Chanukah in General:

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Chanukah For Kids

Virtual Chanukah

Adam Sandler's animated film, "Eight Crazy Nights", opened November 27. There have been many pieces in the general and Jewish press about the flick and it is easy to find reviews and background material. However, we thought our visitors might be most interested in the new Chanukah song released in connection with the film, since it covers Jewish celebrities. Immediately below is a recent, short profile of Sandler that gives people a sense of his personal life that is not usually found in most pieces. Following that are the lyrics to the three Chanukah songs. Following each song are notes about the songs---errors and the like.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PEOPLE IN THE SONGS CAN BE FOUND BY PUTTING THE NAME IN THE SEARCH ENGINE. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO PUT FULL NAMES IN QUOTATION MARKS AND SPELL IT RIGHT. YOU CAN RE-SET THE SEARCH ENGINE TO SEARCH BY LAST OR FIRST NAME. IF YOU USE LAST OR FIRST NAME SEARCH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE QUOTATION MARKS.

REALIZE THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY BE MENTIONED IN SOMEONE ELSE'S ENTRY BEFORE THEIR OWN--SO SCROLL DOWN IF YOU USE 'FULL NAME' SEARCH. OBVIOUSLY, THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE PERSON ON THE SITE WITH THE SAME FIRST OR LAST NAME--SO SCROLL DOWN TO THE ONE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IF YOU USE FIRST OR LAST NAME SEARCH. WE RECOMMEND FULL NAME SEARCH BECAUSE YOU GET THE CROSS REFERENCES TO OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED ON THE SITE. BUT REMEMBER TO SPELL THE NAME RIGHT!

SANDLER PROFILE

In a town where friendship dies with the first bad deal or box-office dud, Hollywood's resident goof Adam Sandler is about the best pal you could have. Just ask Winona Ryder, Sandler's co-starring love interest in "Mr. Deeds" and Tinseltown's most-talked about damaged goods. While others have fled Ryder amid charges she used a five-finger discount at L.A.'s Saks Fifth Avenue while in possession of a potent painkiller, Sandler has come to the girl's defense. "I've been talking to Winona, and making sure she's happy and OK and getting through all that," Sandler, 35, told The Post, in an exclusive interview during the Cannes Film Festival. Ryder, who skipped last week's premiere of "Mr. Deeds" (it opens Friday) and the Bryant Park after-party, faces three years in jail and worse: a crippled career. Meanwhile, she and Sandler have become bosom buddies. They camped it up two weeks ago at the MTV Movie Awards, Sandler making a cheeky allusion to her current troubles. Posing the "question all of America has been asking," the king of moronic humor asked if he could touch Ryder's breasts, to see if they were real or the results of Hollywood scalpel magic. (She obliged; they felt real, he reported.)

Sandler, in Cannes to promote "Punch Drunk Love," opening later this year, couldn't resist putting in a plug for his embattled doe-eyed colleague in his conversation with The Post. "She's a funny girl, and hopefully that stuff will be in her past soon," he told us. Ryder is learning what others who've crossed his path have known for years: Sandler's one loyal dude, having helped out everyone from his college roommate at NYU to his old "Saturday Night Live" pals, while quietly emerging as a producer/writer/all-around force behind the scenes. He's also among the top echelon of top-earning actors, making $20 million a picture (soon to be $25 million), which he supplements with lucrative back-end deals and his own comedy albums, which sell millions.

News flash: Sandler, that lovable goof, is actually a kick-ass player in Hollywood. Shrewd yet affable in a way that few could imitate, he's building a reputation in the business for being - as they might say in the Boston comedy scene - wicked smaht. In a chat that covered a number of topics, the actor talked about the importance of his tightly knit family (he's particularly close to his brother, Scott), coping with jealously (he's engaged to model/actress Jacqueline Titone), the big comic influence in his life (Jerry Lewis) and his famous reluctance to speak with the press (he hasn't done any print interviews since the death of pal Chris Farley in 1997). So how did a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn break into Hollywood's elite without any scandals or having lost his scruples or his mind? According to Sandler, his family had a lot to do with it. Though he was born in Brooklyn, he didn't stay long. His father, Stanley, an electrical engineer, and mother, Judy, a homemaker, moved to Manchester, N.H., when Adam was in the first grade. Sandler, who has three older siblings (he also has two sisters, Elizabeth and Valerie), grew up with big family dinners and glued to the TV watching "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour," "Happy Days" and "Welcome Back, Kotter" among others. The family all loved Jerry Lewis movies. In fact, he recalls that a Lewis flick helped him cope with the death of his grandfather. Just hours after the elder Sandler passed away, the boy was camped out in front of a TV set watching a Lewis comedy. "I felt so guilty about laughing and being happy during a Jerry Lewis movie, but my father and my uncle said, 'That's what he's there for, to cheer you up.' Lewis always been a big part of my heart." Sandler says he was thrilled to have met the over-the-top yukmeister last year. "He's a very sweet man," Sandler reported. "I went to his show in Vegas, and he tore it up for an hour and a half. He's a big part of my life."

