A New Multi-Genre Twist on Dayenu by the Maccabeats

The Maccabeats, an a cappella group that started out in 2009 as Yeshiva University's student vocal group, has come a long way. 

Now an independent musical ensemble, and often traveling with little more than the shirts on their backs and the ties on their necks, the Maccabeats have entertained and inspired hundreds of audiences worldwide, from Alabama to New Zealand and everywhere in between. 

Using nothing more than the unadulterated human voice, a clean-cut presentation, and a little Jewish humor, this unique group of singers is able to connect with fans of all backgrounds and ages.

This week they released their latest holiday video, a version -- actually multiple versions -- of Dayenu, one of the most popular songs in the Passover Haggadah. In the space of four minutes, they offer doo-wop, polka, funk, metal, island, dubstep (electronic music), and barbershop.

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.)         

A Joke to Start the Week - "Actor in an Ape Suit"

We're counting down the days to Pesach, and lining up some good videos to post through the holiday. But it's Monday morning, and we're taking a break from Passover videos to post a joke to start the week.

Passover marks the beginning of a new year (yes, Tishrei and Rosh Hashanah also mark the start of a new year, but we're not going into that now).  Our way of getting this new year off to a good start is to introduce some new sources of Jewish jokes.

Until now, most of our Monday morning jokes have come from Old Jews Telling Jokes, and we're grateful to Sam Hoffman for pioneering this genre, but now we're branching out into our own series of Jersey Jews Telling Jokes, Florida Jews Telling Jokes, Israeli Jews Telling Jokes, and others.

Today's joke teller is Al Kustanowitz, entertainer, author, lecturer, and Jewish Humor Central's Blogger-in-Chief. Al is blogging from Jerusalem this month, having just returned from a month of performances in South Florida. He's now accepting bookings for his hour-long programs of Jewish humor for the rest of the year and for next winter in South Florida.

Here's the setup: Herschel, a Jewish actor, is so down and out that he's ready to take any acting job that he can find. Finally he finds a classified ad that says "Actor Needed to Play an Ape." And then...

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.)   

Dancing up a Storm to Share Passover with Israel's Needy

Yad Ezra v'Shulamit, an Israeli charity that feeds over 3,000 hungry families a week, has set an ambitious goal for itself as we count down the days to Pesach (Only 5 left to go).

It plans to distribute 20,000 baskets of Passover food this week. To create awareness of the project, it enlisted a talented team of dancers and singer Ari Goldwag to drive the point home.

Last Chanukah we posted a video of Rabbi Ari Goldwag, a prolific writer, lecturer, singer and musician singing Chanukah Lights that got a very good reception from our readers.  He is the featured singer in this new video just released by Yad Ezra v'Shulamit.

While we generally don't solicit donations on this site, we thought the dancing and positive energy emerging from this number justifies its inclusion in our collection of new Passover videos. If Yad Ezra v'Shulamit gets some new contributors because of it, we wish them every success.

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.)   

Hasidic Comedian Mendy Pellin on a Seder That You Don't Want to Attend

Hasidic comedian Mendy Pellin performed a stand-up Pesach comedy routine before a Hasidic crowd. 

In the routine, he describes the ordeal he had to go through as a guest in a house with 17 kids who recited Ma Nishtanah, one after the other. Oy vey!

And if that wasn't enough, there was the nemesis who stands in the way of the food with extra questions after every paragraph in the Haggadah. And some hilarious speculation about what would happen if separation of men and women went too far.

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.) 

Israel's Technion Students Give Us a Rube Goldberg Seder

Technion students are always eager to demonstrate their scientific and engineering talents, and the Jewish holidays give them the opportunity to apply their knowledge in humorous ways.

Their creativity flourishes on Chanukah, and we have posted some of their funny videos on Chanukah and also on Rosh Hashanah.

This year, as they get ready for Passover, the festival of freedom, they let their imagination run wild. Watch closely as this Rube Goldberg Machine created by students from the Faculties of Mechanical Engineering and Architecture and Town Planning relates highlights of the Passover story.

