Adam Sandler debuts new Chanukah song

By Ken Stone

SAN DIEGO (SDONA)– A week ago at the San Diego Civic Theatre, Adam Sandler unveiled his fourth version of the “Hanukkah Song” in all its Jewish-name-dropping glory.

The downtown show Nov. 18 also featured David Spade, Nick Swardson and Rob Schneider. The video was posted Wednesday to his “Happy Madison” YouTube channel, where he said: “I did a show with some friends in San Diego last week and recorded a new one for you.”

The song, first performed in 1994 on “Saturday Night Live,” is “for all those nice little Jewish kids who don’t get to hear any Hanukkah songs” during the holiday season, Sandler has said.

The guitar-playing Sandler notes Jewish or part-Jewish Shia LaBeouf, Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adam Levine, Scarlett Johansson, Drake, Princess Leia and animated characters from “Frozen.” And many others.

“Fans of the song may recall that the original version included the like of Bruce Springsteen, Goldie Hawn, O.J. Simpson (“not a Jew”), and Spock. An updated 1999 version included Winona Ryder and Courtney Love. Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller and Natalie Portman were included in the 2002 installment,” said one report.

This year, the Jewish Festival of Lights starts at sundown Sunday, Dec. 6.

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Preceding reprinted from The Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego On-Line News Association.