Founded in 2007 at Yeshiva University, Manhattan, New York, the 14-member group specializes in covers and parodies of contemporary hits using Jewish-themed lyrics.
[2][3] The original group was composed of full-time undergraduate students, many of them alumni of Bnei Akiva North America.
[2] In November 2010, they released "Candlelight", a Hanukkah-themed cover of Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" with a music video directed by Uri Westrich, a Yeshiva University graduate.
In addition to the United States, they have performed in China, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, London, and Italy.
[15][16] The lyrics are often educational, recounting the history of the holiday, mentioning pertinent symbols and customs, and using Hebrew phrases known to Jewish celebrants.
[24] The video covers the songs "Alexander Hamilton" (with changed lyrics referring to the Hanukkah hero Judah Maccabee), "You'll Be Back", "My Shot", and "The Story of Tonight".
Musical genres included in this video are big band, bluegrass, hip hop, the 80's, blues, classical, reggaetón, and gospel.
"[35] The group has also covered Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", incorporating the Hebrew lyrics of "Lekha Dodi";[5][7] Anna Kendrick's "Cups", set to the Shabbat morning table song "D'ror Yikra"; Ellie Goulding's "Burn"; and Sara Bareilles' "Brave".
[38] In September 2020 the group released a COVID-19 lockdown-themed music video in which they covered the traditional Rosh Hashana song "BaShana HaBa'a" with additional original English-language lyrics.
[41] In June 2020 four members of the group released the song "Say Your Name" in honor of African-American police victim George Floyd.
[42] On December 3, 2023, the Maccabeats released "We're Still Here (Am Yisrael Chai)" to honor Israel's response to the October 7, 2023 terror attack.
The song was written by Noah Jacobson and its video includes footage from the band's performance at the November, 2023 March for Israel in Washington, D.C..[43]
[6] The group was initially composed of undergraduate students, but by 2012 all members were in graduate school, most of them pursuing studies in fields other than music.
[1] While all the members practice together weekly, only half the group travels to live performances, as their music is arranged in seven- and eight-part harmony.
[4] In 2012 four members of The Maccabeats – David Block, Noey Jacobson, Nachum Joel, and Immanuel Shalev – formed the short-lived a cappella group StandFour.