The video was produced in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in The Sydney & Shirley Gendel and Emanuel Friedberg Family Creative Design Student Laboratory, a Project of the American Technion Society, Cleveland Chapter

You can also watch Behind the Scenes to see how it was made: https://youtu.be/pOpryQ_tmUs

(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.) 

350 HaZamir Teens Give Rousing Choral Performance at Lincoln Center

If you weren't seated in Avery Fisher Hall in New York's Lincoln Center last Sunday, you really missed something big.

For two hours, 350 teenagers from 26 chapters of HaZamir Jewish High School Choir across the United States and in five cities in Israel gave a stunning performance to a packed house, singing 20 traditional and contemporary songs in Hebrew, English, and Yiddish.

HaZamir, the International Jewish High School Choir, is an international network of choral chapters for Jewish teens. Local HaZamir chapters meet weekly in cities across America and Israel to rehearse and perform Jewish choral music.

HaZamir provides Jewish teenagers the unique opportunity to sing at the highest performance level, build pluralistic community, and create strong Israel-Diaspora relations in the next generation.

Each local HaZamir chapter is directed by a talented conductor whose devotion to the highest standard of Jewish music-making helps to inspire the next generation of Jewish choral singers.

In this excerpt from the performance, filmed at a rehearsal, Dr. Marsha Bryan Edelman of HaZamir Philadelphia conducts the choir in her arrangement of Ahinoam Nini's song Mishaela, accompanied by Lior Ben-Shlush of HaZamir Kfar Saba at the piano.

Just below is another video of the same choir two years ago performing David Burger's Tefila l'shlom Eretz Yisrael - the prayer for the State of Israel that is said in many synagogues on Shabbat.


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.)  

A Bissel of Pesach from the Jewish Home in Australia

The word bissel means "a little bit" in Yiddish. "A Bissel Of..." is a new series of short videos featuring residents of Jewish Care of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, who give us their answers to a range of questions.

This Bissel of Pesach is the fifth video in the series. We previously posted "Bissel" videos with the seniors' answers to questions about Chanukah, Shabbat, food, and technology.
 
In this video the seniors tackle questions including:

1. What would you say to Moses after 40 years?
2. Why do we lean to the left at the seder table?
3. Have you ever fallen asleep at the seder table?
4. What is your favorite thing to eat on the matzah?
5. What should the perfect matzah ball be like?
6. Do you like to put matzah in the soup?

You asked for more of this series, so here goes!

(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 Joke to Start the Week - "Never Go to Bed Angry"

It's another Monday, and it's time for our Joke to Start the Week. Today's joke teller is 75-year-old pharmacist Mannie Young. The joke is from the Old Jews Telling Jokes collection.

Here's the setup: I always went to my Bubbie for advice. So when I got married, I went to her and I said: "Bubbie, what can you tell Charna and I so that we don't become a statistic?" And then...

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.)   

Echad Mi Yodea Like You've Never Heard it Before - Modern Dance or Strip Haggadah?

Any way you experience it, the Passover seder can be a long evening of reading and eating, and by the time we get to the end of the Haggadah, we're ready for a change of pace. The last two songs, Echad mi Yodea and Chad Gadya, usually lend themselves to spirited and animated singing.

Around the world, many variations of these songs are performed, but the one we're sharing with you today is unique. A modern dance number choreographed by Ohad Naharin, artistic director of Israel's Batsheva Dance Company, it includes all 13 verses of the song. 

As modern dance, it's going to get different reactions from viewers in different age groups and with different artistic preferences. We're curious as to your reactions and invite your comments below.

The dance has been performed by many dance groups, including Batsheva and Alvin Ailey. We've looked at a few of them and find them to be similar, but this one by Lenka Kuzněcovová is the most expressive. The dance has been reviewed by many publications with varying interpretations.

As Valerie Gladstone wrote in the Los Angeles Times,

Twenty dancers form a semicircle as Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin's recorded voice speaks the first words of the traditional Passover song "Echad Mi Yodea" (Who Knows One), marking the beginning of his work by that name.

They sit down, lean forward and bow toward the floor. The Israeli rock group Tractor's Revenge pumps up the tempo with its version of the song. Thrusting out their chests, the dancers tilt backward in their chairs and spread their arms wide, wildly shaking their heads as if possessed. By the end, they are shouting out the lyrics and flinging off most of their clothes in an ecstatic celebration of movement and freedom.

