What gave you joy this Hanukkah? For me, it was lighting the menorahs every night, frying up a storm, spending quality time with my two exhausting cuties and, surprisingly, watching all the moving and hilarious ways celebrities celebrated Hanukkah this year. There were moving confessions, adorable photoshoots with Hanukkah pajamas and the most hilarious latke frying fiasco of 2024.
Here’s how your and my favorite famous Jews (and a couple of non-Jews) celebrated Hanukkah this year.
Andy Cohen:
New Year’s Eve jokester-in-chief and Bravo star Andy Cohen not only shared his lit menorahs on his Instagram stories, but also lit a giant menorah in the West Village. I am hereby nominating him to host a drunken menorah lighting broadcast every year.
Mayim Bialik:
“Blossom,” “Big Bang Theory” and “Call Me Kat” star Mayim Bialik is always incredible at sharing her Jewish holiday traditions with her fans. This year, she busted out her best Hanukkah sweater and jewelry and shared some Yiddish songs and Eastern European traditions with Israeli activist and actress Noa Tishby on her special Hanukkah series:
Benny Blanco, Selena Gomez, Debra Messing, Alex Edelman, Jake Cohen, Benj Pasek, Judy Gold, Modi, Jake Cohen, Adeena Sussman, Michael Solomonov, Jenji Kohan, Adam Kantor and literally every famous Jew ever:
To be a fly on the wall at this star-studded Hanukkah party! What didn’t this party have?! Benny Blanco dancing the horah. Alex Edelman and Benj Pasek singing Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song.” Selena Gomez in adorable pajamas. Cute Jewish Jewish boys cuddling! Michael Solomonov’s brisket (yum!). Debra Messing reading a funny monologue. Judy Gold in a “Shalom” sweater. Jewish Emmy award-winning composer Nicholas Britell playing his iconic “Succession” theme (where is the Hanukkah parody for that one?!?!). Adam Kantor singing “Miracle of Miracles.” The perfect party, 1800/10 no notes (well, except why wasn’t I invited?!?!).
Mandy Patinkin:
Speaking of wanting to be a fly on the wall, I want to be one at Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody’s house! Their 2024 latke fiasco, documented by doting son Gideon, deserves an Emmy. Some of my favorite parts of this incredibly relatable video of the couple trying to make latkes that simply don’t hold together (we’ve all been there!!) are Gideon asking Mandy, “Are you upset that mom is calling you a great cook?”, Kathryn expressing her angst by saying, “I’m angry that I couldn’t get this right because I really wanted it to be nice for my grandson and everybody!!” and a frustrated Mandy saying, “I’m really done or I’ll call my therapist!”
Thank you for this Hanukkah gift, Patinkin family. Unlike those (I’m sure delicious!) latkes, you are perfection, never change.
Debra Messing:
Aside from attending the coolest Hanukkah party in town, “Will & Grace” star Debra Messing also used the Festival of Lights as an opportunity to share an adorable book about a Hanukkah dragon! We love!
Phil Rosenthal:
Speaking of cool holiday parties, we love that Jewish dad extraordinaire Phil Rosenthal wore a “Jewnicorn” sweater to share some holiday cheer with former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Ray Romano (now starring in the very Jew-ish “No Good Deed”).
Alexa Lemieux:
I’m not crying, you’re crying at this adorable holiday video of “Love Is Blind” star Alexa Lemieux, hubby Brandon and baby Vienna in their matching Little Sleepies Hanukkah pajamas. Fine, I’m crying, but it’s OK! This is too precious. I love this beautiful, interfaith Jewish family!
Gal Gadot:
Speaking of getting emotional, I absolutely got emotional when Gal Gadot shared her near-death experience giving birth to her youngest daughter while having a blood clot in her brain and tying her name, Ori, to this holiday season. She also talked about her favorite latke toppings — sugar, which is my personal favorite, too, and ketchup, which is controversial but also undeniable that it goes well with potato in most forms.
Gwyneth Paltrow:
Goop founder and TV and movie star Gwyneth Paltrow sharing her holiday traditions for Hanukkah was not on my Bingo card for this year but I absolutely love the way she celebrates with her family (read more about it here).
Mila Kunis:
Mila Kunis, a Soviet refugee raised without religious Jewish traditions, shared that it’s her husband, non-Jewish actor Ashton Kutcher, who made her love them. She and Noa Tishby even called him for help with lighting the candles.
Tiffany Haddish:
Tiffany Haddish and Noa Tishby lit Hanukkah candles at a temple with Tishby’s son. Haddish even made up a new fun song for the holiday.
Paul McCartney:
Paul McCartney wanted us to have a Happy Hanukkah and even shared an old picture of a lit menorah. He and his wife, Nancy, who is Jewish, celebrate Jewish holidays together.
Madonna:
Madonna, who celebrated her daughters’ bat mitzvah last year, also shared her lit menorah in this truly psychedelic holiday time video:
Adam Sandler:
On the first night of Hanukkah, Adam Sandler gave us the gift of the first “Happy Gilmore 2” trailer.
