Jewish Humor Central is a daily publication to start your day with news of the Jewish world that's likely to produce a knowing smile and some Yiddishe nachas. It's also a collection of sources of Jewish humor--anything that brings a grin, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, or just a warm feeling to readers.
Our posts include jokes, satire, books, music, films, videos, food, Unbelievable But True, and In the News. Some are new, and some are classics. We post every morning, Sunday through Friday. Enjoy!
Temple
Israel was organized during the summer of 1941 in Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. From its inception, the aim of the Temple
has
been to revive many of the symbols and traditions of Jewish heritage
and establish them within a Reform setting.
It was the first Reform
congregation in the Detroit area to introduce a cantor to the service, and to
revive the tradition of Bar and Bat Mitzvah. It holds a daily morning
minyan and regards wearing of a kippah as a matter of personal choice.
Cantor Michael Smolash, Cantor Neil Michaels, Cantorial Soloist Emma Trivax, Zipser Foundation Artist-in-Residence Aaron Markovitz and the Temple Israel professional choir led the congregation in Adon Olam during Erev Rosh Hashanah worship services on Sunday, September 25.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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On this Throwback Thursday let's go back 32 years to 1990 when comedian Wayne Cotter did a show for Stand Up Spotlight on VH1.
Wayne
Cotter attended the University of Pennsylvania where he studied
electrical engineering. But after working as a computer engineer, he
noticed similarities between engineering and comedy as he performed
stand-up routines at night. He quit his day job and devoted himself to comedy full time, appearing on The Tonight Show, Late Show with David Letterman, and Politically Incorrect. From 1991 to 1994, he hosted Comic Strip Live, a stand-up comedy series on the Fox television network. Cotter was one of the comedians featured in The Aristocrats. He also had a small part in the film Spy Hard.
He now performs at corporate events. Some of his routines focus on the
connection between the thought processes that go into engineering design
and the crafting of jokes. A few years ago, Cotter was selected by Avi Lieberman to appear in one of his semi-annual Comedy for Koby tours in Israel.
Today we're sharing a standup routine that Cotter did on VH1 in 1990. Enjoy! (A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:
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In its latest effort to strengthen the
bond between Israel and American Jewry, the Ruderman Family Foundation launched a 10-part original video series, “Jewish Foodie.”
The series aims to encourage Israelis to deepen their knowledge about
U.S. Jewish communities, and Jewish Americans to become better
acquainted with their rich and diverse heritage and culture, all
accomplished through a rich and fascinating culinary journey of Jewish
food across the U.S.
Hosted by the well-known Israeli actor
and comedian Ori Laizerouvich, “Jewish Foodie” takes viewers on a
journey of the broad diversity of American Jewry as a whole and its
communities in particular through the innovative vehicle of food.
Focusing on the personal stories and cultural influences associated with
Jewish food in four American regions, the series explores the
Northeast, with its bagels and lox, knishes, delis, hot dogs, Chinese
food and vegan fare; the Southeast, including barbecue, bourbon and
baked goods; the Southwest, featuring tacos, Jewish-style burgers with
latkes (“Jew Boy Burger”), huevos rancheros and rodeo food; and the
Midwest, with pastrami sandwiches, bison burgers and Canukah
gelt-making.
Viewers not only discover American Jewish communities’ food
stories, but also the broader character of the communities themselves
and their members, including communities whose Jewish presence may be
surprising.
Actor and comedian Laizerouvich is a familiar face to fans of the Chai Flicks streaming series Shababnikim (The New Black) where he plays the role of Gedaliah, a very religious and very serious Yeshiva student.
In
this fourth episode of the series, Laizerouvich visits the Beauty Shop restaurant and Ricki's Cookie Corner in Memphis, Tennessee.
(A note to our readers:
While all of the food establishments visited by Laizerouvich specialize
in Jewish food, only a few of them have kosher certification. In this Memphis video, only Ricki's Cookie Corner is kosher.)
