"The Chanukah Song"

How did a casual, late-night comedy sketch about Jewish celebrity come to top the Billboard charts and find its way into the December music catalogue? For our first episode, we explore what Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song” might reveal (or not!) about the festival of lights, Chanukah practices in America, and the changing role of public expressions of Jewishness.

Credits

Thank you to our guests:

Jenna Weissman Joselit: Charles E. Smith Professor of Judaic Studies & Professor of History at George Washington University

Samira Mehta: Assistant Professor of Women & Gender Studies and Jewish Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

Jody Rosen: Journalist and contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine

Jeremy Dauber: Atran Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture in the Department of Germanic Languages at Columbia University

Julian Horowitz: Music Director, The Maccabeats

and, of course

Adam Sandler: Actor, comedian, filmmaker, musician

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Lily Sloane: Audio producer, composer, sound designer

Josh Tapper: Host and PhD candidate in History at Stanford University,

Ari Y. Kelman: Jim Joseph Chair in Education and Jewish Studies, Stanford University

Dan Shevchuk: Junior, majoring in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University

Shoshana Olidort: PhD candidate in Comparative Literature at Stanford University and web editor for the Poetry Foundation

Shaina Hammerman: Associate Director of Jewish Studies at The Taube Center for Jewish Studies at Stanford University

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“The Chanukah Song” in concert

“The Chanukah Song” on SNL

“Candlelight,” The Maccabeats

“I’m a Little Latke”

“How Much is that Pickle in the Window?” Mickey Katz

“Duvid Crockett,” Mickey Katz

“Pan Fry,” The Maccabeats

Visit primarysourcepodcast.com for more info.