Dr. Emily AronoffTot Shabbat is a magical time to bring young children and their grown-ups together to celebrate Shabbat with music, movement, and joy. Songs are the heartbeat of Tot Shabbat, creating moments of connection, fostering Jewish identity, and making rituals accessible to even the youngest participants.
Tot Shabbat is also an incredibly potent opportunity to gather people who are often at a vulnerable time in their lives— navigating the challenges of early parenthood is a critical time for building community and finding connection.
My doctoral research indicates that the impact of Tot Shabbat is profound: it strengthens social bonds, fosters communal belonging, and creates lasting musical memories that connect families to Jewish tradition. I’ve studied how these gatherings use music to build intergenerational community and nurture spirituality. If you’d like to learn more, check out my research here, as well as related articles like Tot Shabbat for Grown-Ups and How We Got to Tot Shabbat.
This curated list highlights 10 Tot Shabbat songs that engage children and families in meaningful and joyful ways. Whether you’re a seasoned songleader or just starting out, these songs will help you create vibrant, spiritually enriching Tot Shabbat experiences.
1) How Good It Is, How Sweet It Is- Hinei Mah Tov
by Emily Aronoff
This zipper song brings the text of Hinei Mah Tov to life with interactive movements and customizable lyrics. Begin with simple movements like clapping or toe-tapping, then invite children to suggest ideas such as spinning or jumping.
How to Use It: Start with actions everyone can easily follow, then ask, “What movement should we do next?” Alternate between high-energy and calming movements to balance the group’s energy. To conclude, use small movements like eye blinking or tip-toeing to prepare to transition.
Transition: OK Friends, it is time to gather together for our Tot Shabbat service! Please find a seat- you can sit on a chair, floor, or lap- find a place for your tushie! We are here to sing, dance, play, and learn together! My name is ______ and I’m SO glad you are here. I’m DELIGHTED to be sharing Shabbat songs with you. (If you have any community norms to share, this is a good spot to communicate them)
I think you might know the next one- if you don’t know it, you will soon! Let’s get ready:
Chant: When I say bim, you say bam!
BIM (BAM) BIM (BAM)
When I say bam, you say bim: BAM (BIM) BAM (BIM)……
<start strumming guitar, sing….>
2) Bim Bam
By Nachum Frankel
This Tot Shabbat classic is a favorite for its repetitive melody and simple words. The familiar rhythm makes it easy for children to join in, either with their fists bumping, adding the lively “Shabbat Shalom HEY!” or waving ‘shabbat shalom’.
Why It’s Great: Bim Bam is simple, joyful, and accessible, helping to focus the group’s attention while setting a celebratory tone for Shabbat.
Transition: Friends, I loved hearing your voices as we shared that song about a Shabbat full of peace! Now, it is time to set some intentions for our Shabbat. Take a moment to think about what kind of Shabbat you want to share. Take a few breaths while you reflect on how you hope to feel or what you wish to do in the next 24 hours. In a moment, then I’ll ask you what you think, and we’ll welcome our blessings, practicing gratitude as we enter Shabbat.
3. Hello Blessing, Bye-Bye Stressing
By Emily Aronoff
Setting intention is a powerful first step of any process. This tune is designed to help make that a part of our sacred Shabbat rituals. calming and reflective song helps children and families release stress and welcome Shabbat blessings. Participants are invited to wave goodbye to their stress and envision the kind of Shabbat they want to create using descriptive words (e.g., “peaceful,” “joyful”).
Why It’s Great: This song fosters mindfulness, gratitude, and intention-setting, helping to shift the group’s energy into a peaceful, Shabbat-ready space.
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How to Use It: Demonstrate the actions of “waving goodbye to stress” and “welcoming blessings” with dramatic gestures. Explain that we will set a goal for ourselves, and ask participants to share words that describe the kind of Shabbat they hope for, like “happy” or “silly” or “calm.”
Transition: I feel lighter already- I let go of some of my stresses- and I’m ready to welcome in Shabbat. Next up, we’ll get a little silly by singing a melody you might know a little differently than usual….
4. God, God, God by Ellen Allard
Works any time, day, or seasons.
This is one of my favorites songs by Ellen Allard, the simplicity encourages engagement while the song deepens connection.
I ask all participants to take out a popinter finger on each hand, and show which parts they use to do each of these things…hear, see, smell, taste, touch, feel, know. Then, I add the song lyrics in rhythm.
Transition: Now that we are aware, looking and feeling and knowing with our whole entire selves….
5) Shabbes Shake
By Jason Mesches
This high-energy song gets everyone moving with shaker eggs and/or dancing feet. Its simple lyrics and catchy beat make it an instant favorite among children, while the use of instruments adds a tactile, sensory element to the experience.
Why It’s Great: Shabbes Shake channels kids’ excitement into structured movement while encouraging rhythm and coordination. It’s also a great way to introduce instruments like shaker eggs.
