It’s been a year full of big changes for Jewish comedian, actress, and moviemaker Amy Schumer. Schumer, who has Cushing’s syndrome and has shared her struggles with endometriosis, recently opened up about her dramatic weight loss thanks to Mounjaro and her separation from her husband of 7 years, Chris Fisher.
And like so many of us in times of upheaval, it looks like Schumer, who was raised Jewish in Long Island, found comfort in tradition. The “Trainwreck” star spent this Hanukkah really embracing Jewish identity and community in so many meaningful ways.
This Wednesday, as we lit the fourth candle of Hanukkah, Schumer shared a picture of her learning to braid challah with some incredible women, including Jessica Seinfeld, in a class led by Rebbetzin and cookbook author Rochie Pinson, who penned “Rising! The book of Challah” and “The KIDS Book of Challah.”
“Amazing learning how to make challah with the expert and Goddess @rochiepinson,” she wrote on Instagram, “I made a sweet one and [an] everything bagel one! Lovely to gather with my community right now.”
The 44-year-old posted pictures of herself with the group of women taking the calss, showing off their braided bakes goods, a video of Pinson showing all kinds of exciting braiding techniques, her two challahs and, most importantly, a picture of a half-devoured challah with the legs of the culprit showing, Schumer’s six-year-old son, Gene.
But that was not the only Jewish tradition she partook in (aside from, of course, lighting the menorah). Schumer shared a new marble mezuzah from artist Hannah Polskin that she had recently gotten in her Instagram stories, along with a video of her putting up the piece of Judaica Jews traditionally affix to their doorposts. Schumer beautifully recited the traditional Hebrew prayer one says when affixing a mezuzah (at an angle, of course) — “Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu likboa mezuzah.”
The actress also shared a funny picture of an Elf on the Shelf diving headfirst into one of Gold’s Bakery’s festive Hanukkah challah (because you can never have enough challah). The New York baking company makes delicious sufganiyot, confetti and rugelach challahs for Hanukkah.
It’s so lovely to see Schumer find joy and comfort in Jewish ritual. Happy Hanukkah, Amy!