In the Batsheva Dance Company version, the piece begins with a narrator speaking these words in a haunting voice: ”The illusion of beauty and the fine line that separates madness from sanity, the panic behind the laughter and the coexistence of fatigue and elegance.”

We take a lighter approach, and after looking at the pile of clothes left in the center of the stage at the conclusion of the piece, wonder if the group continued with Chad Gadya, what else they would take off.

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.)  
 

Election Fever: Flash Mob Hatikvah on the Jerusalem Light Rail

 

This week's election in Israel produced lots of campaign ads and videos. Most were attempts to boost the prospects of candidates by overstating their positive attributes and minimizing those of their opponents. But not all were partisan.

One video, shown below, produced by Im Tirtzu, a non-partisan, non-governmental organization, and featuring the a cappella group called KOLture Shock, was called the most patriotic train ride in Jerusalem ever by the Israel Video Network. It was filmed as a flash mob aboard the light rail in Jerusalem.

Im Tirtzu is an extra-governmental movement that works to educate about the values of Zionism in Israel. Im Tirtzu was established in 2006, after the Second Lebanon War, by Israeli intellectuals, students and IDF reservists.  

Im Tirtzu's main objectives focus on working towards a renewal of the Zionist discourse, Zionist thinking and Zionist ideology, to ensure the future of the Jewish nation and of the State of Israel and to advance Israeli society in coping with the challenges it faces. A major portion of Im Tirtzu's efforts is devoted to combating the campaign of de-legitimization against the State of Israel and to providing responses to Post-Zionist and Anti-Zionist phenomena.

KOLture Shock is an a cappella group of Israelis and English-speaking students and olim living in Jerusalem.We have featured them before in a musical parody about the second seder. 

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.)  




(A tip of the kippah to Dan Mosenkis for bringing this video to our attention.)

Clean Kosher Comedy: A Mid-week Dose to Lighten the Load of Passover Preparation

The supermarket aisles are loaded with Passover products and paraphernalia, new Haggadot are being released, homes are being cleaned, and travel arrangements are being made. 

Have you heard? It's Passover time. Only 15 days until the seder. With all the pressure to make everything perfect for the seder and beyond, we thought that a dose of clean kosher comedy would be helpful to lighten the load and brighten the rest of the week.

We found a video clip on YouTube that we think will do the trick. We think that the comedian is funny and right on the mark. But we don't know who he is. That's right, he's not identified other than that he's available for bookings at Perfect Pitch Entertainment.

So here's a challenge to all you lovers of stand-up comedy, and especially readers who keep asking for more jokes. If you recognize this mystery stand-up comedian, let us know in your comments below.

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.)   

Passover's Coming...and so are Lots of Questions

The Passover seder is only 16 days away, so we think today is a good day to begin our annual Pesach countdown. 

Over the next two weeks we're going to focus on Passover-related topics and bring you as many new videos as we can find to enhance your observance and enjoyment of the eight day holiday (7 days in Israel).

The Jewish Federations of North America can always be counted on to produce and distribute cute and funny videos to encourage giving and helping people as we get closer to Passover.

In this 2015 video, a group of children ask lots of "Why?" questions that will make you smile. Who says there are only four questions to ask on the seder night(s)? The video ends with a basic question -- "Why can't we just help people?" and leaves the answer up to us.

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.)  

Streets of Paris Resound to Hava Nagila with Gad Elbaz and Dancers

In light of the recent terror attacks on French journalists and Jews, and in a show of solidarity for the Jewish community of France, Israeli superstar Gad Elbaz has released a new music video to a contemporary upbeat version of Hava Nagila. 

Hava Nagila which means “Lets be happy” is the most well-known Jewish song, and serves as a universal call to unite all people in song. Gad Elbaz along with Jews, Muslim and Christians dancers, dance at the Place De La Republic, Shanzelize and the streets of Paris accompanied by an eastern European Klezmer Band.