Be
sure to subscribe to Jewish Humor Central. Just enter your email
address in the box at the upper left of our home page for your automatic
free subscription. Or enter www.jewishhumorcentral.com into your browser each day. We'll be sharing the next nine episodes of this series with you each Sunday. Enjoy!
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Thanks to our thousands of loyal
subscribers and casual readers worldwide who have joined us during the year.
We started this blog on October 5, 2009 and it's been going strong with more
than 3900 blog entries and more than 3 million page views over the last 13 years.
We appreciate your
loyalty and we hope to keep bringing you a daily mix of Jewish humor in all of
its forms -- traditional, eclectic, musical, unbelievable but true, and just
funny, tempered with touches of nostalgia and Yiddishe nachas. We'll be attending Rosh Hashanah services tonight, Monday and Tuesday, and we'll be
back posting again on Wednesday. Here's wishing you a happy, healthy, joyous,
prosperous and funny New Year from our family to yours!
Boys Town Jerusalem is one of Israel's premier institutions for
educating the country's next generation of leaders in the fields of
technology, commerce, education, the military and public service. Since
its founding in 1948, BTJ has pursued its mission of turning young boys
from limited backgrounds into young men with limitless futures. From
Junior High through the College level, the three part curriculum at Boys
Town - academic, technological and Torah - is designed to turn
otherwise disadvantaged Israeli youth into productive citizens of
tomorrow. Boys Town’s 18 acre campus is a home away from home for its
more than 950 students. More than 7,500 graduates hold key positions
throughout Israeli society. For Rosh Hashanah, the Boys Town Jerusalem choir posted a creative and lively song wishing everyone a happy and sweet New Year.
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova! Enjoy! A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS: THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE
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Allan Sherman dominated the world of
song parody during the 1960s and recorded eight albums, starting with My Son the Folksinger. Listening
to or reading his lyrics is a crash course in pop culture of the 1960s,
with Sherman taking satiric swipes at summer camp, psychiatry, fad
diets, Hadassah ladies, school dropouts, and upward mobility. The popularity of his parodies got him many guest appearances on TV variety shows.
We just came across a rare recording of Sherman singing "Me", a parody of "Come Back to Sorrento", a funny description of many of his body parts. Here is the video of him singing the song, followed by a video clip of Luciano Pavarotti singing "Sorrento", the basis for Sherman's takeoff.
Enjoy!
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Hundreds of Jews from all over the world have gathered in Abu Dhabi,
the capital of the United Arab Emirates, ahead of the two-year
anniversary of its establishment of diplomatic ties with Israel.
But the crowds aren’t in town to honor the Abraham Accords — at least not directly.
They came to party last Wednesday at the largest Jewish wedding in the
history of the UAE, which the bride and groom, emissaries of the Chabad
movement who are living in that country, timed to coincide with the
anniversary of the signing of the accords.
About 1,500 people, including dignitaries and Emirati royals as well
as rabbis stationed around the world, attended the wedding of Rabbi Levi
Duchman, 29, who was born in Brooklyn and has been living in the UAE
since 2014, and Lea Hadad of Brussels, 27, according to the media
relations department of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
The wedding “is a source of great national pride, as a demonstration
and living experience of the Emirates’ longstanding investment in
creating a culture of coexistence and religious diversity,” read a
statement to the media about the event.
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Appealing to Orthodox women who want to look great but conform to their
communities’ standards for conservative dress, an advertisement circulating this week in Orthodox circles peddles “high
quality” silicone toes that buyers can slip on over their own, allowing
them to wear sandals without having their own feet be seen.
As reported by Jackie Hajdenberg for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency,
“Do you want to be fashionable but also tzniyusdyig?” the ad says,
using a Yiddish form of the word for modest. “Do you want to look
stylish but would never c’v [God forbid] wear open toes [sic] shoes?”
