Friday, October 30, 2020

Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by London's Shir Music Band

Shir is a Jewish music group playing music of the Jewish Diaspora and Israel: Klezmer, Israeli, Yiddish, Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ladino and Simcha music.

Shir has performed in festivals in the UK and Europe include Klezmer In The Park (London), Santander International Music Festival (Santander, Spain), Sephardic International Music (Cordoba, Spain),  Festival Veranos De La Villa (Madrid, Spain), Barcelona and the Amsterdam Jewish Music Festival (Holland).

Today we're sharing their version of Shalom Aleichem.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom! 

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Thursday, October 29, 2020

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Buddy Hackett Jokes with Johnny Carson and Roy Rogers

We're big fans of the Buddy Hackett and have posted many of his sessions on the Johnny Carson Show. 

But it's always a challenge to find his jokes and conversations that are family-friendly for us to share.We keep looking for new posts and we found one! Buddy and Johnny are long gone, but every now and then a video clip comes to the surface. 

Today we're turning the clock back to 1975 (Yes, that's 45 years ago) when Buddy made an appearance on the Johnny Carson Show with Roy Rogers. The subject was multiple marriages and Buddy didn't disappoint.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: Henny Youngman Heckles Milton Berle on Hollywood Palace

The year was 1966. Yes, that's 54 years ago. Milton Berle was hosting on The Hollywood Palace when Henny Youngman started to heckle him from the balcony.

Heckling Berle was a regular activity during the 1960s and 1970s, starting when Berle hired comedian Irving Benson to look down from the balcony overlooking the stage of Berle's variety show and banter with Berle about the host's alleged lack of talent and originality. 

Youngman and Benson heckled on Berle's shows The Hollywood Palace and The Milton Berle Show. The heckling routine was picked up years later by the muppet characters Statler and Waldorf on The Muppet Show.

Enjoy! 

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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

The Richness of the Yiddish Language: 46 Ways to Call Someone an Imbecile

Last week The Forward held its first Come As You Are Gala as an online streaming event.

Comedians, celebrities, politicians and Forward journalists gathered on screen for a light-hearted evening in these uncertain times.

A highlight of the evening was a presentation by Yiddish actors Yelena Shmulenson and Allen Lewis Rickman on how we can learn a lot about Jewish culture by looking at the Yiddish language and how many words there are for the same thing. 

For example, in Japan there are many words for snow, and French has many words for romance. So what about Yiddish? In Yiddish there are eight words for son, and eight words for unfortunately. But where the Yiddish language shines is with its 46 synonyms for the word imbecile!

Enjoy!

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Yelena Shmulenson and Allen Lewis Rickman at the Forward's 2020 gala from The Forward on Vimeo.

Monday, October 26, 2020

A Joke to Start the Week - "Hearing Test"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. This week we're posting a joke from Dr. Jay Orlikoff, a retired dentist from Centereach, New York, a community on Long Island in Suffolk County.

After a distinguished and meritorious dental career, he is shifting his focus to telling and posting jokes on YouTube. We were fortunate to find some of his jokes and are sharing one of the family-friendly ones with you today. 

Here's the setup: A guy goes to his doctor and says "Doc, I need your help. My wife is losing her hearing." And then...

Enjoy!

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Sunday, October 25, 2020

Yiddish Word of the Day: Stinginess

As people continue to spend their days and evenings at home, due to coronavirus social distancing restrictions, the Forverts has launched a series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll be sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Stinginess must have been rampant in the shtetls of Eastern Europe where the Yiddish language flourished. There are four (and maybe more) words that express stinginess and miserliness, not only with money but also with words and praise. Learn the differences and how to pronounce them in this video.

Enjoy! 

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Friday, October 23, 2020

Welcoming Shabbat with Ein Keiloheinu by Congregation Bnai Keshet in Montclair, NJ

Congregation Bnai Keshet, a Reconstructionist synagogue in Montclair, New Jersey, like many synagogues around the world, isn't letting coronavirus concerns getting in the way of community singing on Shabbat, even though it has to be done remotely via Zoom sessions. 

Bnai Keshet values both the unique individual backgrounds and beliefs of its diverse members and its shared historical traditions. They are an informal and respectful community moved by prayer, fired by lively discussion, and enlivened by laughter and song.

In this video, Bnai Keshet members sing a version of Ein Keiloheinu, the liturgical poem sung toward the end of the Shabbat Shacharit service.

Enjoy, and Shabbat Shalom!

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Thursday, October 22, 2020

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Political Commentator Ben Shapiro, at Age 12, Plays Theme from Schindler's List

Ben Shapiro is an American conservative political commentator, media host, bestselling author and attorney. At age 17, he became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States.   

He writes columns for Creators Syndicate, Newsweek, and Ami Magazine, serves as editor emeritus for The Daily Wire, which he founded, and hosts The Ben Shapiro Show, a daily political podcast and live radio show. 

