ֵ ‫א ֶֹהל‬-‫ ֶאל‬,‫אַהרֹן‬
ֲ ְ‫ כג ַו ָיּבֹא מ ֶֹשׁה ו‬23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and
.‫ ָה ָעם‬-‫ ָכּל‬-‫ ֶאל‬,‫יְ הוָה‬-‫ֵרא ְכבוֹד‬
ָ ‫ ָה ָעם; ַויּ‬-‫ וַיְ ָב ְרכוּ ֶאת‬came out, and blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD
appeared unto all the people.
,‫ ַה ִמּ ְז ֵבּ ַח‬-‫ֹאכל ַעל‬
ַ ‫ ַותּ‬,‫ ִמ ִלּ ְפנֵי יְ הוָה‬,‫ַתּ ֵצא ֵאשׁ‬
ֵ ‫ כד ו‬24 And there came forth fire from before the LORD, and
,‫ ָה ָעם ַו ָיּרֹנּוּ‬-‫ַרא ָכּל‬
ְ ‫ ַה ֲח ָל ִבים; ַויּ‬-‫ ָהע ָֹלה וְ ֶאת‬-‫ ֶאת‬consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat; and
.‫ֵיהם‬
ֶ ‫ ְפּנ‬-‫ וַיִּ ְפּלוּ ַעל‬when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
,‫ַא ִביהוּא ִאישׁ ַמ ְח ָתּתוֹ‬
ֲ ‫ָדב ו‬
ָ ‫אַהרֹן נ‬
ֲ -‫ א וַיִּ ְקחוּ ְבנֵי‬1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them
‫ַק ִריבוּ‬
ְ ‫ ְקט ֶֹרת; ַויּ‬,‫יה‬
ָ ‫ָשׂימוּ ָע ֶל‬
ִ ‫ ַויּ‬,‫ וַיִּ ְתּנוּ ָב ֵהן ֵאשׁ‬his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and
.‫ א ָֹתם‬,‫ ֲא ֶשׁר לֹא ִצוָּה‬--‫ָרה‬
ָ ‫ ֵאשׁ ז‬,‫ ִל ְפנֵי יְ הוָה‬offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not
commanded them.
,‫ָמתוּ‬
ֻ ‫אוֹתם; ַויּ‬
ָ ‫ֹאכל‬
ַ ‫ ַותּ‬,‫ַתּ ֵצא ֵאשׁ ִמ ִלּ ְפנֵי יְ הוָה‬
ֵ ‫ ב ו‬2 And there came forth fire from before the LORD, and
.‫ ִל ְפנֵי יְ הוָה‬devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
7) Fire as Protection
Zachariah 2:7-9
,‫אַחר‬
ֵ ‫אָך‬
ְ ‫וּמ ְל‬
ַ ;‫י ֵֹצא‬--‫אָך ַהדּ ֵֹבר ִבּי‬
ְ ‫ ַה ַמּ ְל‬,‫ ז וְ ִהנֵּה‬7 And, behold, the angel that spoke with me went forth, and
.‫ י ֵֹצא ִל ְק ָראתוֹ‬another angel went out to meet him,
:‫ ֵלאמֹר‬,‫ַער ַה ָלּז‬
ַ ‫ ַהנּ‬-‫רֻץ ַדּ ֵבּר ֶאל‬--‫ֹאמר ֵא ָלו‬
ֶ ‫ ח ַויּ‬8 and said unto him: 'Run, speak to this young man, saying:
.‫תוֹכהּ‬
ָ ‫וּב ֵה ָמה ְבּ‬
ְ ‫אָדם‬
ָ ‫ ֵמרֹב‬,‫רוּשׁ ַלִם‬
ָ ְ‫' ְפּ ָרזוֹת ֵתּ ֵשׁב י‬Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls for the multitude of
men and cattle therein.
;‫חוֹמת ֵאשׁ ָס ִביב‬
ַ ,‫יְ הוָה‬-‫ ָלּהּ נְ ֻאם‬-‫ַאנִ י ֶא ְהיֶה‬
ֲ ‫ ט ו‬9 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round
{‫ }פ‬.‫תוֹכהּ‬
ָ ‫ ֶא ְהיֶה ְב‬,‫וּל ָכבוֹד‬
ְ about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her. {P}
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8) Fire as God’s Anger
Numbers 11:1-3
‫אָזנֵי יְ הוָה; וַיִּ ְשׁ ַמע‬
ְ ‫ ַרע ְבּ‬,‫ א וַיְ ִהי ָה ָעם ְכּ ִמ ְתאֹנְ נִ ים‬1 And the people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears
‫ֹאכל‬
ַ ‫ ַותּ‬,‫ ָבּם ֵאשׁ יְ הוָה‬-‫ַתּ ְב ַער‬
ִ ‫ ו‬,‫ וַיִּ ַחר אַפּוֹ‬,‫ יְ הוָה‬of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was
.‫ ִבּ ְק ֵצה ַה ַמּ ֲחנֶה‬kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and
devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.
-‫מ ֶֹשׁה; וַיִּ ְת ַפּ ֵלּל מ ֶֹשׁה ֶאל‬-‫ ֶאל‬,‫ ב וַיִּ ְצ ַעק ָה ָעם‬2 And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto the
.‫ַתּ ְשׁ ַקע ָה ֵאשׁ‬
ִ ‫ ו‬,‫ יְ הוָה‬LORD, and the fire abated.
‫ֲרה‬
ָ ‫ ָבע‬-‫ ִכּי‬:‫ ַתּ ְב ֵע ָרה‬,‫ ַה ָמּקוֹם ַההוּא‬-‫ ג וַיִּ ְק ָרא ֵשׁם‬3 And the name of that place was called Taberah, because the
.‫ ֵאשׁ יְ הוָה‬,‫ ָבם‬fire of the LORD burnt among them.
Numbers 16:32-35
-‫ַתּ ְב ַלע א ָֹתם וְ ֶאת‬
ִ ‫ ו‬,‫יה‬
ָ ‫ ִפּ‬-‫אָרץ ֶאת‬
ֶ ‫ַתּ ְפ ַתּח ָה‬
ִ ‫ לב ו‬32 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up,
-‫ וְ ֵאת ָכּל‬,‫אָדם ֲא ֶשׁר ְלק ַֹרח‬
ָ ‫ ָה‬-‫ וְ ֵאת ָכּל‬,‫יהם‬
ֶ ‫ ָבּ ֵתּ‬and their households, and all the men that appertained unto
.‫ ָה ְרכוּשׁ‬Korah, and all their goods.
;‫ ְשׁא ָֹלה‬--‫ ַחיִּ ים‬,‫ ֲא ֶשׁר ָל ֶהם‬-‫ֵרדוּ ֵהם וְ ָכל‬
ְ ‫ לג ַויּ‬33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive
.‫תּוֹך ַה ָקּ ָהל‬
ְ ‫ֹאבדוּ ִמ‬
ְ ‫ ַויּ‬,‫אָרץ‬
ֶ ‫יהם ָה‬
ֶ ‫ֲל‬
ֵ ‫ַתּ ַכס ע‬
ְ ‫ ו‬into the pit; and the earth closed upon them, and they perished
from among the assembly.
:‫נָסוּ ְלק ָֹלם‬--‫יהם‬
ֶ ‫ ֲא ֶשׁר ְס ִביב ֵֹת‬,‫יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‬-‫ לד וְ ָכל‬34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of
.‫אָרץ‬
ֶ ‫ ִתּ ְב ָל ֵענוּ ָה‬-‫ ֶפּן‬,‫אָמרוּ‬
ְ ‫ ִכּי‬them; for they said: 'Lest the earth swallow us up.'
‫ ֵאת‬,‫ֹאכל‬
ַ ‫ ֵמ ֵאת יְ הוָה; ַותּ‬,‫ָצאָה‬
ְ ‫ לה וְ ֵאשׁ י‬35 And fire came forth from the LORD, and devoured the two
{‫ }ס‬.‫ ַה ְקּט ֶֹרת‬,‫יבי‬
ֵ ‫ ַמ ְק ִר‬,‫אתיִ ם ִאישׁ‬
ַ ‫וּמ‬
ָ ‫ ַה ֲח ִמ ִשּׁים‬hundred and fifty men that offered the incense. {S}
9) Fire as God’s Presence
Psalm 29:7
.‫יְ הוָה ח ֵֹצב; ַל ֲהבוֹת ֵאשׁ‬-‫ ז קוֹל‬7 The voice of the LORD heweth out flames of fire.
Pslam 104:4-5
.‫ ֵאשׁ ל ֵֹהט‬,‫אָכיו רוּחוֹת; ְמ ָשׁ ְר ָתיו‬
ָ ‫ ד ע ֶֹשׂה ַמ ְל‬4 Who makest winds Thy messengers, the flaming fire Thy
ministers.
‫עוֹלם‬
ָ ,‫ ִתּמּוֹט‬-‫ֶיה; ַבּל‬
ָ ‫ ְמכוֹנ‬-‫ ַעל‬,‫ ֶא ֶרץ‬-‫ָסד‬
ַ ‫ ה י‬5 Who didst establish the earth upon its foundations, that it
.‫ָעד‬
ֶ ‫ ו‬should not be moved for ever and ever;
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The “How-To” of Bible Rapping
The DNA of a Rap
The basic structure of a rap is that it goes to a four count. This is what rappers call a “bar.”
A bar is one line of “one – two – three – four” say slowly and rhythmically out loud what is in the quotes
Within this bar one finds the rhyme scheme, which happens on the four-count. Say slowly and
rhythmically out loud the following:
“one- two-three-four
one-two-three-door”