The ad resembled many real ones that circulate in the haredi Orthodox
marketplace, where orders often must be placed by phone or in person
because internet use is frowned upon and small-batch innovations that
facilitate religious observance hit shelves frequently. But it also
smacked of satire at a time when some Orthodox Jewish women are trying
to push back against norms that dictate their attire, police their
accessories and keep their faces out of some Orthodox publications.
Speculation about whether the mysterious ad is real or a prank — and
what each might mean for Orthodox communities — has occupied a segment
of the Orthodox world this week. Many are calling the product “toe
sheitels” for the similar role they play to sheitels, or the wigs some married Orthodox women wear to cover their own hair in keeping with Jewish tradition.
“Some think it is real. Some think it is a joke,” Sharon
Weiss-Greenberg, a longtime activist in Orthodox feminism, told the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the toe sheitels. “I think it is a joke.
But I think the fact that so many think that it isn’t is a problem —
the fact that it is plausible.”
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It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today Mickey Greenblatt is back with another good one.
Marshal (Mickey) Greenblatt received degrees from Columbia (BA and BS in Flight Sciences), a DC from Von Karman Institute (1963) and his PhD from Princeton in Aerospace Sciences. He worked as a researcher for NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory.
With four other scientists, he founded Fusion Systems Corporation, which invented microwave-powered UV lamps for drying coatings. He founded and served on the boards of technology companies and is active in volunteer work. He served on the executive committee of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington for many years.
Mickey
also loves Jewish jokes and sent us this one to share with you. Here's
the setup: A man and his wife barge into a dentist's office demanding to see the dentist. The dentist comes out and asks "What's the matter?" And then...
Enjoy!
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In its latest effort to strengthen the
bond between Israel and American Jewry, the Ruderman Family Foundation
this month launched a 10-part original video series, “Jewish Foodie.”
The series aims to encourage Israelis to deepen their knowledge about
U.S. Jewish communities, and Jewish Americans to become better
acquainted with their rich and diverse heritage and culture, all
accomplished through a rich and fascinating culinary journey of Jewish
food across the U.S.
Hosted by the well-known Israeli actor
and comedian Ori Laizerouvich, “Jewish Foodie” takes viewers on a
journey of the broad diversity of American Jewry as a whole and its
communities in particular through the innovative vehicle of food.
Focusing on the personal stories and cultural influences associated with
Jewish food in four American regions, the series explores the
Northeast, with its bagels and lox, knishes, delis, hot dogs, Chinese
food and vegan fare; the Southeast, including barbecue, bourbon and
baked goods; the Southwest, featuring tacos, Jewish-style burgers with
latkes (“Jew Boy Burger”), huevos rancheros and rodeo food; and the
Midwest, with pastrami sandwiches, bison burgers and Canukah
gelt-making.
Viewers not only discover American Jewish communities’ food
stories, but also the broader character of the communities themselves
and their members, including communities whose Jewish presence may be
surprising.
Actor and comedian Laizerouvich is a familiar face to fans of the Chai Flicks streaming series Shababnikim (The New Black) where he plays the role of Gedaliah, a very religious and very serious Yeshiva student.
In
this third episode of the series, Laizerouvich visits the Miss Ada Israeli restaurant and the home of Rabbi Manis Friedman, a well-known Hassid, rabbi, author, social philosopher and public speaker.
(A note to our readers:
While all of the food establishments visited by Laizerouvich specialize
in Jewish food, only a few of them have kosher certification. In this Brooklyn video, only the Friedman home is kosher.)
Be
sure to subscribe to Jewish Humor Central. Just enter your email
address in the box at the upper left of our home page for your automatic
free subscription. Or enter www.jewishhumorcentral.com into your browser each day. We'll be sharing the next nine episodes of this series with you each Sunday. Enjoy!