But at age 12 he seemed headed for an entirely different career. In 1996 he was featured at an Israeli Bonds banquet as a violinist. In this clip, Shapiro is introduced by Larry King and plays the theme from Schindler's List.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: Sacha Baron Cohen Returns as Borat in New Movie

Have you been waiting for Sacha Baron Cohen to revive his Borat character from Kazakhstan in a new movie, or have you been hoping not to see any more of his outrageous but hilarious antics again?  

Well, the wait is over. This Friday, October 23 will mark the debut of Cohen's new movie streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The title is Borat Subsequent Movie Film: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

As Rebecca Rubin wrote in Variety,

The movie — a direct sequel to Cohen’s 2006 film “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” — was secretly filmed and completed during the pandemic. Cohen was recently spotted in Los Angeles dressed in character as Borat Sagdiyev, a Kazakh journalist who was first introduced to audiences on “F2F” and “Da Ali G Show.” He also made a secret appearance in June at a political rally, where he pranked the conservative audience into singing racist song lyrics.

In the film, Borat and his daughter carry on conversations in what's supposed to be the Kazhak language, but Borat is speaking in Hebrew while his daughter is speaking in Bulgarian.

Enjoy! 

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Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Meir Kay Takes His Positivity to the Streets With "Great Day" Music Video

Meir Kalmanson has been posting funny Jewish videos on YouTube under the name Meir Kay. An Orthodox Jewish filmmaker from Brooklyn, his aim is to spread "happiness and positivity."

We've already featured six of his videos on the Evolution of Chassidic Dance, High Fiving Strangers in New York, Dancing Behind People in Jerusalem, How to Lift the Torah Like a Boss, Looking for a Leader in the Park, and A Hugging Spree in New York City.

In his new Great Day music video, Meir leads a group of dancers in a high energy demonstration of positivity. The song's message is all about having the choice to make the best of our day - to not allow whatever comes our way to have a say on how we will show up, but rather we can make a decision to make this day a great one! 

Enjoy!

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Monday, October 19, 2020

A Joke to Start the Week - "Sign Language"

 
It's another Monday, and time for another Joke to Start the week. Here's another one from author and lecturer Michael Krasny.
Krasny has been telling Jewish jokes since his bar mitzvah, and it’s been said that he knows more of them than anyone on the planet. He certainly states his case in his latest book Let There be Laughter.

In promoting the book, Krasny has been giving lectures and interviews in which he tells some of the classic Jewish jokes, explaining the cultural expressions and anxieties behind the laughs.

We found some videos of these lectures, and today we're sharing another oldie but goodie.

Here's the setup: A man goes for a walk with his grandson. They see a sign that says in huge block letters: "NO SWIMMING ALLOWED." And then...
Enjoy!
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Sunday, October 18, 2020

Yiddish Word of the Day: Lokshn (Noodles)

As people continue to spend their days and evenings at home, due to coronavirus social distancing restrictions, the Forverts has launched a series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll be sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Noodles (lokshn in Yiddish) are more than just an ingredient in a sweet kugel and in chicken soup usually served at the Shabbat table. They appear as a metaphor in a variety of clever phrases and expressions that can be used on many occasions.

Enjoy! 

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Friday, October 16, 2020

Welcoming Shabbat with "Yismechu" by Timna Brauer and Friends

Today we welcome Shabbat with Yismechu, a song from the Shabbat liturgy, sung before a large audience in List Hall in Graz, Austria by Timna Brauer and her ensemble.

Timna Brauer is an Austrian-Israeli singer-songwriter, and the daughter of painter, writer and singer Arik Brauer. She collaborates with the Israeli pianist Elias Meiri. Both have Israeli roots.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
 
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Thursday, October 15, 2020

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Eddie Cantor Sings "My Wife is on a Diet" in 1930

Eddie Cantor sings "My Wife Is on a Diet" in the 1930 short subject Getting a Ticket. He's been pulled over by a cop and tells the man he's Eddie Cantor. Eddie has no identification with him, so naturally to prove who he is, he sings a song.

In the song, Cantor details the hardship of having to eat grapefruit every day.

"No gravy and potatoes, just lettuce and tomatoes..." Not much has changed in the last 90 years.

Enjoy! 

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#Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Hava Nagila Around the World: Michael Yanis on Russian Stage

Hava Nagila continues to spread around the world. In the 11 years that we've been bringing you Jewish Humor Central, we have posted 90 versions of this classic Hebrew/Jewish song.

But there's always room for one more.Last month viewers of Shanson TV in Russia were treated to yet another production of Hava Nagila at the State Kremlin Palace.

It was a performance by Michael Yanis playing his accordion while a stage filled with dancers danced in front of a colorful kaleidoscopic background.

Enjoy! 

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Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Yiddish Word of the Day: Parents-in-Law

As people continue to spend their days and evenings at home, due to coronavirus social distancing restrictions, the Forverts has launched a series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll be sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today's Yiddish words of the day are the terms used to describe a mother-in-law and father-in-law, and the terms used by each set of in-laws to refer to their counterparts.
 
Enjoy! 

