A Very Modern (and Drunk) Retelling of the Purim Story

It's traditional to drink strong stuff on Purim until we can't tell the difference between cursing Haman and praising Mordecai.

But Josh and Rachael Silverbauer have taken it one step further and posted a video explaining the Purim story while in a state of inebriation.

While the depictions of the elements of the Book of Esther are a bit tipsy, they are pretty true to the story. So join us in a very modern retelling of Megillat Esther as we count down to the real thing on March 12.

Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "Jewish Samurai Warrior"

It's Monday, and you know what that means....time for a joke to start the week.

Today's joke teller is Joyce Fama, When she's not telling jokes, Joyce is an award winning Connecticut sculptor. Her medium is fired clay that is finished with custom patinas. 

Here's the setup for today's joke: There was once a very powerful Japanese emperor. He put out an ad looking for a chief Samurai warrior. And then...

Enjoy!

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It's Adar! Here Come the Purim Videos, Starting with Kermit the Frog and The Haman Remembrance

Today is Rosh Hodesh Adar, the first day of the Hebrew month of Adar. It's traditional to say Mishenichnas Adar marbim b'simcha -- When Adar arrives, we increase our rejoicing. Of course, we're referring to the holiday of Purim which always comes on the 15th day of Adar. 

This year, Purim is on Sunday, March 12, with the reading of Megillat Esther on that day and on the night before, Saturday night March 11.

Every year we celebrate Adar and Purim by sharing some of the new Purim videos which appear on the Internet. Last year we missed some of the best ones that came out too late for us to share. So this year we'll make it up by posting some of the best from previous years and some new ones that we think are good enough to share.

We're starting with a Purim video produced in 2014 by Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. It's The Haman Remembrance, a parody of Jim Henson's The Rainbow Connection, the Academy Award nominated song that opened The Muppet Movie in 1979.

Enjoy!




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Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi Version of John Legend's "All of Me"

This is a new version of the Bo'i B'shalom verse of Lecha Dodi by Harp and Love – a musical group from Israel that specializes in wedding music. 

It's set to the music of John Legend's song All of Me. The Hebrew text and English translation appear below the video.

Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom! 

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בּֽוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ. גַּם בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְצָהֳלָה.
תּוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻּלָּה. בּֽוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּֽוֹאִי כַלָּה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה:

Come now, Shabbat, the day divine,
Come in joy, let your brightnes​s shine.
Come to the people which greets you with pride,
Come in peace, Shabbat Bride.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Milton Berle Plays Auntie Mildred on the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour

Today is another Throwback Thursday and we're riding the nostalgia train back to September 1959 for a clip from Episode 1 in the third season of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, a spinoff from I Love Lucy.

In this episode, in order to get Milton Berle to perform at a benefit at Little Ricky's school, Lucy uses Ricky's name to spark his attention. When Ricky catches her, Lucy must act in secret and decides to visit Mr. Berle's office. 

At the office, she overhears Milton's agent saying that Mr. Berle needs a secluded place to work on his new book. After discussion, Milton's agent suggest he write his new book at Lucy's farmhouse. Later, when Fred catches a "mysterious man" visiting Lucy while Ricky is at work, Ricky becomes furious.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday   #TBT

Actress Natalie Portman Teaches You Hebrew Slang

How much Hebrew slang do you know? What's the real meaning of Al Hapanim, Chai B'seret, Balagan, and Zayin? 

In a video posted by Vanity Fair magazine, Actress Natalie Portman explains the street language meaning of these and other popular Israeli expressions.

Portman is fluent in Hebrew, having been born in Jerusalem to an Israeli father and American mother. She learned to speak Hebrew while living on Long Island and attended a Jewish elementary school, the Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County in Jericho, New York.

Enjoy!

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Dry Bones Cartoonist Yaakov Kirschen Tells Two Nixon Jokes

Yesterday we told you about Yaakov Kirschen's new series of coloring books including Jewish curses illustrated with the same humor he uses for his daily Dry Bones cartoons in The Jerusalem Post.

But Kirschen also likes to tell jokes in public. Here are a couple of jokes that he told recently relating to his personal experience on leaving the United States and making aliyah to Israel. His move came during the Nixon presidency so he calls them Nixon jokes, but they could apply just as well today.

Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "Marriage Therapy"

It's Monday again and time for another Joke to Start the Week. 

Here's the setup: After 35 years of marriage, a husband and wife went in for counseling. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a tirade, listing every problem they had in the 35 years that they were married. And then...

Enjoy!

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Dry Bones Cartoonist Yaakov Kirschen Releases Book of Yiddish Curses

Yaakov Kirschen, the political cartoonist whose daily Dry Bones comic strips have appeared in The Jerusalem Post since January 1973, has been using his talents to present wry observations on world events especially as they relate to Israel and the Jewish people.

In addition to his cartoons, which are also published in his daily blog, Kirschen has started on a new project -- a series of Grandpa's Jewish Cartoon Coloring Books. The first two in the series are The Dry Bones Jewish Holiday Traditions Coloring Book and Jewish Curses: A Guide and Coloring Book.

