Comedy Showcase: British Comedian Ashley Blaker on Observing Shabbat

 

Ashley Blaker is an internationally acclaimed British Orthodox comedian, seen and heard on TV and radio across the world. He has performed on five continents including tours of the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia.
 
His five week run Off-Broadway was called ‘a slickly funny stand-up show’ by the New York Times. In August 2018, Ashley made his debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a sold-out run of his show ‘Observant Jew’.
 
Today we're sharing another one of Ashley Blaker's stand-up routines.  In this video, Ashley reflects on Shabbat prohibitions and accepted ways to get around them.

Enjoy!
 
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A Joke to Start the Day - "A Question for the Local Bank Manager"

Another Monday, and another Joke to Start the Week. Today we're bringing you another joke told by David Apfel. 

Now living in Modiin, Israel, David Apfel is an accomplished entertainer and chazzan. He sings in several languages with repertoire ranging from the musicals to opera. He has officiated internationally at several orthodox synagogues and he also specializes in ''Kosher Komedie''.

Here's the setup for today's Joke: Mr. Goldstein called his bank and wanted to speak with the local branch manager. He kept getting put on hold while recorded messages asked him to be patient until a representative answered. Finally he was able to reach a representative  to ask to be connected to the local branch manager. And then...

Enjoy!

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A Coronavirus Chorus: Columbus Jewish Community Unites to Sing Hinei Ma Tov

One of the silver linings in the coronavirus cloud has been the emergence of videoconferencing via Zoom and other interactive media to bring together members of synagogues and other Jewish organizations to participate in group singing and learning together.

Members of Temple Israel in Columbus, Ohio, led by Rabbi Sharon Mars, joined together in harmony from their homes to sing Hinei Ma Tov to express the hope that soon they will be able to sing together in one location.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam by Temple Israel of Cape Town, South Africa

The Cape Town Progressive Jewish Congregation (CTPJC), also known as Temple Israel, is the umbrella body for the three Progressive Jewish Congregations in Wynberg, Green Point and West Coast. 

It is currently the second biggest Jewish congregation in Cape Town, South Africa with almost 1,000 families registered as members.

The singers of Temple Israel are in lockdown, but that isn't preventing them from singing. Here is their rendition of Adon Olam.

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.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Bill Dana as Jose Jimenez, Submarine Officer

During the course of his José Jiménez acts on The Steve Allen Show, Bill Dana (who was of Hungarian-Jewish ancestry, unlike the Bolivian character he played) took his character through various roles including elevator operator, sailor, and submariner until settling into the most famous occupation that José would hold: astronaut.

We previously posted his astronaut routine, but recently came across his portrayal of a submarine officer, interviewed by Steve Allen.

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.



#Throwback Thursday    #TBT 

World Health Organization and Klezmer Band Litvakus Use Hava Nagila to Illustrate Proper Hand Washing Technique

Since we started Jewish Humor Central in October 2009 we have posted 88 versions of Hava Nagila and we thought we'd covered them all. But another one always shows up, in an unexpected place, and with an unexpected usage.

Today we came across another one and a very timely one. The Belarus Klezmer band Litvakus has joined with the World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins Hospital to produce a video that illustrates the proper technique of washing hands to protect coronavirus infection.

By the time you finish listening to this most played Jewish song and watching the video, you will be an expert in all aspects of the process from wetting hands with water to using right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers to rotational rubbing of left thumb. And it takes 40 to 60 seconds, not the 20 seconds that we're accustomed to.

Enjoy and stay healthy!

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Comedian Modi's Character Yoely is Running for President

Well, sooner or later it had to happen. We have been posting funny commentaries by comedian Modi's alter ego Yoely about coronavirus and reviews of streaming video series that he's been watching on TV, a medium that until now was culturally incorrect for him to watch.

Now that he's also watched some of the news programs and political ads, he decided that the country is ready for him to run for president, not as a Republican or a Democrat, but on the Heimishe party platform.

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 - "Ramona"

Another Monday, and another Joke to Start the Week. Today we're bringing you another joke told by David Apfel. 