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On Fridays we usually post a musical
welcome to Shabbat with a version of Shalom Aleichem, Lecha
Dodi, or Adon Olam. But this week we're skipping to the end of
Shabbat and continuing the series of Havdalah services
that we
started a few years ago.
There's a rich lode of musical endings to Shabbat, and Havdalah ceremonies
around the world reflect the traditional and local musical tastes of each
location.
This Havdalah is performed by the musical duo Hadar and Sheldon.
Hadar and Sheldon is the brand new crossover collaboration of husband
and wife duo Sheldon Low and Hadar Orshalimy. Since entering the
studio in the Spring of 2018 to record their first three singles, the
duo has already begun touring the country together and their tune “Body
Is A Temple” was featured on the Ruach 5779 compilation album.b
Growing up, Hadar was a popular performer in Israel, with appearances
on Israeli TV, such as Kochav Nolad (Israeli Idol), and at major
national and municipal events. Upon completing her mandatory Army
service in the IDF as a nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare
defense trainer, Hadar enrolled in the Rimon School of Jazz and
Contemporary Music in Israel, studying with some of Israel’s most
reknowned contemporary musicians. She then transferred to Berklee
College of Music in Boston, where she studied professional music and
voice and graduated with honors.
Sheldon Low continues to establish himself as a prominent voice in
contemporary Jewish music, with 5 albums to his name and more as the
highly acclaimed duo “Hadar and Sheldon.” A self-proclaimed road
warrior, Low performs in over 100 concerts, services, and workshops
around North America each year. In addition to becoming a mainstay of
congregational life, Sheldon’s music has become the soundtrack of the
lives of hundreds of thousands of children around the globe, thanks in
part to PJ Library distributing two of his children’s albums and
featuring him on countless other compilation albums. Sheldon is also
widely known for creating and hosting the innovative Jewish Songwriter
podcast.
The duo were married in Jaffa, Israel in 2015 and live together in Harlem, New York.
Shabbat Shalom and Shavua Tov. Enjoy!
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It's
Throwback Thursday again and today we get another chance to go back to the 1950s and watch Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca as The Hickenloopers on Your Show of Shows. Caesar and Coca starred in many episodes of the hilarious marital tribulations of Doris and Charlie Hickenlooper. In
this sketch, Sid Caesar forgets that he had a date with his wife and joins his friends (including Carl Reiner and Howard Morris) in Reiner's apartment for an evening of poker.
This week's sketch is a tribute on Caesar's centenary. The comedian was born 100 years ago on September 8, 1922.
No date is
available for this sketch, which has only been released on very rare out
of print VHS/Betamax tapes. We're grateful to a Sid Caesar super fan who found these tapes, had them
transferred digitally, and shared them with a poster who made them
available on YouTube. Enjoy! A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:
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Candid
Camera
was an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series
created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as
The Candid Microphone on June 28, 1947.
After a series of theatrical
film shorts, also titled Candid Microphone,
Funt's concept came to television on August 10, 1948, and continued
into the 1970s. The show involved concealing cameras filming ordinary people being
confronted with unusual situations, sometimes involving trick props,
such as a desk with drawers that pop open when one is closed or a car
with a hidden extra gas tank. When the joke was revealed, victims would
be told the show's catchphrase, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera."
Peter
Funt joined the show professionally in 1987 when he became a co-host
with
his father. During this time the show was being broadcast on the CBS
television network. In 1993, Allen Funt had a serious stroke, from which
he never fully recovered. This required Peter to host the show
full-time.
The
show went through a few revivals. During his time on the show Peter was
a producer, host and acted on the show. He also produced and hosted
over 200 episodes.
In
this classic episode set in a highway rest room with five automatic faucets, men try to wash their hands by placing them under the faucet. Unknown to them, a Candid Camera crew member is in the next room with a device that lets him turn the water flow on and off. The reactions to the sudden starts and stops are hilarious.
Enjoy!
