5 Crazy TV Specials
In this “buddy” show, Ross dresses up as the holiday armadillo to teach us about Hannukah.
What is Friends?
On Chanukah we light this special 9 branched lamp.
What is the Hanukkiah?
This rapper got a Grammy nomination for his song HYFR (Hell Ya F***king Right) ...the music video for which featured him getting a Bar Mitzvah ....something he actually did at age 13.
Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham)
Basically the Jewish version of Pork Cracklings ... these are crispy fried chicken skins
Gribenes
This Yiddish word means to haul/carry something heavy or to make a tedious journey.
Schlep
We join Tommy, Chuckie and the gang in listening to a “baby-friendly” retelling of the story of Hannukah in this cartoon.
What is Rugrats?
This special spinning top is part of a fun game to play.....for about 10 minutes anyways. It has special letters on the sides spelling out in Hebrew "A Great Miracle Happened There/Here"
Dreidel / Sevivon
This "Black-ish" star of stage and screen was born with the last name Silberstein...but changed it to her mother's last name later in life.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Thing long bread with many layers is a Yemeni-Jewish specialty and is cooked for at least 12 hours on a low flame. It is typically enjoyed Shabbat (Saturday) morning with grated tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, and hot pepper sauce.
Jachnun
This Hebrew word means Hello.....Goodbye....and Peace
Shalom
In this weekend evening show, Adam Sandler sings how much “funakah” it is to celebrate Hannukah! (You can spin a dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock!)
What is Saturday Night Live?
Latkes, Jelly Donuts, and traditional Chanukah foods have this cooking method in common.
What is frying?
This Rat Pack singer known for songs like "The Candy Man" and for being half of the first interracial kiss on a Broadway stage, converted to Judaism at the age of 36 after a traumatic car accident made him search for faith.
Sammy Davis Jr.
This Iraqi-Jewish specialty is a Pita stuffed with fried eggplant, Israeli Salad, hard boiled eggs, potato, tahini, and amba (spicy pickled mango sauce - now available at Trader Joe's).
Sabich
This Yiddish word means "a snack"
Nosh
In this California coastal teen drama, Adam Brody’s Seth coins (up for debate) the term Chrismakah.
What is The O.C?
We celebrate Chanukah because these folks defeated the Greeks in the 2nd century BC.
Who are the Maccabees?
This actress from The Office and Parks & Rec was born and raised Jewish and has recently had her first child with her partner Ezra Koenig (the also Jewish lead singer of the band Vampire Weekend).
Rashida Jones
This brand of cookie in the USA was long the only option for Kosher eating Jews who perhaps would've preferred an Oreo but couldn't ...because until the 1990's the creme filling of Oreo's contained lard.
Hydrox
(Fun fact....Hydrox is several years older than Oreo and is actually the original 'sandwich' cookie. Oreo is the imitation)
This Hebrew phrase is used when giving toasts .... and has a meaning you may remember from a song starting "To Life....To Life....."
L'Chaim
Perhaps the most Jewish thing in this episode, Beverly, Adam, Barry and their gilded family end up at a Chinese restaurant for Christmas in this sitcom.
What is The Goldbergs?
On the first night of chanukah we light two candles, on the second night of hanukah we light three candles, and so on for 8 nights. How many candles do we need for the holiday?
What is 44?
This comedian and actress recently had a Netflix special called Black Mitzvah, after which she had a full traditional Bat Mitzvah and party hosted by Billy Crystal.
Tiffany Haddish
These Moroccan-Jewish pancakes are eaten to celebrate the end of Passover, when Jews can finally consume leavened bread products again.
Mufleta
This Yiddish word stands in for dirt/dust or a similar unpleasant substance
Schmutz