“Despite the French army presence at every Jewish site, we still felt the fear and heightened tensions everywhere. That however, did not hold us back from singing and dancing to Hava Nagila in the streets of Paris, and spreading the joy.” said producer-Director Daniel Finkelman.” Its all about people taking a stand and refusing to be bullied, we will not hide our identity as Jews, we are proud to be Jewish” Added Gad Elbaz.

Elbaz already achieved international success by the age of 26 with three number one hit songs, Halayla Zeh Hazman, Or and Al Neharot Bavel.  All of his CD's have climbed high on the charts and sold over 100,000 copies in Israel alone.  Gad began to sing and write music at age four. He first appeared with his father Benny Elbaz, a popular Israeli singer, accompanying him on the hit song Father I Love You.

Gad's music intentionally captures both the observant and secular listener by mixing original and biblical texts with ballads, harmonies, middle-eastern rhythms and modern pop. Many of the songs are a collaboration between him and his wife Moran, where he composes the music and she writes the lyrics. 

(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 Rafi of the Life in Israel blog (http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com) for bringing this video to our attention.)

A Joke to Start the Week - "Chicken in My Pants"

It's another Monday, and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Once more we dip into the archives of Old Jews Telling Jokes for a joke about a very special chicken. Today's joke teller is Mike Frenkel, a 78-year-old attorney.

Here's the setup: Morris and Sue lived in Brooklyn. And Sue says to Morris: "You know, Morris, I'm just sick and tired of the chickens that I'm getting from the chicken market. That kosher market - all they do is give me them skinny chickens." And then...

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.)

Streit's Matzo Leaves its Home on the Lower East Side

The Streit's Matzo you buy this Passover will be the last produced in the Streit's factory on Rivington Street in Lower Manhattan. 

The familiar pink boxes that dominate the Passover aisles in supermarkets this month are likely to be back next year, but they will probably contain matzos baked in New Jersey. 

The cousins who now run their Streit's family business have accepted an offer to buy the aging five-story matzo factory on Rivington Street. They haven't decided on where to build a new plant but it's likely to be near their existing facilities in Moonachie, New Jersey.

The Streit's connection with Passover has a long history. In the 1890s, Aron Streit and his wife, Nettie, left Europe and came to America. In 1916, Aron opened his first matzo factory. There, on Pitt Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Aron and his first partner Rabbi Weinberger made all their matzo by hand.

In 1925, Aron and one of his sons opened up a modern bakery in the same building on Rivington Street where Streit's stands today. A few years later, Aron's other son joined the business. With the family working together, the Streit's matzo bakery prospered and Aron bought three adjoining buildings to handle the growing business.

But in time, the neighborhood changed, the machinery broke down, and the family decided it was time for a change.

The story of Streit's matzos has been made into a documentary film that's screening on March 29 and April 7 at the JCC Manhattan. They're even providing a free box of Matzo at the screening.

Here's a video by the Wall Street Journal on the last day's of Streit's in Manhattan.

(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.)

Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: A Country and Western Shalom Aleichem

Beit T'shuvah is a Los Angeles based community with a mission to guide individuals and families towards a path of living well, so that wrestling souls can recover from addiction and learn how to properly heal. 

The Beit T'Shuvah faith-based model, founded on authenticity and wholeness, integrates spirituality, psychotherapy, Jewish teachings, the 12 Steps, and the creative arts. They are a compassionate, supportive community, devoted to building an empowering sense of belonging and purpose to everyone who seeks it. 

They also have a band, and last week they recorded a unique Outlaw Country Shabbat service with all the familiar songs in the Friday night liturgy sung to classic Country and Western tunes.

So put on your boots and cowboy hats, and join them in welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem sung to the tune of Lookin' Out My Back Door as sung by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

(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.)

Comedy Classic: Rita Rudner, Queen of Clean Stand-up Comedy at the Improv

Rita Rudner has always been one of our favorite comedians. She's funny and generally tells clean jokes -- something that's pretty rare these days.

We're always on the lookout for Rita's appearances in Las Vegas where she now lives or at other locations that she visits to perform her stand-up routines. 

She got her start at an improv comedy club and returned there to give a stand-up performance that was captured and posted 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.)

