Jewish ‘rock’ music: Maoz Tzur

"Maoz Tzur" (מָעוֹז צוּר) is probably the best-known and most frequently sung of our festive piyyutim. It is an integral and memorable part of our nightly ceremony for lighting the chanukiyah. The words are believed to have been written in the 13th century in the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of the Rhineland valley, in the aftermath of violence from the Crusades and blood libels. 

The author of the lyrics is anonymous, but the original Hebrew text includes an acrostic of the name Mordechai in the first five stanzas (there are six in total, of which the last is a later addition). As for the tune, it is widely believed to be based on a German folk tune or battle song from the 15th or 16th century.

To hear a version of “Maoz Tzur” for women’s voices, arranged by none other than our member Max Stern, click here.