The joys of Chanukah have been obvious to Jono Baron for his entire life, but it wasn't until “The Hebrew Hammer” was released in 2003 that he really understood what this holiday season is all about …

By Jono Baron
Gargoyle senior editor
Posted Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, The OG, arts

BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELTS and hold on to your tuchus, because the grooviest, most kosher Jew this side of Israel is coming to your television set. Get ready for the ultimate experience in “Shaft” parodying, because “The Hebrew Hammer” does it flawlessly — with a Jewish twist.

Indeed, this film is an instant Chanukah classic. The film follows Mordechai Jefferson Carver (Adam Goldberg), aka the Hebrew Hammer, through a mission to save Chanukah from an insane (“meshuggeh” to us Yids) new Santa, played by Andy Dick.

Working with an equally nuts Tiny Tim character (Sean Whalen), this Santa (who kills his father to gain power) has a single vision: the destruction of Chanukah. In response, the Jewish Justice League recruits the Hebrew Hammer to put Santa's anti-Semitism to rest, and restore order.

With help from Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim (Mario Van Peebles) at the Kwanzaa Liberation Front and the JJL's Esther Bloomenbergensteinenthal (Judy Greer), and with his mother's consent, Mordechai begins his quest for winter holiday equality in an attempt to restore equilibrium; battling neo-Nazis, religiously insensitive gentile children, stereotypes, and Jewish guilt all along the way.

Obviously, this movie is Chanukkah-centric, but it can be enjoyed by everyone; after all, Jews have a great sense of humor — “Seinfeld” was a hit, wasn't it? But while most of the Jewish kids who live around here have grown up in a minority culture, and will be laughing at this movie's stark realism (in that cultural sense at least), a good deal of Christians might not fully appreciate the deeper humor the film has to offer.

Even so, “The Hebrew Hammer” will still be funny to practically all of its viewers with its arsenal of absurdist humor and amplified stereotypes that actually serve a purpose closer to bridging racial, religious, and ideological gaps in our holiday culture.

What's great about this film is that it mocks everyone and warps the common definitions of everything within it, from the plot itself to the fictional organizations of the JJL and KLF, and even to potentially harmful stereotypes, and it converts them (so to speak) into something lighthearted and hardly offensive.

And if that doesn't quite sound like your piece of cake, the film maintains an incredibly accurate Shaft-esque atmosphere that is equally enjoyable as a regular action flick. This encompasses everything: a modified version of the “Shaft” theme song, a tricked-out Cadillac the Hebrew Hammer has ornamented with Stars of David and Jew gear, and even the hip language of the “Shaft” legacy we hold so dear. No matter what it is that particularly appeals to you, you're bound to dig this film.

“The Hebrew Hammer” came out in 2003 and aired on Comedy Central. It is now available on DVD. Runtime: 85 minutes. Rated: R.

RELATED

— The film's official site