You've Been Eating Bagels Wrong Your Whole Life

If you're like us, you've probably been eating bagels with a schmear of cream cheese for many years. But did you know you've been eating them the wrong way? Who says? Well, the folks who are behind Murderbot productions, a funny web site say so.

In a funny video posted this week on YouTube, we're being given advice on bypassing the conventional way of cutting a bagel in half and schmearing a thick layer of cream cheese on each half.

To do it the right way, you have to rethink the whole process. Instead of cutting the bagel in half with a knife, forget about the knife and take out an electric drill. Then after drilling a bunch of holes in the bagel, well, you'll have to see the rest for yourself.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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.) 

The Flagler Hotel: Following the Borscht Belt Trail from Palm Beach to South Fallsburg

We just returned from a month of Jewish humor lectures and programs in South Florida, which included visiting local tourist attractions. 

One of the picturesque sites that we enjoyed was the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, which once housed a hotel. It was the home of Henry Morrison Flagler, one of the richest men in America, who with John D. Rockefeller, founded the Standard Oil Company.

Our curiosity was piqued by a recollection that before Grossinger's, the Concord, and Kutsher's, there was a Flagler Hotel in South Fallsburg, New York, at the center of the Borscht Belt. Could there be a connection between Flagler's hotel building spree in Florida and one of the first Catskills hotels?

It didn't take much Googling to discover that there was indeed a connection. Although Flagler did not build the Catskills hotel, his Florida properties were the inspiration for the design of the first lavish resort that kept Jewish vacationers happy for many summers.

After Kutsher's, the last of the kosher Catskills hotels, was demolished last year to make way for a new spa hotel, and documented in Welcome to Kutsher's, a film now playing nationwide, we thought that anyone who treasures Catskills memories would enjoy this video explaining the Palm Beach - South Fallsburg connection.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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 Joke to Start the Week - "Artie the Hit Man"

The northeast is finally getting some relief from the cold and snow, with temperatures in the 50s this week. It's been a rough winter, but we hope it was made easier by the warmth of our jokes every Monday.

Rain, snow, or shine, we're here with a laugh to start off each week. Today's joke is another one from the files of Old Jews Telling Jokes, but be warned, it's a groaner. Our joke teller today is Lawrence Goldberg, a 70-year-old auditor.

Here's the setup: A fellow wanted to get rid of his wife, so he hires a hit man named Artie. And he says "Artie, how much are you going to charge me?" And Artie says "A dollar." And then...

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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.) 

Yiddish Princess Band Brings Free Yiddish Rock Concert to Rutgers on March 10

Yiddish and hard rock? Would you ever expect those two terms to appear in the same sentence? How about appearing on stage in the form of a free music concert?

That's what's happening this Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm at the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theater at 85 George Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Yiddish Princess, a Brooklyn-based rock band, has performed around the world, including at the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, Poland. The concert this week is being offered in conjunction with a course on Yiddish culture by Jeffrey Shandler, a professor of Jewish studies at Rutgers and a scholar of contemporary Yiddish culture.

As Lois Goldrich wrote in this week's Jewish Standard,

Yiddish Princess “mixes power pop and hard rock with traditional Yiddish music, reflecting the powerful mix of cultures found in Brooklyn and other hipster outposts around the world today,” Dr. Shandler said. The concert, which is open to the public, will be followed by a talk-back with members of the band, which he will moderate, beginning by asking them about their music and their personal journeys as musicians.

The six-member group has been around for several years, Dr. Shandler said, noting that the lead vocalist, Sarah Mina Gordon, is the daughter of the late Adrienne Cooper, “a great singer and teacher… who played an important role in teaching both traditional Yiddish folk song and theater and art songs and encouraged her students to make this music their own."

Her daughter, he said, has done exactly that, although “it’s not the kind of music her mother would make. Her mother was a trained opera singer and had her own approach to singing. Sarah rocks out.”

We' ll be attending the concert. Will you? In the meantime, enjoy this video clip from the Krakow performance.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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.) 
 

It's Still Purim Today - But Only if You're in Jerusalem or Another Walled City

If you're like us, you probably have had your fill of hamantaschen (and snow) and Purim is over. But if you live in Jerusalem, you're celebrating Purim today, the 15th of Adar.

