Amy Schumer lights Hanukkah candles as #BringOnTheLight campaign highlights unity after Oct. 7

Amy Schumer lit Hanukkah candles in a video tied to the #BringOnTheLight antisemitism campaign, as she reflected on the events following Oct. 7 and what they revealed about her circle of friends. The 44-year-old New Yorker described how speaking out since the Hamas-Israel conflict began in 2023 brought clarity about who stood with her, noting she would be a minority in some conversations. The footage, prepared for online release on Sunday, frames the candle-lighting as a moment of communal strength during a time when antisemitic rhetoric and incidents have surged in many places.

Former Israeli actress Noa Tishby organized the campaign, which brings together Jewish celebrities and allies to light Hanukkah candles as a visible show of unity and resilience. The effort began with Pink and expanded to include a wide roster of public figures who joined in lighting the Hanukkah candles across different homes and venues. The last day of lighting marked by Schumer’s participation underscored the campaign’s aim: to demonstrate that Jewish pride and solidarity can withstand hatred and fear. In the video, Tishby argued that Jewish pride is essential in confronting antisemitism and supporting communities near and far who feel attacked or marginalized during times of conflict.

Schumer, a native New Yorker who is related to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, touched on how humor has helped her navigate years of antisemitism and a history of prejudice that families often endured. She recalled a childhood where antisemitism was a constant, and she noted how humor offered a coping mechanism that has long helped Jewish communities survive and endure. While the video centers on the current moment and the war that began with the Oct. 7 attacks, Schumer also spoke about her family’s experiences and the broader role of laughter in Jewish resilience, a theme she described as a shared cultural character rather than a personal quirk.

Schumer also shared memories from prior generations, including photos of her grandparents at a Catskills show—a nod to the Jewish Borscht Belt era that she says helped shape a sense of identity and community. She described how those ancestors used humor to cope with hardship and how that tradition remains relevant today, especially when people confront fear or discrimination. The rhetoric of endurance is balanced with a sense of pride in being Jewish, and Schumer said that embracing that pride can be a form of resistance against antisemitism and bigotry.

In the broader context of the campaign, Schumer’s participation aligns with a larger push to show solidarity across the Jewish community and among allies amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and rising antisemitic incidents around the world. Noa Tishby emphasized that the point of the Lights campaign is not only remembrance but also action—uniting people in public displays of support and reminding viewers that strong, joyful moments can counter despair and hatred. Star power helped amplify the message, with Schumer joining other celebrities who lent their visibility to the cause and used their platforms to spark conversations about security, belonging, and equal rights for Jewish people.

The final candle of the campaign was lit during Schumer’s appearance at Tishby’s home, ending a week of coordinated candle-lighting across multiple cities and households. Organizers described the event as a testament to resilience and solidarity, highlighting that humor, family, and shared history have long been sources of strength for Jewish communities facing adversity. In addition to the symbolic act of lighting, participants underscored practical commitments—speaking out against antisemitism, supporting communities in need, and reaffirming the right of Jewish people to live with dignity and safety wherever they are.

Schumer’s involvement and reflections underscore the broader cultural moment in which artists and public figures use personal history and humor to address collective fear and prejudice. The campaign’s conclusion with Schumer lighting the final candle served as a reminder that, for many Jewish people, the act of lighting a menorah is both a spiritual observance and a political statement—an affirmation of identity and an assertion of dignity in the face of discrimination. As the conversation around antisemitism continues to evolve, organizers say the #BringOnTheLight campaign will be remembered for linking intimate family moments to a public ask for unity and courage in confronting hatred.