Swinging Hanukkah wins YouTube

Forget those a cappella groups and goofy parodies. Let’s swing into the winter holiday season this year with a new Hanukkah video that ushers in the Festival of Lights big band style.

Since its posting on November 22, “Hanukkah Song Mashup – Dance Spectacular” by Elliot Dvorin and the Key Tov Orchestra has racked up 275,455 views on YouTube.

“People have been in touch with me to tell me how the video really makes them smile,” Dvorin told The Times of Israel from Chicago, where he and his Jewish wedding band are based.

The Hanukkah video, filmed at Daley Plaza in the heart of Chicago, is Dvorin, 30, and the Key Tov Orchestra’s second video. The first, “Hashem Melech,” boasts more than 130,000 views.

“There’s nothing quite like this out there,” Dvorin said of his Hannukah mashup, which features a large dance company in addition to Dvorin and the musicians.

“People are really reacting positively not only to the music, but also to the visual element — the dancers, the different styles and costumes,” he said.

The clip includes a number of traditional Hebrew, English and Ladino Hanukkah favorites, as well as some newer songs, like Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song.” Dvorin won’t divulge which is his favorite holiday tune, claiming he doesn’t want to play favorites.

The wedding singer felt this was the right time to pull out all the stops and put on a big show.

“When there is so much turmoil in the world, people enjoy good music and a production of this nature,” he said.