We ordered both books from Amazon.com and enjoyed their funny depictions of Jewish life.

Wry Jewish humor is a feature of both books. We especially enjoyed the illustrations of the 29 Yiddish curses in the Jewish Curses book. We think it should have been titled Yiddish Curses and should have included the curses in their original language and English transliteration. We hope that Yaakov will issue an expanded and updated version with the original curses in Yiddish.

Here are two of the pages of this large format 36 page book. Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Bnei Menashe Girl Singing Adon Olam

The Bnei Menashe (sons of Manasseh) claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago.

Their ancestors wandered through Central Asia and the Far East for centuries, before settling in what is now northeastern India, along the border with Burma and Bangladesh.

Throughout their sojourn in exile, the Bnei Menashe continued to practice Judaism just as their ancestors did, including observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals and following the laws of family purity. And they continued to nourish the dream of one day returning to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel.

To welcome Shabbat this week, we're sharing a version of Adon Olam sung by Israela Haokip, a young member of the Bnei Menashe community. 

Enjoy!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: The Marx Brothers in "A Night at the Opera"

This Throwback Thursday takes us back 82 years to one of the most famous comedy scenes of all time, the ocean liner stateroom scene from the Marx Brothers' film A Night at the Opera.

It was developed with participation of silent comedy great Buster Keaton, who took inspiration from his own film, The Cameraman.  

The 1935 film also starred Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones. It was the first film the Marx Brothers made for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after their departure from Paramount Pictures, and the first after Zeppo left the act. The film was adapted by George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, and Al Boasberg from a story by James Kevin McGuinness. It was directed by Sam Wood.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday, #TBT

The Great Jewish Comedians: Issy Bonn - The Famous British Comedian

Not all of the Jewish comedians were born in the USA. 

Issy Bonn (1903-1977) was a British Jewish actor, singer and comedian, most famous for his recording of My Yiddishe Momme. He appeared in two films, I Thank You in 1941 and Discoveries in 1939, where he played Mr. Schwitzer.

Bonn played on BBC Radio music shows, and in music halls before retiring to become a theatrical agent. His image appears on the cover of The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Here's a video from 1939 with Issy doing some standup comedy and singing one of his ballads.

Enjoy!

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Valentine's Day Special: A Jewish Grandparents' Guide to Romance

 

There always have been mixed feelings in the Jewish world about celebrating this day which originally was named in honor of Valentine, a Christian saint. And today, you can find opinions from rabbis of all Jewish denominations that approve and disapprove of its observance. 

We did some searching and found that despite some views that the holiday is foreign to Judaism and should be avoided, there are a growing number of opinions, even in the Orthodox world, that not only should the holiday be observed, but that it should be embraced.

As Rabbi Benjamin Blech, professsor of Talmud at Yeshiva University, has written about Valentine's Day on the aish.com website,

As Jews, we may not be sure whether it's proper for us to join the party. After all, for the longest time the full name of this holiday was “St. Valentine's Day” because of its legendary link with the apocryphal story of one of the earliest Christian saints. Yet academics aren't the only ones who have recognized the dubious historical basis of this connection. Vatican II, the landmark set of reforms adopted by the Catholic Church in 1969, removed Valentine's Day from the Catholic church's calendar, asserting that "though the memorial of St. Valentine is ancient… apart from his name nothing is known… except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on 14 February."

What's left for this day, as proponents of its universal celebration declare, is something that people of all faiths may in good conscience observe: A day in which to acknowledge the power of love to make us fully human.

When I am asked as a rabbi if I think it's a good idea for Jews to celebrate Valentine's Day, my standard answer is, "Yes, we should celebrate love… every day of the year."

This year, to embrace Valentine's Day, we bring you A Jewish Grandparents' Guide to Romance, a video from The Forward. 

 Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "The Horse Auction"

It's another Monday and we're still in Florida doing our annual February Jewish humor lecture tour. 

There are lots of old Jews telling jokes in this sunny state and we're hoping to pick up some more oldies but goodies to share with you in the coming weeks and months.

Here's the setup for today's joke: Little Larry attended a horse auction with his father. He watched as his father moved from horse to horse, and then...

Enjoy!

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Hassidic Comedian Mendy Pellin on Using Humor to Overcome Stereotypes

Hassidic comedian Mendy Pellin sits down for an interview with Israeli TV station Arutz Sheva.

Mendy blends Hassidic spirituality with out-of-the-box humor. He aims to overcome stereotypes commonly attributed to ultra-Orthodox Jews.

In the interview, Mendy reflects on his blending of Jewish themes and pop culture, the nature of Jewish humor, and how he sometimes crosses the line into humor that may offend practitioners of political correctness. 

During the course of the interview, we see some of Mendy's classic routines, such as dipping Apple iPhones and iPads in honey for a Rosh Hashana video.

Enjoy!

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A Special Fig and Date Filled Babka for Tu B'shevat Shabbat

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Shabbat, February 11, 2017—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. 