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Monday, October 12, 2020

A Joke to Start the Week - "Skydiving" by Rabbi Bob Alper

Bob Alper is an ordained Reform rabbi from Vermont who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary.

But he's also a stand-up comedian with a twenty-seven year comedy career. He presents wonderfully unique material in a way that's intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.

Since 2010 we have posted more than two dozen video clips of his stand-up routines. Now Bob has launched a new series of daily Quick Laughs that you can subscribe to.

Here's the setup for this quick laugh: An Israeli and an Arab find themselves in a skydiving plane. When it came time to jump, the Israeli went out first. And then...

Enjoy!

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Friday, October 9, 2020

Before Coronavirus: Second Hakafot After Simchat Torah in Jerusalem

Here's a scene that's unlikely to be repeated this year because of coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing. But two years ago at Yeshivat Har Hamor in Jerusalem, hundreds of Yeshiva students joyfully participated in the annual second hakafot at the conclusion of Simchat Torah. 

Yeshivat Har Hamor was founded in Jerusalem in the year 5758, by the pupils of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Hacohen Kook. Hundreds of boys learn, day and night, all parts of the Torah, while also combining military service.

At the conclusion of the one day celebration of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah in Israel and the beginning of Simchat Torah in the Diaspora, there is a custom in Israel to do Second Hakafot, during which people go into the streets with Torah scrolls and dance another time. 

The source of this custom is attributed to Rabbi Hayyim ben Joseph Vital, who described the customs of his teacher, Isaac Luria, in Safed. Vital explains Luria had the custom to visit a number of synagogues after Simchat Torah, which delayed the end of the prayer services and did Hakafot

From there the custom spread to Hebron and the Beit El Synagogue in Jerusalem, and subsequently spread to other congregations in Jerusalem before becoming accepted across Israel. The custom spread from Israel to communities in Italy and the Near East—Turkey, Baghdad, Persia, Kurdistan, and India. 

Over the next few days we'll be observing a quiet Shabbat, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah while remembering joyous celebrations like this one and hoping for a return to normalcy next year.

Shabbat shalom and Chag Sameach!

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Alan King on the Insurance Industry

Today's another Throwback Thursday and we're turning the clock back 54 years to 1966 and one of Alan King's 50 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In this segment King takes aim at the insurance industry in all of its forms and finds it an easy target, whether it's life insurance, accident, medical, travel, mortgage cancellation, water damage, fire and theft, or locust plague.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Creative (and Funny) Coronavirus Protection for the High Holidays

Attending High Holiday Services has been a real challenge in this year of coronavirus. We've all gotten used to wearing masks, social distancing, sanitizing with spray disinfectant, and wiping down surfaces.

But applying these new safety measures can result in some funny situations. Whether it's praying, eating, or blowing shofar, here are many ways in which our new reality has created hilarious scenarios of their usage.

Enjoy!

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Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Zaftik"

As people continue to spend their days and evenings at home, due to coronavirus social distancing restrictions, the Forverts has launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll be sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today's Yiddish word of the day is zaftik, a word that has multiple meanings beyond the slang expression that we're most familiar with.
 
Enjoy! 

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Monday, October 5, 2020

A Joke to Start the Week - "Community Cow" by Rabbi Bob Alper

Bob Alper is an ordained Reform rabbi from Vermont who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary.

But he's also a stand-up comedian with a twenty-seven year comedy career. He presents wonderfully unique material in a way that's intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.

Since 2010 we have posted more than two dozen video clips of his stand-up routines. Now Bob has launched a new series of daily Quick Laughs that you can subscribe to.

In this Quick Laugh, Bob tells the classic joke about an uncooperative cow in a small Eastern European shtetl.

Enjoy!

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Friday, October 2, 2020

Welcoming Shabbat and Sukkot with Adon Olam by Toronto's Beth Radom Congregation

Today we're welcoming both Shabbat and Yom Tov with a new version of Adon Olam by Toronto's Beth Radom Congregation.

Beth Radom, a.k.a. BRC or the Radomer Shul, is Toronto's first Conservative synagogue which combines traditional and alternative approaches, services and customs with a spiritual davening experience.

Their rendition of Adon Olam is set to the tune of Blinded by the Lights, a pop hit performed by The Weeknd and Pentatonix with millions of views online. 

We'll be observing the first two days of Sukkot tomorrow and Sunday, and we'll be back with our usual mix on Monday.

Shabbat shalom and Chag Sameach!

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Thursday, October 1, 2020

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: George Burns and Gracie Allen - "The Auto Show"

Burns and Allen was an American comedy duo consisting of George Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen. They worked together as a successful comedy team that entertained vaudeville, film, radio, and television audiences for over forty years. 

The duo met in 1922 and married in 1926.From 1950 to 1958 Burns and Allen appeared on TV in the Burns and Allen Show. Each show ended with a dialogue between Burns, who played the straight man and Allen, who played the scatterbrained wife.

In this episode, Gracie tells George all about her visit to the auto show. Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday   #TBT