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This year the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins on the same day as Christmas. Which means, of course, it starts on the evening of 24 December because, according to Hebrew reckoning, the 25th of Kislev begins at sunset, not at the first tick past midnight.

Before the reestablishment of Israel in 1948, Jews around the world found the Christmas season awkward at best. Those who lived in Christianized countries were often vilified by their attempts to quietly ignore the holiday. It was a dynamic somewhat alleviated by Hanukkah. Because it is determined by the Hebrew calendar, its eight-day celebration often fell weeks before or after Christmas.

It some years, however, like this one, it was a perfect fit. This year Hanukkah begins on the evening of 24 December and ends on the evening of 1 January.

Unable to escape the western world's celebration of Christmas (a sentiment shared by a growing number of observant Christians), one Jewish response is to poke fun.

This year one of the funniest reactions comes from Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion, founders of YidLife Crisis. According to their YouTube channel, they have released a "platter of oy-ful melodies that will make your season brighter."

Their video, "The Yidlife Crisis to the Holiday Classics," feigns to offer a new album of Crisismukkah. Sample selections include Yingle Belz, Little Drummer Boychick and a range of well-known Christmas songs that were composed by observant Jews.

For all of good cheer, Merry Crisismukkah!

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Brian Schrauger is the Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Journal. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.