Best Hanukkah Videos of 2013

Well it's time for Hanukkah 2013 and we still haven't come up with a consensus opinion on how to spell Hanukkah -- is it Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, Chanukkah or Janukah? This year we've seem to have discovered an even bigger spelling problem as we've added Thanksgivukkah into the mix. Some are into this mash up of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah while others are ready to be done with all the buzz. Comedian Judy Gold, with whom I appeared on the Thanksgivukkah episode of HuffPost Live yesterday, tweeted her feelings on Thanksgivukkah: "‏@JewdyGold - The term 'Thanksgivukkah' is getting on my nervukkahs. #annoying." Well, I guess you can't please everyone!

Here is this year's installment of the best Hanukkah videos. Enjoy!

Benji Lovitt's "Thanksgivukkah Pie"




Oil - Main Line Reform Temple




Maoz Tzur by Science Students at Technion University in Israel




One Direction Parody: Jew Direction's "Chanukkah Makes You Jewtiful"




The 1st Hanukkah Thanksgiving by the Shepard Hill Elementary Players on Jimmy Kimmel Live




The Thanksgivukkah Song




Thanksgivukkah: The Movie (Trailer) by Yisrael Campbell




Julie Geller's "I Believe in Miracles" Song




Maccabeats - "Burn"




Hanukkah Song - Adele Parody by Ash Soular
Technically, this is from Hanukkah 2012 but I missed it in last year's list




Matthew Rissien's "The Dreidel Song: Hanukkah Rap"




Duck Dynasty's Hanukkah Album" on Jimmy Kimmel Live




Best Hanukkah Videos of 2012 - http://blog.rabbijason.com/2012/12/best-hanukkah-videos-of-2012.html

Best Hanukkah Videos of 2011 - http://blog.rabbijason.com/2011/12/best-hanukkah-videos-for-2011.html

Best Hanukkah Videos of 2010 - http://blog.rabbijason.com/2010/12/best-hanukkah-videos-for-2010.html

Early Hanukkah in 2013: Jewish Calendar Fun

Whenever I'm asked if the Jewish holidays are coming early or late this year, I promptly answer that they'll be coming on time. And that's partially true. Rosh Hashanah will always arrive on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishrei just as Hanukkah will always begin on the 25th of Kislev. But the Jewish holidays will be coming early this year and already people are realizing that the first night of Hanukkah 2013 takes place on Wednesday, November 27, 2013, which will actually be the night before Thanksgiving. And that's unusual.

The Jewish calendar situation this year is unique. In fact, it has not occurred since 1899 and will only occur once more. Ever. And that won't be until the year 2089.