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We've
been posting clips of Jewish comedians going back to the days of
vaudeville and burlesque, from Jack Benny to Alan King, and including
dozens more. We've posted many of them since we started Jewish Humor
Central nine years ago.
But
a new generation of Jewish comedians is on the rise. And they're very
funny. It's a rare one who can get through a routine without off-color
words or phrases, but some are trying very hard to let the jokes and
situations carry the day without resorting to outright foul language. Today we're sharing a video clip by Erik Angel, a stage name for an Israeli comic who has been living in the U.S. for five years.
Angel’s real name is Dotan Malach. He was born in
Petah Tikvah, located in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. He released two
music albums and was a journalist for many years before turning to
comedy. He has been living in the United States for five years and
resides near the comedy club with his wife.
“I love to collaborate,” Angel said. “I
was a theater actor in Israel. I do improvisational comedy usually. I
think I’m a very angry, energetic, edgy Jew trying to express myself in a
second language. I’m not a mean comedian. I also don’t pick on people
in the audience too much because it could be very threatening for the
person in the audience. I’m sensitive about that. I work clean. I’m not a
vulgar comedian. I do a lot of Jewish and Jewish-Muslim rooms.”
Enjoy! A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL
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It's another Monday,
and time for 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 wasn't doing very well, so he got himself a job as a janitor in the natural history museum in London. And
then...
Enjoy!
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In its latest effort to strengthen the
bond between Israel and American Jewry, the Ruderman Family Foundation
this month launched a 10-part original video series, “Jewish Foodie.”
The series aims to encourage Israelis to deepen their knowledge about
U.S. Jewish communities, and Jewish Americans to become better
acquainted with their rich and diverse heritage and culture, all
accomplished through a rich and fascinating culinary journey of Jewish
food across the U.S.
Hosted by the well-known Israeli actor
and comedian Ori Laizerouvich, “Jewish Foodie” takes viewers on a
journey of the broad diversity of American Jewry as a whole and its
communities in particular through the innovative vehicle of food.
Focusing on the personal stories and cultural influences associated with
Jewish food in four American regions, the series explores the
Northeast, with its bagels and lox, knishes, delis, hot dogs, Chinese
food and vegan fare; the Southeast, including barbecue, bourbon and
baked goods; the Southwest, featuring tacos, Jewish-style burgers with
latkes (“Jew Boy Burger”), huevos rancheros and rodeo food; and the
Midwest, with pastrami sandwiches, bison burgers and Canukah
gelt-making.
Viewers not only discover American Jewish communities’ food
stories, but also the broader character of the communities themselves
and their members, including communities whose Jewish presence may be
surprising.
Actor and comedian Laizerouvich is a familiar face to fans of the Chai Flicks streaming series Shababnikim (The New Black) where he plays the role of Gedaliah, a very religious and very serious Yeshiva student.
In this second episode of the series, Laizerouvich visits Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, Buddha Bodai One in Chinatown, and the vegan Orchard Grocer on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
(A note to our readers:
While all of the food establishments visited by Laizerouvich specialize
in Jewish food, only a few of them have kosher certification. In this
New York video, only Buddha Bodai One is certified kosher.)
Be
sure to subscribe to Jewish Humor Central. Just enter your email
address in the box at the upper left of our home page for your automatic
free subscription. Or enter www.jewishhumorcentral.com into your browser each day. We'll be sharing the next nine episodes of this series with you each Sunday. Enjoy!
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Tonight we welcome Shabbat with an a cappella version of Vayechulu, an important part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.
This version was produced in Israel by Syncopa Productions for a Bar Mitzvah celebration.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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In 1977, Milton Berle appeared on The Muppet Show with Fozzie Bear, singing "Top Banana."
In this episode, Fozzie Bear is so intimidated by the thought of meeting Milton Berle,
"the King of Comics," that he spends the whole show hiding from the
guest star.
Finally, they get together and sing the duet "Top Banana."
Enjoy!
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IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.