The battles fought between the Jews and their enemies throughout the Persian empire took place on 13 Adar. Around the world, the Jews rested and celebrated on the following day—14 Adar. In the capital city of Shushan, however, where there were a greater number of Jew-haters, the fighting continued for two days, 13 and 14 Adar. The victory celebrations in Shushan were thus held on the 15th.

When the holiday of Purim was set for the 14th of Adar, the sages instituted that Shushan residents perpetually observe Purim on the 15th of Adar—the day when the Shushanite Jews celebrated. The 15th of Adar is hence known as Shushan Purim.

Along with Shushan (which is located in modern-day southwestern Iran), all cities that were walled at the time when the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, entered Canaan, observe Purim on the 15th.

Today, the only city that we are certain had walls in Joshua’s times is Jerusalem. And indeed, in the holy city, Purim is festively celebrated one day after all other cities. There are a number of other ancient cities in Israel, such as Jaffa and Tiberias, regarding which there is a reasonable doubt whether they were walled in Joshua’s times. These cities observe two days of Purim. 

Yesterday, Nefesh B'Nefesh staff members walked the streets of Jerusalem spreading joy and distributing baskets of goodies, fulfilling the mitzvah of Mishloach Manot. Nefesh B'Nefesh is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the revitilization and facilitation of Aliyah. (moving to Israel). 

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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.) 

Oscars, Shmoscars! Here Are Our Purim Picks Of The Best Movies Of 2014

Happy Purim to all of our Jewish Humor Central readers.  We hope you enjoy this special Purim spoof from the Purim 2015 issue of The Kustanowitz Kronikle.  You can download the PDF by clicking HERE.  Print it and share it at your Purim Seudah.

 

There are the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards (Oscars).  But who needs them when the best awards of all are the Silver Graggers.  Jewish Humor Central is proud to present the movie awards from our sister publication, The Kustanowitz Kronikle.

The Silver Graggers are different from the Golden Globes and the Oscars in that there are multiple winners for Best Picture, the only award we give.

 

This year the Kustanowitz kids have been hard at work, deliberating which films released in 2014 merited consideration for this prestigious award.  Today we are announcing the winners of the annual competition.  Here are the best films of 2014, with a brief description of each one.

 

AMERICAN SNIPPER:  The controversial, harrowing, and heroic story of the most successful mohel in U. S. History.

GONE GIRL: A Conservative family reacts in horror when their daughter returns from a year in Yeshiva insisting on being called by her Hebrew name.

50 SHADES OF BLACK: A Chasidic fashion designer discovers a secret desire to explore the gradations of his community’s chosen color.

UNBROKEN: Following Neilah, an overconfident faster transitions right back into Kol Nidre to go for it all  over again.

BIG EYES:   At his son’s wedding, a man is crushed under the piled-high plate of smorgasbord food as he tries to carry it back to his table.

QUEENSMAN: Mordechai’s Secret Service: After the Purim story ends, Mordechai becomes a secret service recruiter, traveling the 127 provinces in search of an elite fighting squad. 

THE IMITATION GAME: A vegetarian/kosher restaurant creates community-wide panic when it starts serving fake shrimp, pork, and bacon that tastes too good to be true.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS: A scheming teenager convinces his parents that he sees three stars in the sky at noon, thus ending Shabbat early and allowing him to start using his iPhone.

BIG HERO 6: A daring American rabbi decrees that the seventh day of Passover is unnecessary, and his community rejoices.

BIRDMAN: A  Kapparot expert takes the ceremony too far when he tries swinging six chickens over his head at the same time.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: At a wedding, the bride’s mother fights with two young friends assigned to guard the Yichud room.

EDGE OF TOMORROW: A new convert struggles to understand how days in the Hebrew calendar could possibly begin the night before. 

THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU: At the end of Visiting Day at summer camp, a frustrated mother does everything in her power to separate from her homesick daughter.

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR: A Mafia hitman struggles to cram in all his atoning on Yom Kippur.

WILD: A Chabad rebbetzin and mother of eight young boys struggles to keep her home in order on a snow day.

TAKEN 3:  After one congregant takes two more Mishloach Manot packages than he should have, the rabbi swears to track him down and extract revenge.