When he wasn't filling up on slapstick, the teenage Sandler was busy cracking up his classmates and annoying his teachers. On one occasion, he says, he beat up a kid who made fun of him for being Jewish as he got off the school bus in front of a temple for Hebrew school. Sandler credits Scott for giving him the courage to try his hand at comedy. "If he hadn't said to do it," said Sandler, "I wouldn't have thought it was the thing to do. My brothers and sisters were all dentists and lawyers. I was like the geek of the family." Of course, he's still a geek, albeit a rich one. After Sandler moved back to New York in 1984 to attend NYU, it wasn't long before he ventured out to try his hand on the stand-up circuit. Previously, at 17, he seized the stage on a lark during an amateur night at a Boston comedy club, then got it into his head that becoming a comedian might mean his days of scooping ice cream and busing tables - two jobs he has been fired from - would be behind him. In New York, he gave it a shot for real. His first gig was at the Pip's club in Sheepshead Bay in 1987 - and he bombed. The experience, he recalls, was "really horrible." At NYU, he entered the drama program and took classes at the celebrated Lee Strasberg studio. His professors at Lee Strasberg unanimously concluded he had neither focus nor talent. One teacher, Mel Gordon, decided to take him out for a beer to give him "the talk." "I think that disapproval was a great inspiration," Gordon recalled in "Adam Sandler: America's Comedian" by Bill Crawford. "Adam had tremendous will and managed to invent a place for himself. If he had listened to his teachers, he never would have gotten anywhere." Three years later, Sandler performed in an L.A. club. Comedian Dennis Miller was in the audience and alerted Lorne Michaels, the producer of "SNL." And the rest is prime-time player history. Sandler became one of the show's principal figures from 1990 to 1995, developing such characters as Opera Man and Canjun Man. He is one of most successful of the "SNL" graduates, joining Mike Meyers as the best of the show's third generation of crossover stars, following Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin and John Belushi.

As he's moved up, he's consistently enlisted the talents of friends from his days at NYU, including his roommate and writing partner Tim Herlihy, and his former "SNL" players. He has produced, written or directed flicks starring funnymen Rob Schneider ("Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo"), David Spade ("Joe Dirt"), Jon Lovitz ("Little Nicky"), Kevin Nealon (the upcoming "8 Crazy Nights" and "Anger Management"), and Dana Carvey ("Little Nicky" and the soon-due "Master of Disguise"). Of course, his own projects haven't done too badly. Sandler penned and starred in "Happy Gilmore," one of most successful movies of 1996. He scored major back-to-back hits by writing the screenplays for, starring in, and producing "The Waterboy" (1998) and "Big Daddy" (1999). He starred in the small budget "The Wedding Singer," which grossed $22 million in its first weekend in 1998.

He's also continued to score with his records. Sandler, who in 1999 set a new record for the highest first-week of sales of a comedy recording with his fourth CD, "Stan and Judy's Kid," has based the film "8 Crazy Nights" on his most recognizable ditty, the irreverent "Chanukah Song." Perhaps just as surprising as his rapid rise is Sandler's sex appeal. You won't find a female co-star with anything bad to say about the man. Ryder loves him. She told W magazine that Sandler was "completely the most noble person you would ever meet." Watson, his co-star in "Punch Drunk," told The Post: "It was very easy to fall in love with Adam." The one who stole his heart, however, is Titone, a part-time model/actress who recently converted to Judaism in preparation for their marriage. She is currently hard at work on her fourth Sandler film. All that on-screen romance is hard for a girl to take, he says. Of the screen kiss he shares with Watson in "Punch Drunk," Sandler said: "It was the first time I've ever kissed a girl in a movie where I was sitting next to my girlfriend and she actually wasn't mad at me. She was like, 'Ah, that's a big, big plus.'" What's next for Sandler? Will he continue with the irreverent, dumb-guy shtick of "Mr. Deeds" or, like Martin, his goofball predecessor, graduate to more adult fare? One can only guess.