This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

We mark the day of Tu B’Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

Because this year Tu B'Shevat falls on Shabbat, and Shabbat is the day to eat the traditional babka, we're sharing a new recipe for a special fig and date filled babka for Tu B'Shevat Shabbat.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Rodney Dangerfield Gets No Respect in 1985

It's Throwback Thursday again and we're going back 32 years to get another dose of Rodney Dangerfield explaining why he "don't get no respect."

Born Jacob Rodney Cohen on Long Island, Dangerfield (he took the name from a character in a skit on the Jack Benny Show) had a career that went beyond standup comedy to the movies and to his own comedy club, Dangerfield's, in Manhattan.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday   #TBT
 

 

The Great Jewish Comedians: Shecky Greene's Impressions of Ed Sullivan, a Chinese Waiter, and Al Jolson

Shecky Greene (born Fred Sheldon Greenfield on April 8, 1926) is known for his nightclub performances in Las Vegas, where he has been a headliner for more than thirty years. 

He has appeared in several films, including Tony Rome, History of the World, Part I and Splash, and has guest starred on such television shows as Mad About You, Laverne & Shirley, Love, American Style, and Combat!

In April 1965 Greene appeared on The Hollywood Palace with an introduction by Groucho Marx. He launched into a nine minute standup comedy routine in which he did impressions of Ed Sullivan, a Chinese waiter, and Al Jolson.

Enjoy!


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Useful Yiddish: 28 Most Used Words and How to Pronounce Them

We've included Yiddish words in many of our posts and lectures and sometimes we get feedback that not all of them are understood. 

In the spirit of spreading the knowledge of this rich language of Jewish culture, we're posting a video by Hanna Amsterdam in which she lists and pronounces 28 of the most popularly used Yiddish words and phrases in context.

We think its a worthwhile introduction to non Yiddish speakers and a refresher for readers who spoke or read the language a long time ago but have since forgotten many of the words.

Hanna deserves a lot of credit for bringing Yiddish expressions to a wider audience. She could have gotten some better advice on explaining and pronouncing kvell, kibitz, and yutz, but 25 out of 28 is a pretty good score.

Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "A Winter Remedy"

Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous groundhog, has seen his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. Well, maybe up north, but here in sunny South Florida, where we're taking a working vacation, it's 80 degrees, with temperatures in the high 80s forecast for later this week.

In addition to soaking up the sun and giving eight lectures on Jewish humor up and down the east coast of Florida, we're busy recording some new old jokes for the upcoming Mondays.

Here's the setup for today's joke to start the week: John and Peggy get engaged and they spend the summer months looking for a house for when they get married. After a lot of searching, they finally settle on a house in the Boston suburbs. And then...

Enjoy!

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YidLife Crisis Visits Toronto's Kensington Market - Part 2

Our favorite Yiddish speaking comedians from Montreal are at it again. Their tour of this iconic Toronto neighbourhood continues as Jamie & Eli eat their way through Kensington Market in an attempt to understand culture through cuisine.
They latch onto native Torontonian mother and daughter tour guides Joyce and Hannah Wayne to understand the multi-generational aspect of the market and how it became a cultural hub for many immigrant communities.

If you missed part one, click here to star the tour of Toronto's oldest Jewish community.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with L'cha Dodi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles

Last year we started a new Friday tradition at Jewish Humor Central of posting a new version of L'cha Dodi, Shalom Aleichem, or Adon Olam to welcome Shabbat. Some of the melodies are new, some are familiar, and some are sung in places that you wouldn't expect. 

This week we didn't have to travel too far to find an energetic version of L'cha Dodi sung at Sinai Temple, the first Conservative congregation in Southern California. 

This version of L'cha Dodi, led by Cantor Marcus Friedman with music by Daniel Raijman, was taken from a live recording on Shabbat Shirah, Friday January 22nd 2016 at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Red Buttons Standup at Chabad Telethon

Red Buttons, the comedian who became known at celebrity roasts for his "never got a dinner" speech, appeared on a Chabad telethon in 2009.

He had the audience laughing when he performed a variation on the speech, listing famous Jews since the beginning of time who never did a show for Chabad.

At the Telethon, he was introduced by Jan Murray, whom we profiled yesterday as one of the great Jewish Comedians.

Enjoy!

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The Great Jewish Comedians: Jan Murray at Milton Berle's 93rd Birthday Party

Jan Murray, born Murray Janofsky (1916-2006) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who originally made his name in the Borscht Belt and later was known for his frequent television appearances over several decades.

Murray began performing on the vaudeville stage at the age of 18. During the 1930s, he entertained at the "Borscht Belt" Catskills resorts popular with Jewish vacationers. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he became a Las Vegas marquee performer, including headlining at the Flamingo Hotel during its first year of operation.

He was the host of many Chabad telethons, and we've shared a few with you in years past.

In 2002, he made an appearance at Milton Berle's 93rd birthday party, and entertained a roomful of comedians and entertainers including Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner, and told some of his and Berle's old jokes.

Enjoy!

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