(Courtesy of Y-Studs) Y-Studs A Cappella, the elite all-male a cappella group from Upper Manhattan, has once again produced a Chanukah video you can’t miss. This season, they pivot from parody videos to a moving, dramatic and heartfelt rendition of Andra Day’s Grammy-nominated anthem “Rise Up.”

In collaboration with Ed Boyer of Pitch Perfect and Shams Ahmed of the famed a cappella group the Nor’easters, the Y-Studs have crafted another one of their ambitious covers. The group maintains the lyrics of the popular radio hit but reinterprets them by highlighting contemporary and religious themes in their rendition.

This time, the Y-Studs address the shocking uptick in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide, and specifically in the US, which saw an 86 percent surge in 2017 (ADL). They interpret this as a modern-day Chanukah story—faced with threats to their religious identity and freedom, how will the Jewish people respond?

As the Hebrew Maccabees stood bravely against their Greek aggressors, the modern-day Maccabees are those who resist hatred and fear by proclaiming and defending their religion with pride. The video’s heroes are two college-aged students who are shaken by the anti-Semitism that has confronted them directly. Together, they find strength and hope in the celebration of Chanukah to uplift them.

Y-Studs have fused “Rise Up” with the oldest and most renowned Chanukah hymn, Maoz Tzur, which dates as far back as the 1700s. The songs tie together past and present, sharing an emotional and inspiring story about the perseverance of the Jewish people, and reminding us of the need for all people to rise up strongly against any form of hatred.

The members of Y-Studs A Cappella are Akiva Abramowitz, Ilan Brownstein, Jared Ehrenreich, Josh Eisenberg, Uri Garber, Yoni Gelfand, Jonathan Green, Aaron Kohl, Michael Lefkovits, Jake Litwin, Ari Mandelbaum, Gedalia Penner, Kevin Perlitsh and Eitan Rubin.

For more information and performance opportunities contact [email protected] or 973-698-2936.