Clap your hands with the four count (slowly and rhythmically) as you say the example from
“David vs. Goliath” below to the beat. Take note how the four counts rhyme. Notice that they
don't have to rhyme perfect only approximately to get the sound right for the listener.
1 --------2-----3-------4
I am goliath I am a beast
----------------1-----------2-------------3------------4
Send somebody to the field so the birds can feast
-----------------1-------------2-----------------3----------4
Send some body to the field they come up to my knees
1--------2-------------3-----------------4
9 feet tall with a spear that can reach

By increasing the number of rhyming syllables, the rap gains more dynamics
Two syllable: (Example from “Exodus CH. 5”)
Moses and aaron, who you think you're scarin’
I created the Nile so it should be apparent
I'm a crocodile and your god is sparrow
thus said hashem, no thus said pharaoh
Three syllable: (Example from “Purim Rap”)
Haman what’s with the attitude
I don't know why you're trying to get us so mad at you
Mic check one two, venahafochu,
You tried to make us cry so we laugh at you
Four syllable: (Example from “Noah”)
...just some high pitched screams like a shoalin shouting
the waves all around they will be pounding the ground in
two by i got the animals surroundin’ abscoundin’
up to the top of the yacht and then around in and down in

You can even add internal rhymes to the lines to add some flare.
Internal rhymes: (Example from “Purim Rap” and “David vs. Goliath,” respectively)
My name is, haman, i ain't playin', you should cower to see
The other side, of the tide, when i'm chillin on the beach
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