Stars, they’re just like us! But really, it seems like so many Jewish celebrities had the same reaction that many of us had on the first night of Hanukkah, as we learned of the terrible terror attack on Bondi Beach: a need to light candles and share their Jewish pride.

This Hanukkah, stars like Alex Borstein and Debra Messing showed us photos of their menorahs, and others, like Amy Schumer, Pink and “Nobody Wants This” creator Erin Foster took part in a special video series, where they opened up about their love and passion for Judaism in times of rising antisemitism.

Here’s how celebrities celebrated Hanukkah of 2025.

Debra Messing:

The “Will & Grace” star shared her lit menorah over the holiday, and on the first night, she wrote about her grief over Bondi.

“There is much to mourn today— may the memory of all those murdered in Bondi Beach Australia at a Hanukkah family celebration, and at Brown University—be a blessing,” she wrote.

Alex Borstein:

Borstein also shared her lit Hanukkah menorahs (often with photos featuring her adorable dogs, who love barking along to Jewish prayers), but we were especially thrilled to find that the Jewish “Family Guy” and “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” star has an inflatable Hanukkah unicorn in the middle of her living room (along with a Target menorah pillow)!

Hank Azaria:

Jewish “Simpsons” voice actor, comedian and Bruce Springsteen impersonator shared a rendition of the hit Hanukkah song, “Hannukah, Oh, Hanukkah” sung by “The Simpsons” bartender Moe. It’s iconic.

Alan Bersten:

This Hanukkah, Alan Bersten gave us a special treat: the first “Dancing With the Stars” Hanukkah dance, which he choreographed himself in hopes of inspiring other Jewish kids like him. On the first night of Hanukkah, he shared a picture of himself and his girlfriend, fellow choreographer Emma Slater, lighting the menorah.

“Happy Hanukkah! My heart is heavy today due to the senseless tragedy that occurred today in Sydney. Jewish hate has to stop!” he shared.

Padma Lakshmi and her daughter, Krishna:

Padma Lakshmi is not Jewish, but her ex and the father of her daughter, Krishna, Adam Dell is, and Krishna was raised with Jewish and Hindu traditions, which is why Lakshmi included a latke recipe in her latest cookbook, “Padma’s All American,” and even filmed an adorable, funny, and sassy video of the two of them making latkes together. Krishna was definitely not giving her mother an easy time.

The blooper reel is very much worth watching.

Sandra Bernhard:

“On this the first night of Chanukah I wish you peace light & connection to humanity across the globe nothing is guaranteed we must continue to strive to reach out to one another in spite of these very challenging times,” the actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard shared on Instagram.

Cory and Alexis Booker:

Cory Booker celebrated his first Hanukkah at home after marrying his Jewish wife, Alexis Booker. On the first evening, the two shared the following message: “As Alexis and I settle in to light our first Hanukkah candles as a married couple, our hearts ache in the aftermath of two mass shootings – one at Brown University, and another at a Jewish gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The latter was yet another horrific terrorist attack in which Jews were targeted solely because they were Jewish.”

Booker also shared beautiful images of the two of them with a lit menorah on the seventh night:

Mayim Bialik:

Actress, neuroscientist, filmmaker and podcast host Mayim Bialik always goes all out when it comes to celebrating Hanukkah, sharing her sufganiyot recipes and her menorahs. On the first night of Hanukkah, she decided to light all the menorahs in her home to bring in some extra (and much-needed) light.

Melissa Gilbert:

Jewish “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert shared her quaint and beautiful Hanukkah celebration through her brand, Modern Prairie.

“Hanukkah is such a beautiful reminder of the power of light—that even the smallest flame can push back the darkest night. Over these eight nights, may each candle be a little pause to breathe… a little hope to hold onto… and a gentle nudge to keep shining, even when the world feels heavy,” she wrote.

Molly Yeh:

Molly Yeh, a Jewish star of the Food Network, gave us a very scrumptious Hanukkah special with an Italian flair, featuring pizza latkes and brisket meatballs (yum!).

Yet my favorite part of Yeh’s Hanukkah celebration has to be the special Hanukkah lunch boxes she packs for her daughter, Ira:

Alexa Lemieux:

“Love Is Blind” star Alexa Lemieux shared her safta‘s (grandmother’s) latkes recipe with her followers, which she made with her daughter, Vienna Ziva, named after her beloved grandmother.

Ethan Zohn:

“Survivor” season three winner Ethan Zohn lit his menorah “Survivor” style, and honestly, we’d love to recreate it at home (outdoors, and away from anything flammable, of course).

Amy Schumer:

Amy Schumer not only hung a new mezuzah and baked challah this Hanukkah, but she also joined Israeli actor and activist Noa Tishby on her special Hanukkah series to celebrate the 8th night of the holiday. In the video, she talked about her love for Hanukkah as a kid (minus the socks she was gifted from her mom), the antisemitism she experienced as a child (“my last name Schumer, they changed it to Jewmer”) and how October 7 changed her understanding of being Jewish.

Andy Cohen:

Bravo boss and “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen shared a very adorable video of his son, Ben, explaining how to draw a Star of David, which he captioned: “Proud to be Jewish. Happy Hanukkah. Be safe.”

He also joined Tishby for the 4th night, and talked about how Ben, 6, started Hebrew school this year. “It’s one of the things that has warmed my heart the very most, seeing him understand who he is,” he said.

Selma Blair:

Jewish actress Selma Blair shared a lovely carousel of joyful moments from her Hanukkah celebrations. They featured walks on the beach with her puppy, but also a lot of Hanukkah celebrations with her son, Arthur, one of which featured a table brimming with lit menorahs.

“just a few of the moments I’m feeling extra grateful for these last eight days…Hope you all had a Happy Hanukkah,” she wrote.

Erin Foster:

The “Nobody Wants This” creator opened up about her love and fascination with Judaism in this video with Noa Tishby.

“I grew up technically Christian, but I really felt connected to being Jewish,” Foster shared of her LA upbringing surrounded by Jewish people and tradition, and so, when her now husband, Simon Tikhman, told her he wanted to marry someone Jewish, she was thrilled. “I am looking to convert, and I just need someone to convert for,” she recalled telling him.

Phil Rosenthal:

“Somebody Feed Phil” star and “Everybody Loves Raymond” showrunner Phil Rosenthal celebrated Hanukkah with Noa Tishby in what is arguably the best way to celebrate the holiday of light, by stuffing your face with food from the much raved about Max & Helen’s, the diner that Rosenthal recently opened with chef Nancy Silverton. The eatery is named after Rosenthal’s Jewish parents (and is full of dishes that honor the Rosenthal family). I dare you to watch their video and not drool:

Paul McCartney:

Paul McCartney is not Jewish, but his wife, Nancy Shevell McCartney, is, and the two even attended Yom Kippur services ahead of their 2011 wedding. Nancy isn’t the first Jewish woman McCartney married. His late wife, Linda Eastman, was also Jewish. Linda died of cancer in 1998, and McCartney keeps her legacy and art alive;  on Hanukkah, he shared a photo Eastman took of him in front of a candle — wishing his fans and friends a “happy peaceful Hanukkah.”