Sandler guards his privacy, rarely speaking with reporters. He doesn't even trumpet his charity work for Muscular Dystrophy (his 24-year-old cousin, Jana, was diagnosed with the disease five years ago). Why doesn't he speak out? Some have suggested it's a reaction to the bad press that Farley got after his death. Sandler has a more simple explanation. "Because," he said, "I don't have that many great things to say." He wouldn't speculate on his future plans, but if "Anger Management," due out next year, is any indication, we could be seeing a whole new Sandler. He cast himself as a peaceful man thrown into an anger-management program, run by a character played by Jack Nicholson, that makes him violent. (For his work as writer, producer and star, Sandler will receive a personal best of $25 million against 25 percent of the gross receipts.) In the quirky "Punch Drunk Love," he unveils a more subdued side. He plays an entrepreneur who redeems pudding coupons for air miles and gets caught in a phone-sex scam. In the meantime, there's still plenty of boy in him. Much like the title character in "Mr. Deeds," Sandler seems uncorrupted by riches and spoils. While most players attending the Cannes Film Festival were stuck to their cell phones brokering deals along the yacht-lined Croissette, Sandler hit the basketball courts. And he invited his brother, Scott, along with him to the French Riviera. You certainly won't see him saving America as a young, earnest CIA agent any time soon. Sandler refreshingly understands why audiences connect with the small humor of his goofy soft-hearted losers. "I consider myself Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, with a touch of Three Stooges," said Sandler. "I haven't received too much critical success, but it's not the reason I did what I did. I got into acting and comedy to be the best I could be in funny movies and make kids laugh." In that case, he's doing just fine.

Put on your Yarmulka, here comes Chanukah
So much funica, to celebrate Chanukah.Chanukah is a festival of lights,instead one day of presents we have eight crazy nights
so when you feel like the only kid in town
without a Christmas tree
Here's a list of people who are Jewish like you and me:
David Lee Roth, lights the menorah
So does James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shora
Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli
Bowzer from Sha-Na-Na and Arthur Fonzarelli.
Paul Newman is half Jewish,Goldie Hawn is half Jewish too. Put them both togetherwhat a fine looking Jew.You don't need Deck the Hallsor Jingle Bell Rock
Because we can light the candles with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. (both Jewish )
Put on your Yarmulka, here comes Chanukah
The owner of the Seattle Supersonicas Celebrates Chanukah.
O.J. Simpson:Not a Jew.
But guess who is- hall of famer Rod Carew. (he converted)
We've got Anne Landers and her sister Dear Abbie
Harrison Ford is one quarter Jewish,Not too shabby
.Some people think that Ebenezer Scrooge is
Well, he's not, but guess who is:all Three Stooges.
So many Jews are in show biz Tom Cruise isn't Jewish,but I heard his agent is.
Tell your friend Veronicait's time to celebrate Chanukah
I hope I get a harmonicaon this lovely, lovelly Chanukah
So drink your gin and tonica and smoke your marijuanica if you really wannaka, and havea happy, happy, happy, happy Chanukah.

NOTES--As in past years---this site posts the errors and misleading information in the songs during the Chanukah season (roughtly a month around the holiday). This year we are posting a special page. As in the past, we encourage you to be an insufferable know-it-all and share all this stuff with your friends and relatives. (The lyrics to the third song will remain on the site under the second Sandler entry for the benefit of people who somehow miss this page)

Problems with first Chanukah Song:
Correctly identified as Jewish: Kirk Douglas; Dinah Shore; James Caan; David Lee Roth; Jon Bauman of the band "Sha-Na-Na"--better known as "Bowser"; Henry Winkler (called Arthur Fonzarelli--"the Fonz" in the song); Also correct: the now late "Dear Abby" (Abigail Van Buren) and her sister, Anne Landers; Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy); "All Three Stooges" (Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard. Also Jewish were Shemp Howard and Joe Besser); Correctly identified as "half Jewish": Paul Newman and Goldie Hawn. INCORRECTLY identified as Jewish: Rod Carew--he never converted to Judaism, although he is married to a Jewish woman. INCORRECTLY described: Harrison Ford is called "one quarter" Jewish in the song. In fact his late mother was "fully Jewish." Finally, we don't know if the voice of Scooby-Doo (actor Don Messick) was Jewish

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE SEARCH INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE!!!!!

CHANUKAH SONG TWO

Adam Sandler

Time to take out those menorahs! Chanukah is the festival of lights
Instead of one day of presents
We get eight crazy nights
So when you feel like the only kid in town
Without a Christmas tree
Here's a new list of people who are Jewish
Just like you and me Winona Ryder drinks Manachevett's wine
Then spins a dreidel with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein
Guess who gives and receives loads of Chanukah toys
The girls from Veruca Salt and all three Beastie Boys
Lenny Kravits is half Jewish
Courtney Love is half, too
Put them together
What a funky, bad-ass Jew!We got Harvey Keitel
And flash dancer Jennifer Beals
Yasmine Bleeth from Baywatch is Jewish
And, yes, her boobs are realPut on that yarmulke
It's time for Chanukah
Two time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffmonica celebrates ChanukahOJ Simpson, still not a Jew
But guess who is
The guy who does the voice for Scooby Doo
Bob Dylan was born a Jew
Then he wasn't, but now he's back
Mary Tyler Moore's husband is Jewish
'Cause we're pretty good in the sack Guess who got barmitzvahed on the PGA Tour
No, I'm not talking about Tiger Woods
I'm talking about Mr. Happy Gilmore
So many Jews are in the showbiz
Bruce Springstein isn't Jewish
But my mother thinks he isTell that ho Lamonica
It's time to celebrate Chanukah
It's not pronounced CH-anukah
The C is silent in Chanukah
So read your hooked on phonica
Get drunk in Tiajuanica
If you really, really wanna-ka
Have a happy, happy, happy, happy, Chanukah
Hapyy Chanukah!

Problems with Song #2

Correctly described as Jewish: Bob Dylan; Harvey Keitel; Ralph Lauren; Calvin Klein; Dustin Hoffman. Correctly described as half Jewish: Lenny Kravitz (but see Jewhoo entry for more info); A bit misleading---Veruca Salt and The Beastie Boys--described as Jewish--Nina Gordon and Louise Post of the now defunct band Veruca Salt are Jewish; the third woman in the band is not Jewish; Mike Diamond and Adam Yauch of "The Beastie Boys" were born Jewish--but Yauch is now a Buddhist; Adam Horvitz of the Beasties is "half Jewish". His mother is not Jewish;
Winona Ryder is probably 'only' Jewish on her father's side.
INCORRECT information: Courtney Love is not half Jewish. She is a little over one quarter Jewish. She has a Jewish grandfather on her father's side and some remote Jewish ancestry on her mother's side; Misleading info: Yasmine Bleeth's late mother was not Jewish. Her father is Jewish. Completely wrong: Jennifer Beals of "Flashdance" is not Jewish. She is of mixed Irish Catholic and African American Protestant background.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE SEARCH INSTRUCTIONS POSTED ABOVE.

Put on your yarmulke 
It's time for Chanukah 
Once again it's onaka 
The miracle of Chanukah Chanukah is the Festival of Lights 
One day of presents? Hell, no, we get 8 Crazy Nights 
But if you still feel like the only kid in town without a Christmas tree 
I guess my first two songs didn't do it for you 
So here comes number three 

Ross and Phoebe from "Friends" say the Chanukah blessing 
So does Lenny's pal Squiggy and "Will & Grace"'s Debra Messing 

Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon never mix meat with dairy 
Maybe they shoulda called that show Little Kosher House on the Prairie

We've got Jerry Lewis, Ben Stiller and Jack Black 
Tom Arnold converted to Judaism, but you guys can have him back (just kidding, Tommy) 

We may not get to kiss underneath the mistletoe 
But we can do it all night long with Deuce Bigalow Put on your yarmulke 
Here comes Chanukah 
The guy in Willie Nelson's band who plays harmonica 
Celebrates Chanukah Osama bin Laden -- not a big fan of the Jews 
Well, maybe that's because he lost a figure skating match to gold medalist Sarah Hughes 

Houdini and David Blaine escape straitjackets with such precision 
But the one thing they could not get out of -- their painful circumcision 

As for half-Jewish actors, Sean Penn is quite the great one 
And Marlon Brando, not a Jew at all, but it looks to me like he ate one 

There's Lou Reed, Perry Farrell, Beck and Paula Abdul 
Joey Ramone invented punk rock music, but first came Hebrew school 

Hey, Natalie Portmanica 
It's time to celebrate Chanukah 
I hope I get an abtronica 
On this joyful, toyful Chanukah 

So get a high colonika 
And soil your Long Johnicas 
If you really, really wannaka 
Have a happy, happy, happy, happy 
Happy, happy ... Happy Chanukah

NOTE: One 'naughty' verse was sung on Saturday Night that does not appear in the official lyrics: Gwyneth Paltrow, half Jewish Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, half Jew, too, but I'd like to put a little more Jew in her.

Since Sandler did not qualify many people in the third song--we won't do so here. No errors to speak of. We are virtually certain that research was done, this time, using this site.

Please check the names on the site. PLEASE FOLLOW THE SEARCH INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

Happy Chanukah from Jewhoo!