Hanukkah Videos

True Film Production loves the holiday season. From comedic classic films to inspiring holiday advertisements, we can’t get enough holiday video. To celebrate Hanukkah this year, we’ve picked eight Hanukkah videos for the eight nights of candlelight. We’ve included six of our favorite online videos, one TV episode, and one movie that are an absolute must-see for celebrating and learning about this tradition.

 

1. Candlelight by The Maccabeats

 

The Maccabeats are a Jewish a cappella group that make being Jewish a blast of fun and music. They’ve covered songs from Hamilton to Les Miserables and beyond. This is one of their more popular videos with over 13 million views on YouTube. This music video teaches the history of Hanukkah to the tune of Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite”. They tell a “tale” using comedic visuals mixed with fun and exciting audio to create a captivating video that’s perfect for everyone.

 

 

2. JB Smoove Questions

 

This video uses celebrity JB Smoove to create a comedic “introduction” to this Jewish holiday. They connect JB Smoove with his friend Larry David, who often talks about his Jewish upbringing in his comedy. This is not only a hilarious video, but it spreads information about Hanukkah to people who may have similar questions.

 

 

3. JDate “Chinese Food On Christmas”

 

Brandon Walker found major success with his fun and relatable song, “Chinese Food on Christmas.” JDate, a Jewish dating site, adopted this song for their personal branding. Using this video shows the fun side of JDate, while also helping Jewish daters connect over similar holiday experiences—and a few laughs as well.

 

 

4. Chanukah vs Christmas (Mac vs PC parody)

 

Most people know the Mac vs PC advertisements; one man represents Mac and another represents PC, and they have a conversation about all their features. This video plays on that branded marketing awareness, creating a funny “advertisement” for Hanukkah. We love how this video shows the differences between the two traditions and religions, while also demonstrating how they can come together during the holiday season.

 

 

5. Latke Recipe by The Maccabeats

 

Here we have another song by the Maccabeats, sung to the tune of “Shut Up and Dance.” They again provide information and value through an intriguing narrative—and a latke recipe. They make it personal by inviting us into their kitchen to cook (and dance) with them.

 

 

6. Hanukkah Song Mashup by Key Tov Orchestra

 

Set along a New York backdrop, this is a “broadcast” of an event performed in NYC by the Key Tov Orchestra. They use quality “live” videography, showing the singers, dancers, and onlookers to make you feel like you’re right there in the action. This mash-up unites different cultural and pop songs in the spirit of Hanukkah; the video, in the same light, shows the effect it has on the mash-up of people in the crowd. Everyone stops to listen to the story and songs of the Hanukkah season, bringing together people from all walks of life.

 

 

7. Friends “The One With The Holiday Armadillo”

 

The TV show Friends is known for its wild and crazy holiday episodes—and “The One With The Holiday Armadillo” (season 7, episode 10) is one of our favorites. Ross tries to teach his son Ben about their Jewish heritage by dressing up as an armadillo. As he explains the Festival of Lights to his son, Ross’s friend Chandler shows up dressed as Santa. Santa then sits down to learn about Hanukkah… before Superman shows up. This is a fun and heartwarming episode to get you in the spirit of the season.

 

 

8. Adam Sandler’s “Eight Crazy Nights”

 

In 1994, Adam Sandler released the famous “Chanukah Song.” This made him the unofficial spokesman for the holiday in popular culture. You’ll find the Chanukah Song in just about every video or parody of the season. In 2002, Adam Sandler then released the film “Eight Crazy Nights.” This movie is about a delinquent who needs to redeem himself in the community during the Hanukkah season. It’s a great holiday film to get in the spirit of redemption, family, and community. (Note that despite its animation, it’s rated PG-13.)

 

 

Happy Hanukkah and happy holidays from True Film!