Jewish Humor Central

Jewish Humor Central is a daily publication to start your day with news of the Jewish world that's likely to produce a knowing smile and some Yiddishe nachas. It's also a collection of sources of Jewish humor--anything that brings a grin, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, or just a warm feeling to readers. Our posts include jokes, satire, books, music, films, videos, food, Unbelievable But True, and In the News. Some are new, and some are classics. We post every morning, Sunday through Friday. Enjoy!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Happy Eighth Night Of Chanukah! Light All the Candles With the Chipmunks

Tonight's the last night of Chanukah. It's been fun sharing video clips of Hanukkah celebrations and candle lightings from around the world. Let's enjoy the last day of Hanukkah singing along with the Chipmunks as they sing a parody of the Chipmunk Song.

We found this video on YouTube, starting with just the audio in 2006, and then with cartoons added in 2008. We would love to give credit to the creators, but they don't identify themselves on YouTube. So if you're responsible for this cute video, please comment and take credit for your great work.

On Sunday we're returning to our regular format of one post every morning, Sunday through Friday. Please be sure to bookmark JewishHumorCentral.com or subscribe using the email subscription box at the top of the left column. And let your friends know that this is the place to find something to smile or laugh about every day.

Here's the video. We're reproducing the lyrics and translations of the Yiddish expressions just below the frame.

Dave: All right you chipmunks, ready to sing your Chanukah jingle?
Moishe: Oy, what a day I'm having here...
Simon: Oh, let's sing it anyway
Dave: Ready, Simon?
Simon: OK!
Dave: OK, Moishe?
Moishe: OK!
Dave: Melvin? ... Melvin? ... MELVIN!!!
Melvin: Oy vey!

Chipmunks: Chanukah's a time for all
With menorahs, matzah balls
Light the candles, eight across
Potato latkes, applesauce
Christmas jingles last too long
Melvin: We just have that dreidel song
Chipmunks: Sing meshuggeneh and oy
Them goys get all the toys

Dave: Very good, boys. Simon, you bring me such nakhes
Simon: Oy, gevalt!
Dave: Moishe, what a gesinte voice
Moishe: (giggles)
Dave: Melvin, you're a little farmishte farkakte
Dave: Melvin? Melvin? MELVIN!!!
Melvin: Oy vey!

Chipmunks: Christmas jingles last too long
Melvin: We just have that dreidel song
Chipmunks: Sing meshuggeneh and oy
Them goys get all the toys

Dave: That was much better my little mamzers
Melvin: Let's sing about Yom Kippur and Passover!
Dave: Ah, don't be a khazer now
(chipmunks all talking at once)
All: Happy holiday!

======================
Yiddish translations:
======================
Oy, Oy Vey: an expression of distress
Menorah: candelabrum (Simon lights one in this video)
Matzah balls: a round dumpling of unleavened bread crumbs and egg traditionally found in chicken soup
Latkes: potato pancakes, a traditional Chanukah food
Dreidel: a four-sided spinning top used in a game traditionally played during Chanukah (Melvin holds one during this video)
Meshuggeneh: crazy
Goys: gentiles
Nakhes: the joy that a parent gets from a child's accomplishments
Oy gevalt: an expression of extreme distress (I don't know why he would say it here)
Gesinte: healthy
Farmishte: mixed up, confused
Farkakte: screwed up, lousy (more literally: crappy)
Mamzer: bastard (it's not a nice word; I don't know why he's using it here)
Yom Kippur: a fall holy day of fasting
Passover: a spring holiday remembering the Exodus from Egypt
Khazer: pig

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Just Published: The Kustanowitz Kronikle - 35 Years of Purim Parody

Every Purim for the past 35 years we have published a Purim parody edition of The Kustanowitz Kronikle, covering virtually every aspect of Jewish life, and including parodies of hundreds of popular movies. This year we decided to retire the series and capture all the fun in a book that's just been published and is available at Amazon.com. It has every Purim issue of The Kustanowitz Kronikle from 1988 through 2022 in a full-color, full-size paperback book with hilarious headline stories and parody movie picks. Here are a few examples: TRUMP, NETANYAHU SWAP ROLES, COUNTRIES; NEW TALMUD VOLUME "VOTIN" FOUND IN IRAQ; JOINS "FRESSIN", "NAPPIN", TANTZEN","PATCHEN"; "JUDAICARE" PROGRAM PLANNED TO ENSURE THAT ALL JEWS HAVE SYNAGOGUE MEMBERSHIP; RABBIS CREATE TALMUD AMERICANI; NEW LAWS EXTEND HALACHA TO THANKSGIVING AND JULY 4; JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE UNITE TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING; FOCUS ON REDUCING HOT AIR; RABBIS TO REQUIRE SHECHITA FOR MANY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

"Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places" is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions

This book presents 150 anecdotes and associated video clips that reveal the myriad ways that Jewish culture, religion, humor, music, song, and dance have found expression in parts of the world that, at first glance, might not seem supportive of Jewish Life. It includes 50 videos of Hava Nagila being performed from Texas to Thailand, from India to Iran, and from Buenos Aires to British Columbia. Also highlighted are 34 international versions of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Adon Olam, Abanibi, and Tumbalalaika. Whether you’re reading the print version and typing in the video URLs or reading the e-book version and clicking on the links, you’ll have access to 150 video clips totaling more than 10 hours of video. Enjoy!

"Israel is a Funny Country" is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions

This book explores the multifaceted nature of humor in Israel, some of which is intentional and some of which is unintentional. Either way, the quirks of Israeli life contribute to making that life interesting and fulfilling. In the pages of this volume, we take a look at humorous slices of Israeli life, Israeli comedy, satire and parody, funny TV commercials, unusual stories about food, surprising rabbinic bans on daily activities, simchas as they can only be celebrated in Israel, and endearing aspects of Israeli culture. There are more than 120 anecdotes and links to video clips totaling more than six hours of video. We hope that these anecdotes and video clips give you a new and different insight into life in Israel, and encourage you to join in the fun by planning a visit to the land flowing with milk and honey.

The Best of Jewish Humor Central - Now Available in eBook and Paperback at Amazon.com

About the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

A long-term devotee of Jewish humor, Al Kustanowitz has been collecting and sharing it even before there was an internet. In 2009, after a 36-year career at IBM managing new technology projects, he founded Jewish Humor Central (jewishhumorcentral.com. Through the blog he brings a daily dose of fun and positive energy to readers who would otherwise start the day reading news that is often drab, dreary, and depressing (subscribing is free). He has published 12 books on humor based on his more than 4,000 blog postings, each of which includes a video clip and his commentary. He has presented more than 100 programs in South Florida and the Northeast on topics that include the great comedians and entertainers of the 20th century, funniest moments in film and television, flash mobs around the world, and composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the City University of New York and taught computer science courses at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Association of Yiddish Clubs. You can contact Al via email at akustan@gmail.com.

Jewish Humor Central

Friday, December 18, 2009

Happy Eighth Night Of Chanukah! Light All the Candles With the Chipmunks

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Just Published: The Kustanowitz Kronikle - 35 Years of Purim Parody