Now living in Modiin, Israel, David Apfel is an accomplished entertainer and chazzan. He sings in several languages with repertoire ranging from the musicals to opera. He has officiated internationally at several orthodox synagogues and he also specializes in ''Kosher Komedie''.

Here's the setup for today's Joke: Goldstein crept into bed about 2 o'clock in the morning. He goes to sleep next to his wife. And while he's sleeping he starts moaning and saying "Ramona." 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.

The Great Jewish Entertainers: Mel Blanc, Man of a Thousand Voices

We have been posting video clips of the great Jewish comedians and the great Jewish entertainers. We came across a video clip that tells the story of Mel Blanc, the voice of most of the Warner Brothers cartoon characters. Since there's no category of the great Jewish cartoon voices (Mel was unique) we're putting him in the entertainment category.

After beginning his over-60-year career performing in radio, he became known for his work in animation as the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and most of the other characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoons during the golden age of American animation.

He later voiced characters for Hanna-Barbera's television cartoons, including Barney Rubble on The Flintstones and Mr. Spacely on The Jetsons. During the golden age of radio, Blanc also frequently performed on the programs of comedians from the era, including Jack Benny, Abbott and Costello, Burns and Allen, The Great Gildersleeve, and Judy Canova.

Blanc died in 1989 and his Yahrzeit is coming up on July 10. Blanc's will stated his desire to have the inscription on his gravestone read, "That's all folks", the catchphrase that was the hallmark of Blanc's character, Porky Pig. 

This clip will take you back to the days when Blanc voiced so many cartoon characters.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Mizmor Shir by Guitar Choir of Radlett Synagogue in England

Radlett Reform Synagogue is a synagogue in a former church building on Watling Street in Radlett, Hertfordshire, England. It is affiliated with the Movement for Reform Judaism. 

Its Senior Rabbi, Paul Freedman, was elected in 2015 as Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK, succeeding Sybil Sheridan in the role.

The synagogue choir sings while playing their guitars. During this coronavirus lockdown, they made a distance video of Mizmor Shir l'Yom HaShabbat.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Betty Walker and Valerie Harper in "My Shirley"

Of all the comedy albums produced in the era of LP records, our favorite has always been You Don't Have to be Jewish. The 1965 album is a collection of blackout bits and extended one-liners which poked fun at the absurdities of American Jewish culture.
 
It was recorded in a studio with a live audience in attendance, as a cast of actors performed scripted material much in the manner of a radio play.
 
Comedy writers Bob Booker and George Foster had the good judgment to assemble a superb cast for this recording, and they transform what could have been ordinary Catskills shtick into something memorable.
 
The performers include Lou Jacobi, Jack Gilford, Betty Walker and Arlene Golonka, and their expert timing and feel for their characters is impeccable. You Don't Have To Be Jewish is a fine sampling of classic Borscht Belt humor performed by a top-notch cast. The response to the album was so great that the same writers and cast produced a sequel called When You're in Love, the Whole World is Jewish. The two albums are now being sold together as a single CD.

We previously shared two of the funniest routines on the first album and one from the second album. Today we're posting another bit from the second album titled My Shirley featuring Betty Walker and Valerie Harper. It's as funny 55 years later as it was when the record was released in 1965.

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.

Comedy Showcase: Yoely (Modi Rosenfeld) Reviews Netflix Series "The Crown"

We've been following the career and shtick of comedian Modi Rosenfeld ever since we started Jewish Humor Central in 2009. Whether it's his standup comedy or clever skits and short films, he always leaves us laughing.

Like many performers right now, the stay-at-home order has forced Modi to remain home in New York City for longer than he has in the last 20 years. Without a face-to-face audience, Modi has turned to social media to fuel his creativity and engage with his followers.

Modi’s breakout quarantine success came from a new character he created called “Yoely.” In this character, Modi appealed to his niche Jewish following with a comedic take on a Chasidic man reacting to mainstream trends while in quarantine.

In this episode, Yoely has watched The Crown, the Netflix biographical series about the life of Queen Elizabeth, and offers a review in character as a Brooklyn chasid, describing the main events in the life of the British royal family, as seen through a Yiddish chasidishe lens.

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.