Five Christmas Songs Written / Performed By Jewish Singers / Songwriters

For the first time since 1978, Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah fall on the same day, December 25. As this only happens every 30 or so years, this year’s holiday season is quite special.

There have been many Jews that have gotten in on the Christmas spirit over the last century, without the two holidays coinciding the way they do this year. In fact, many of the classics we hear constantly on the radio were written by Jewish songwriters. There are even Jewish artists that have made and released Christmas albums.

Because of this special Christmas/Hanukkah, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island's music outlet, is taking a look at some of the best Jewish Christmas songs ever released. Here are just five songs written and/or performed by Jewish artists that got into the holiday spirit.

1.       Irving Berlin, “White Christmas”: This is one of the most iconic Christmas song ever, regardless of whether it was written by a Jewish songwriter or not. This is a classic melody with lyrics longing for the white, snowy holiday of years past. The song was written by Berlin, nee Israel Isidore Baline, in 1942 for the film ‘Holiday Inn,’ and performed by Bing Crosby, who’s version holds the Guinness World Record for best selling single of all time.

2.       Ramones, “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)”: Jumping from classics to classic punk, the Ramones recorded “Merry Christmas” in 1989 and released it on their album ‘Brain Drain.’ The original Ramones were also heavily Jewish. Singer Joey Ramone was born Jeffrey Hyman and drummer Tommy Ramone (although he had already left the band by the time the song was released, was born Tamas Erdelyi in Hungary. They even got their start in the basement of the Forest Hills Jewish Center.

3.       Mel Torme, “The Christmas Song”: Who doesn’t recognize the famous opening line to this song, “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire?” “The Christmas Song” was written by Torme, who was born to Russian-Jewish parents, in 1945 with Bob Wells.

4.       Neil Diamond, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”: Neil Diamond, the same musician who brought you ‘The Jazz Singer,’ has released five Christmas albums over the course of his career. Many of these albums have featured original compositions, such as “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.” In an interview for his most recent Christmas album, Diamond said that the reason Jewish artists make those albums is because they never got to celebrate the holiday growing up. For good measure, he did record a version of Adam Sandler’s original “Chanukah Song” for his fourth holiday album, but it’s pretty bad.

5.       Barbara Streisand, “Jingle Bells”: One of the most famously Jewish singers has released not one but two Christmas albums. They also happen to be two of her best-selling albums, especially the first, which has gone quintuple platinum since being released in 1967.

Many of our favorite Jewish artists have gotten into the Christmas spirit and written and/or performed some of the most well-known holiday songs. Whether it was a matter of assimilation (like Irving Berlin) or just for the kicks (like Neil Diamond), we have these artists to thank for the music that has become the go-to playlist for this time of year.

Find Christmas and non-Christmas music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. Get into the holiday season by checking out our selection of Christmas music, or browsing thousands of titles to find the perfect gift for the music lover in your life. We have extended our holiday week hours, so there is still time to shop our selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia.