Real Housewives of Jerusalem: A HaHafuch Comedy Special

Reality TV programs have become so popular that it shouldn't be a surprise that the "Real Housewives" episodes are begging to be parodied. First there was "Real Housewives of Orange County," followed by New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, and Miami.

That's where HaHafuch comes along. The English language improv and comedy troupe based in Jerusalem couldn't resist the temptation and produced a funny promotional video for a show called "Real Housewives of Jerusalem." The video, which premiered last week at HaHafuch's Chanukah comedy night, is here for your enjoyment. 

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

(A tip of the kippah to Esther Kustanowitz for bringing this video to our attention.)

Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon Get Tested on Jewish Culture

Josh Horowitz is a managing editor for MTV News and on-air personality covering the world of film. Josh hosts “After Hours” on MTV.com, a show where he and some of the most recognized names in film show a completely different side.

In the current edition of "After Hours", he interviews Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon, stars of the new movie We Bought a Zoo, on basic questions about Jewish culture. Why? Probably because Scarlett Johansson is Jewish, and proud of it. Matt Damon is not, but he's a good sport in trying to answer the questions. For the record, we're not thrilled with the questions that Josh chose to ask, but it's all in the spirit of good clean fun, so let's go along for the ride.

Here's the interview, followed by a short clip from Israeli TV where Johansson answers questions about her Jewish ancestry, and the trailer from the movie We Bought a Zoo. 

The movie, based on a true story, is about Los Angeles journalist Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon), who, following his wife's untimely death, decides to make a fresh start by quitting his job and moving his children (Colin Ford, Maggie Elizabeth Jones) to an 18-acre property containing the Rosemoor Wildlife Park. Though closed for years, Rosemoor is still home to many animals, cared for by Kelly Foster (Scarlett Johansson) and her small staff. Mee opens his heart and his checkbook as he, Kelly and the others work to renovate and reopen the zoo.

Enjoy!

How "Bei Mir Bist du Schein," 73 Years Old This Week, Became a Smash Hit

This week is the 73rd anniversary of the sudden rise to fame of a Yiddish love song written for the Yiddish theatre by lyricist Jacob Jacobs and composer Sholom Secunda. The song, Bei Mir Bist du Schein, began as an act at Grossinger's Hotel by two black singers, Johnnie and George, who brought it to the Apollo Theater in Harlem where it was heard by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin, who bought the rights to the song for $30.

The song's unlikely journey continued when the songwriters translated it into English and brought it to the attention of The Andrews Sisters, a new singing group.

The full story, told in All About Jewish Theatre, includes the following details:

The Andrews Sisters

The Andrews' record was released a few days after Christmas 1938. By New Year's Eve it was playing over and over again on every radio station in New York City. It started when "The Milkman's Matinee" on WNEW picked it up and played it on the all-night show. Soon there were near riots at the record stores. Crowds would line up and the song would be played out into the street from loudspeakers. Traffic would back up for blocks. By the end of January, "Bei Mir Bist du Schon" had sold more than 350,000 copies.

"Bei Mir Bist du Schon" fever spread across the land. "It's wowing the country," reported one New Jersey paper. "They're singing it in Camden, Wilkes-Barre, Hamilton, Ohio, and Kenosha, Wis. The cowboys of the West are warbling the undulating melody and so are the hillbillies of the South, the lumberjacks of the Northwest, the fruit packers of California, the salmon canners of Alaska." And it was huge hit in Yorkville: "The Nazi bierstuben patrons yodel it religiously, under the impression that it's a Goebbels-approved German chanty."

In 1963 United Artists released a record titled Yiddish Maestro Please that included a rendition of the song by the Feder Sisters, in Yiddish and in English.

There are no videos of the Andrews Sisters singing the English version that rose to the top of the charts in 1938, but other singers have tried to capture their spirit and harmony. A good example of this is The New Andrews Sisters, who, dressed like the originals, give us a good idea of what the original sisters sounded like.

So what has happened to the song during the 73 years since it first made its appearance as a popular English song? It's been performed and recorded in many languages, but it also found a place in a parody inspired by an offhand remark by a member of the Smith Street Society Jazz Band around 1963, who referred to it as The Bear Missed the Train. They recorded the song parody and it was picked up by the legendary Jean Shepherd, king of late night radio from 1956 to 1977, who played his kazoo along with it almost every night.

The parody also has verses that start "The goat missed the boat" and "The duck missed the truck." Today it's sung by schoolchildren as seen in the following video.  Enjoy!

(A tip of the kippah to Phoebe Weisbrot for bringing this story to our attention.)

It's Time For You to Choose: Which Chanukah Music Video is Your Favorite?

Since we started our Chanukah countdown, we've posted 12 new music videos that were created for this season. Some were by groups you've seen before, and some were first time creations.

They covered a wide range of music styles, and they were sung by boys and girls, men and women, young and old. Here's an opportunity for all of our readers to get involved, take another look at the songs as we get ready to light the eighth Chanukah candle, and vote for your favorite. Only one vote can be cast, so choose carefully. Just make your selection in the column at the left of this blog post.

We'll be collecting votes for a week, ending at midnight next Monday, January 2.

Here are links to the videos, just in case you'd like to see them again before voting.

Yeshiva Boys Choir: Those Were the Nights

Aish HaTorah: Hanukkah - Rock of Ages

Los Angeles Jewish Home: "Chanukah Oh Chanukah"

The Maccabeats: "Miracle"

The Fountainheads: "Light Up the Night"

Six 13: "Chanukah Rights"

Luisa Tedoff Cohen: "Hilarious Hanukkah Medley"

Pella Singers: "Tonight, Tonight"

Jerusalem Flash Mob: "Shir BaBoker (Pitom Kam Adam)"

Hashmonaim Children: "Kung Fu Maccabees"

Tom Lehrer and Yavneh Choir: "Hanukkah in Santa Monica"

Jacob Kantor: "No Latkes"

Avi Liberman Performs Stand-up Comedy at Chabad in California

On Chanukah we sometimes get so carried away with music videos and other topics that we forget about the content that many of our readers are asking for -- jokes and comedy, usually of the stand-up variety. 

So as not to disappoint our comedy fans, we're bringing you a new, complete 23-minute comedy routine that was performed last Monday evening at a Chinese Auction and comedy night sponsored by Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, California.

The comedian is Avi Liberman, an Israeli-born, Texas-raised Los Angeles resident who delivers family-friendly humor. Twice every year, he brings a group of comedians to Israel to perform for the Koby Mandell Foundation, which works on behalf of terror victims' families and is named after the 13-year-old who was murdered by terrorists near his Tekoa home on May 8, 2001.

At the start of the routine, Liberman jokes that at Jewish functions he is often asked by a rabbi to avoid telling jokes about drugs, chairs (because women sit on chairs with a part of the body that may not be appropriate to joke about), or paper (because pornography is often printed on paper and jokes about paper could lead to mixed dancing.) But he manages to hit a lot of topics that should resonate and help to get your day started with some laughter.  They include explaining Jewish holidays to non-Jews, Israeli auto mechanics, observations on levels of religiosity, flying El Al, and how to interpret elementary school report cards. Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Toronto Kids on What They Think About on Chanukah - Very Cute!

Here are some beautiful Chanukah wishes from UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

The children of Toronto's Associated Hebrew Schools Posluns Education Centre were asked a timely and simple question: "What do you think about on Chanukah?"

The answers? We're sure they'll make you smile.

Here are some of our favorites:

"Sometimes I don't like the draydel game because my brother takes away all the chocolates."

"The good guys -- a lot of Maccabees -- they're like the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Greeks are the bad guys like the Montreal Canadiens."

"Antiochus gave the Jews a time out. They couldn't pray, they couldn't watch TV, and the Jews said 'I don't want time outs anymore.'"

"The Maccabees are the heroes of the holiday, just like Batman."

"I think Judah Maccabee looks like Justin Bieber."

"You just take a little bit of brown stuff and then you smush it up and put it in a circle and then you put it in the oven and when it's ready you can take it out and it looks like a latke."

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

New Music Video Finds a Solution to a Latke-Free Chanukah

Jacob Kantor, a member of Ohr HaTorah Synagogue in Los Angeles, had a vision of the consequences of a friend being deprived of his latke entitlement on Chanukah. 

Within a week, he turned the vision into a music video telling the whole story. Amazingly, the video production was done on an iPhone in just two days. After another two days of editing, Kantor posted the video on YouTube, where it joins the growing panoply of Chanukah music videos.

The characters in the video go through a series of disappointments when they are offered a baked potato, mashed potatoes, knishes, french fries, and tater tots, all of which they reject.  Why, oh why, can't they get the latkes that they crave?  

Finally, the singer gets his latkes. But only because he bought them at Gelson's (a Los Angeles supermarket chain.)  Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Oldie But Goodie Revived: Tom Lehrer's Hanukkah in Santa Monica - The Original and as Covered by Yavneh Academy Choir

Twenty-one years ago, Tom Lehrer, our all-time favorite musical satirist, penned and performed the classic Hanukkah in Santa Monica. In December 2009, our third month at Jewish Humor Central, we searched the internet for a video of his performance to share with our small group of readers. It was available on YouTube for awhile, but then it disappeared. So we went with a high school glee club and their rendition of this song.

Today, as our email subscriber list reached and passed the 2,000 mark, we did another search and found that this gem is back. So before it disappears again, we're bringing it to you now.

It's also very satisfying to see that Lehrer's wit is being transmitted to a new generation. After the original version as sung by Tom, we're also including a version that was performed just a few days ago by the choir of Yavneh Academy of Paramus, New Jersey in front of the Williams-Sonoma store at the Garden State Plaza shopping mall.

We think that this song, one of the few inventive Chanukah parodies before the genre exploded last year with offerings by the Maccabeats, Fountainheads, and others, remains one of the best.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Shlemiel the First, a Klezmer Musical Comedy, Called Better Than Any Broadway Show

"Better by far than anything currently on Broadway." That's what John Lahr, senior theater critic at The New Yorker magazine, and son of legendary actor Bert Lahr, has to say about Shlemiel the First.

Shlemiel the First is an award-winning klezmer musical comedy based on a play of the same name by Isaac Bashevis Singer, about a holy fool sent on an ill-conceived errand that subsequently transforms the inhabitants of Chelm, his impoverished village. It features a live band, on-stage costume changes, and cross-dressing necessitated by the fact that many of the actors play multiple roles (some of the men even play their own wives). 

Here's John Lahr's review from the December 12 issue of "The New Yorker."

All fans of the American musical who are sick of boulevard nihilism, movie retreads, choreographic cliché, dopey lyrics, and banal librettos, your ship has come in: “Shlemiel the First,” the terrific 1994 klezmer musical, adapted by Robert Brustein from Isaac Bashevis Singer’s, is being revived, Dec. 13-31, at the Skirball.

David Gordon’s elegant production, set in the surreal shtetl landscape of Chelm, jolts an audience out of the habitual. Shlemiel, its eponyous beadle hero (Michael Iannucci), is a “crazy fool,” according to his wife (Amy Warren). He is called upon to spread the wisdom of Groman Ox, the wisest man of the village council of sages, who earned the laurel by solving a sour-cream shortage. The musical (with splendid lyric by Arnold Weinstein, and music by Hankus Netsky) is a wacky, inspired recounting of his hapless missionary journey. In its artfulness and eloquence, Shlemiel the First is better by far than anything currently on Broadway. It returns the musical to its playful, populist roots. Miss it at your peril.

Shlemiel the First is now playing in Manhattan at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at Washington Square through December 31, the longest run of a single show for the 2011-12 Season.

Shlemiel has been significantly reworked since it was originally co-produced by the American Repertory Theater in 1994. This current production comes courtesy of a collaboration between NYU Skirball, The National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene, Theatre for a New Audience, or TFANA and Peak Performances at Montclair.

During the last week of rehearsals at The New 42nd Street Studios,  a video was made of the Shlemiel cast and crew. In it, they describe their specific roles within the overall production. The individuals featured are (in order of appearance): Kristine Zbornik, Amy Warren, Jeff Brooks, Michael Iannucci, Aaron Netsky, Stephen Cain and Michael Larsen. 

So watch the video and get tickets while they're still available. We'll be attending the December 26 performance. Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Happy Kung Fu Chanukah From the Town Where It All Began - Hashmonaim

Tonight we light the first Chanukah candle. To begin the eight day celebration we bring you a music video featuring a group of children from the Israeli town of Hashmonaim, built on the very spot where the Maccabees lived in ancient Israel.

In this video the children bring the story of Hanukkah to life as modern day Kung Fu and Ballerina Macabbees. On a rainy day in Kislev when two of them, Shalom and Matan Nadav, were home sick from school they wrote their own version of of the Kung Fu Panda song "Kung Fu Fighting" and changed it to "Chanukah Lighting" (with a little help from their Mom, Sarah). They invited their friends to come and make a movie with them.

All the parents got involved and roped in friends and family to get the video done, including Dena Lerner, Sarah Nadav, Robin Greenspan, Shani Greenspan, Esti Green, Elisheva Lieberman, Shimon Greenspan, Dave Nadav and Jon Nelson from Eden Mi Qedem who sang and mixed the song.

We hope you enjoy the video as you get ready to light your candles and enjoy your latkes and sufganiyot. Watch the whole cast perform the song -- the Maccabees, the ballerinas and ninjas (funny, we don't remember them being part of the story), the Greeks, and with a modern touch, a few Angry Birds get into the act.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

What's in a Name? Confusion, if the Name is Chaya Mushka

If you walk into a class of 120 students in a school for girls in Crown Heights and call out the name Chaya Mushka, it's likely that 75 girls will respond. The Brooklyn neighborhood is filled with hundreds of Chaya Mushkas. 

The Jewish Daily Forward features an article this week on the growing number of Chassidic girls who share the same name, Chaya Mushka, as an honor to the memory of the late wife of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. 

When the Rebbetzin, as she was known, died in 1988, hundreds of Lubavitch parents named their daughters Chaya Mushka. 

Writing in the Forward, Paul Berger reports:

The rebbetzin, in an undated photo.

Mushky Duchman, born in August, 1988, in Brooklyn was among them. “The rebbe was our leader and when the rebbetzin passed away, it was the greatest thing to give back to the rebbe,” Duchman told the Forward.

During the 1990s in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where the Lubavitch movement has its world headquarters, schools were flooded with Chaya Mushkas. Duchman said that at her Beth Rivkah school in Brooklyn, about 75 of the 120 girls in her grade were called Chaya Mushka.

To differentiate themselves, these Chaya Mushkas adopted various nicknames and alternative spellings: Chaya, Chayale, Moussia, Mushkee, Mushkie, Mushky or Mookie.

Rishe Deitsch, senior editor of a Chabad women’s newsletter, said distinguishing between Chaya Mushkas at school only became a problem when cousins shared the same surname. “Then you start going by the street [they live on],” Deitsch said, “like Chaya Mushka Crown or Chaya Mushka President.”

That was no solution for teachers and classmates of Chaya Mushka Avtzon and Chaya Mushka Avtzon, first cousins who lived three doors away from each other on Crown Street, in Brooklyn.

“We always requested to be in the same class and everyone got us mixed up,” said one of the 22-year-old Avtzons who recently married and officially became Mushky Edelman.

Even today, now that one of the Avtzons has given up her maiden name, the two women still receive each other’s phone calls and text messages, or those meant for their 21-year-old cousin, Chaya Mushka Avtzon, who also lives in Crown Heights.

In the following video, the Forward interviewed these two Chaya Mushkas, as well as the principal of a girls' school in Crown Heights.  Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

When we first heard that the Forward was doing an article and video about the large number of children answering to the exact same name, we couldn't help but think of one of our favorite Dr. Seuss stories, Too Many Daves. It begins "Did I ever tell you that Mrs. McCave had 23 sons and she named them all Dave?" An animated version of the very short story follows. We hope you'll enjoy this one, too.

Flash Mob Surprises Shoppers and Diners on Jerusalem's Mamilla Street

On November 11, 2011 (11/11/11) shoppers and diners in the new Mamilla shopping district in Jerusalem were surprised when about 200 members of Hora Jerusalem erupted in a flash mob rendition of the popular Israeli song, Pit'om Kam Adam. 

The dance troupe is part of the Art Department of the Jerusalem Municipality, and performs under the auspices of the Israeli Ministry of Education. 

Hora Jerusalem ensembles perform a wide repertoire, which includes primarily Israeli folk and traditional Jewish dances, created especially for the troupes over the last 50 years, by the best of Israel’s choreographers. The ensembles also perform international folk dances, contemporary and modern Israeli dances. This blend of old and new dances provides a stimulating and memorable performance. The activities of Hora Jerusalem encompass many children, teenagers, adults and graduates of other troupes.

We love to share Israeli flash mobs, and we've been on the lookout for them. The last two we posted were the "flesh mob" on the beach at Rishon LeZion last year and the Michael Jackson Beat It flash mob at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

Today's entry is a class act with beautiful choreography and the characteristics of a true flash mob, its participants seeming to emerge from nowhere, and dissolving into the crowd at the end of the performance. The dance was choreographed and directed by Adi Gordon Rawlings.

The song, Pit'om Kam Adam (At Once a Man Rises) tells of a man waking up in the morning and feeling the strength of the people and nation of Israel that against all odds, rose to the occasion and created a country for themselves. An English translation of the Hebrew lyrics appears below the video.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

 

(A tip of the kippah to Sheila Zucker for calling our attention to this video.)

Suddenly a man wakes up in the morning
He feels he is a nation and begins to walk
And to all he meets on his way he calls out 'Shalom!'

Corn stalks are growing up behind him
Between the cracks in the sidewalks and lilac trees
Shower down rich fragance on his head
The dew drops are sparkling and the hills are a myriad of rays
They will give birth to a canopy of sunlight for his wedding

Suddenly a man wakes up in the morning...

And he laughs with the strength of generations in the mountains,
and the shamed wars bow down to the ground,
to the glory of a thousand years flowing forth from the hiding places,
a thousand young years in front of him
like a cold book, like a shepherd's song, like a branch.

Suddenly a man wakes up in the morning
He feels he is a nation and begins to walk,
and he sees that the spring has returned
and the tree is turning green since last fall's treeshedding.

Pella Singers Celebrate Chanukah with Vocals and Virtual Instruments

Today's entry in the series of Chanukah music videos that we've been sharing is an a cappella performance by the Pella Singers, a song titled Tonight, Tonight (no, not the song from West Side Story, but a song about celebrating Chanukah and other Jewish holidays.) It was filmed on location this month at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.

Pella Productions has mastered the art of a cappella singing. They have the knack of singing without instruments and without microphones, a useful skill when they're asked to perform at Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs in synagogues on Friday night and on Shabbat afternoon. 

What's really unique about them is the way they use their mouths and voices to simulate the sound of musical instruments, and their videos create the illusion that there are as many as 27 singers when in reality there are only ten or twelve.

The group is the result of a recent merger between two of Jewish a cappella's most popular and experienced ensembles, Kol Zimra and Harmonia.  Pella's combined experience and depth of talent are unparalelled in the industry, with performers worldwide, and they have performed at more events than any other a cappella ensemble.

Their work includes:

• Two featured performances at the White House, for the President of the United States, in 2004 and 2008
• Singing the national anthem at various professional sporting venues, including Citi Field, home of the New York Mets
• Performing at the annual Celebrate Israel Parade along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, and post-parade performances in Central Park
• Performing at over 1,000 private affairs around the globe

Here's their latest music video.  Enjoy! 

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Hilarious Hanukkah Medley: A Solo Performance by Luisa Tedoff Cohen

We're taking a short break from the slick, professionally produced Chanukah music videos released over the last few weeks by Aish, the Fountainheads, the Maccabeats and other groups. We're still working the Chanukah beat, but this time we're presenting an original Hilarious Hanukah Medley created and performed by Luisa Tedoff Cohen.

Luisa is a classically trained singer, with a career in acting, opera, operetta and musical theater. She currently teaches early childhood music at the prestigious Diller-Quaile School of Music in New York City.

This live version of the Hilarious Hanukkah Medley was recorded at a private party in Greenwich Village a few days ago.  Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Six 13 a Capella Group's Video Launches Fight for Chanukah Rights

The a capella group called Six 13 has just released a video called Chanukah Rights, in which they call on Jews everywhere to assert their Chanukah rights in the spirit of Judah Maccabee. The song calls for more respect from the mainstream media and references the recent slight to Chanukah on a billboard for Vodka in New York City (Christmas quality, Hanukkah pricing).

So what rights are they fighting for? Getting off from work, special albums by pop singing stars, plays by Charles Dickens, holiday equality and playing Chanukah songs on the radio.

Fueled by a strong, Jewish identity and anchored by thumping beatbox, intricate arrangements, and soulful harmonies, Six13 is a six-man vocal band that brings an unprecedented style of Jewish music to the stage. With songs ranging from hip-hop dance tracks to rock anthems, the members of the New York-based group sound like a full band – while using nothing but their voices.

Six13 has recorded four award-winning albums, whose songs have been played all over Jewish radio and been chosen to appear on nine different “best of” compilation albums. The group has over 20,000 CDs in circulation, and are among the top Jewish music artists on iTunes. They have received several distinctions and accolades from Jewish organizations like the National Council of Young Israel and Moment Magazine, and awards from musical organizations like the Harmony Sweepstakes and the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America. They have appeared on the Chabad Telethon, and were chosen from hundreds of groups, both Jewish and secular, as finalists in the casting process for NBC’s hit prime-time television series The Sing-Off. The group has also become a viral internet sensation, with over one million views on YouTube.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)