Transition: For our next song, I’m going to ask everyone to say my most favorite Hebrew word. Jewish people use this word to tell God “Good Job.” The word is ‘Halleluyah!’- Can I get a ‘Halleluyah?’ (group responds with hallelujah…if they don’t get it you can try again). Amazing. In this song, we are going to sing it in a funny way, like this- repeat after me: HA! (ha) LA LE LA! (la le la) LA LE LU! (la le lu) YAH! (yah)
Great! In between turns of singing that together, you’ll follow directions to share this song.
6) Halalalalalaleluyah
Taught by Shira Kline
This is one of my favorite evergreen tunes (evergreen = nonseasonal song that can be shared at any time). This song has an “A” part (Halalalalalalalaleluyah) and a “B” part in which directions are given.
This versatile song blends playful repetition with opportunities for reflection. The elongated “Hallelujah” syllables are engaging for young children, while the actions and prompts invite families to share words of gratitude and praise.
Why It’s Great: This song fosters connection, gratitude, and community while introducing Hebrew in an approachable way. It’s both joyful and reflective, making it a perfect Tot Shabbat addition.
Transition: ‘Hallelujah’ means ‘praise God’- praise is when we say what we like or love about something. I hope you remember to offer praises daily. It is a sacred obligation to recognize and appreciate creation.
7) On My Way to Shul
By Debbie Brukman
This imaginative zipper song takes children on a journey to shul/school (use the word that matches your community(, where they meet different animals along the way. Each animal greets the group with a cheerful “Shabbat Shalom,” adding a playful, interactive element.
Why It’s Great: Puppets, animal sounds, and the repetitive structure make this song captivating for kids while reinforcing the joy of going to shul.
How to Use It: Use a puppet to introduce each animal, and let the children guess its sound. Encourage them to suggest new animals or lead the sounds for added engagement.
Transition: I think it is truly amazing that our one God made this world and loves us so much. Please take a few moments to think about what in this world you love, because we are about to sing a Thank You Song about the things for which we are grateful!
9) Atsor! Hebrew Freeze Dance
By Dr. Emily
This simple song is a behavior management and transition tool in disguise. By establishing leadership through a playful, joyful dynamic, I use this song to ground us in creative connection.
Once we’ve established familiarity with the tune, I change the words to match my needs, keeping the structure of the song, the rhythm an melody and “freeze’ element but changing the words to give directions. We might ‘use our walking feet to go to the back of the sanctuary, get ready to eat challah, when you reach the table, FREEZE”
Transition: Now, we’re at the conclusion of the service and I’d like you to cuddle up with whoever came here with you tonight! Find your grown-ups and snuggle in close, because you are going to be singing this next echo song to each other. Parents and kids each get a turn in this song about blessings. Who wants to go first, parents or kids…? (Decide who is going to go). Great, this is a taking turns song. I’m going to sing a line, and when it is your turn, you will sing it back to the people in your family. OK, kiddos! Sing the words I sing to your grown ups! Let’s get super quiet in the room so we can hear them. Grown ups, you take a listening turn. Once the kiddos go, we’ll switch! Then, we’ll conclude the song in a grand finale, singing blessings to one another….
8) Thank You God
By Shira Kline
This zipprt song of gratitude helps children reflect on the blessings in their lives. The repetitive lyrics make it easy for little ones to join in, while the theme of thankfulness resonates with families.
Why It’s Great: Simple and sweet, Thank You, God encourages mindfulness and gratitude while connecting participants to Jewish tradition. God miraculously made our world, and in my experiences, children are experts at observation and their wonder can be awe-inspiring. We can use all of our parts to experience this wonderful world we share. Now let’s sing a song about our senses and how they help us know God.
Transition: THANK YOU, friends, for creating these musical moments together.
10) Family Blessing Song- Y'varechecha
By Emily Aronoff
Inspired by the Priestly Blessing, this song is a heartfelt way for families to exchange blessings with one another. Its simple structure and sweet melody make it accessible for even the youngest participants.
Why It’s Great: This song fosters sacred, intergenerational moments while teaching children the importance of giving and receiving blessings.
How to Use It: Encourage parents to sing to their children, then invite children to sing blessings back to their grown-ups. End with everyone singing the final verse together for a communal, peaceful close to the session.
Join Songleading for Kiddos for Comprehensive Support
Songleading for Kiddos is my curriculum membership for Jewish educators teaching 0-10 year olds and their grown ups in synagogues, schools, and community centers. Members get a complete teaching system across 21 curriculum units, plus live coaching, an AI Session Planner, and a community of fellow educators that lighten your load and lift your leadership.
Members receive:
- 250 + searchable videos with teaching guides for songs I’ve tried and tested with kiddos
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Conclusion
These Tot Shabbat songs can create joyful, meaningful experiences for young children and their families, fostering connection, spirituality, and a love for Jewish traditions. From playful zipper songs to reflective blessings, these types of melodies are the heartbeat of Tot Shabbat gatherings. If you are a songleading for kiddos and their famililies, you are doing sacred work that has been historically undersupported, and I want to change that.
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