Candid
Camera
was an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series
created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as
The Candid Microphone on June 28, 1947.
After a series of theatrical
film shorts, also titled Candid Microphone,
Funt's concept came to television on August 10, 1948, and continued
into the 1970s. The show involved concealing cameras filming ordinary people being
confronted with unusual situations, sometimes involving trick props,
such as a desk with drawers that pop open when one is closed or a car
with a hidden extra gas tank. When the joke was revealed, victims would
be told the show's catchphrase, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera."
Peter
Funt joined the show professionally in 1987 when he became a co-host
with
his father. During this time the show was being broadcast on the CBS
television network. In 1993, Allen Funt had a serious stroke, from which
he never fully recovered. This required Peter to host the show
full-time.
The
show went through a few revivals. During his time on the show Peter was
a producer, host and acted on the show. He also produced and hosted
over 200 episodes.
In
this classic episode, people enter a movie theater and take what they
think are good seats. The Candid Camera crew has other plans for them,
sending one person after another to occupy seats that block their view.
Enjoy!
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In June comedian Modi Rosenfeld put on a show at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Modi is a regular at stand-up comedy venues around the world.
We love his humor and we've posted many of his comedy sketches since starting Jewish Humor Central 13 years ago.
In this clip from The Laugh Factory show, Modi takes on the Hatzalah Jewish volunteer ambulance service.
Enjoy!
A
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It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today Mickey Greenblatt is back with another good one.
Marshal (Mickey) Greenblatt received degrees from Columbia (BA and BS in Flight Sciences), a DC from Von Karman Institute (1963) and his PhD from Princeton in Aerospace Sciences. He worked as a researcher for NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory.
With four other scientists, he founded Fusion Systems Corporation, which invented microwave-powered UV lamps for drying coatings. He founded and served on the boards of technology companies and is active in volunteer work. He served on the executive committee of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington for many years.
Mickey
also loves Jewish jokes and sent us this one to share with you. Here's
the setup: My elderly neighbor Morris and his wife Stella were so happy
when the pandemic restrictions were eased that they decided to celebrate
at a fancy restaurant. 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.
Subscribe now. Start each day with a smile. No cost, no obligation, no spam.
Just Published: The Kustanowitz Kronikle - 35 Years of Purim Parody
Every Purim for the past 35 years we have published a Purim parody edition of The Kustanowitz Kronikle, covering virtually every aspect of Jewish life, and including parodies of hundreds of popular movies. This year we decided to retire the series and capture all the fun in a book that's just been published and is available at Amazon.com. It has every Purim issue of The Kustanowitz Kronikle from 1988 through 2022 in a full-color, full-size paperback book with hilarious headline stories and parody movie picks. Here are a few examples: TRUMP, NETANYAHU SWAP ROLES, COUNTRIES; NEW TALMUD VOLUME "VOTIN" FOUND IN IRAQ; JOINS "FRESSIN", "NAPPIN", TANTZEN","PATCHEN"; "JUDAICARE" PROGRAM PLANNED TO ENSURE THAT ALL JEWS HAVE SYNAGOGUE MEMBERSHIP; RABBIS CREATE TALMUD AMERICANI; NEW LAWS EXTEND HALACHA TO THANKSGIVING AND JULY 4; JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE UNITE TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING; FOCUS ON REDUCING HOT AIR; RABBIS TO REQUIRE SHECHITA FOR MANY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Jewish Humor Central Staff
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief:
Al Kustanowitz Food and Wine Editor:
Aviva Weinberg Israel Food and Wine Consultant Penina Kustanowitz Reporter and Photographer:
Meyer Berkowitz Reporter Phyllis Flancbaum
Now You Can Book Program and Lecture Dates for 2024 and 2025 in Person and Via ZOOM
Now is the time to book our Jewish humor programs and lectures for your 2024 and 2025 events in person and via ZOOM anywhere in the world. Book any of our 22 popular programs including "The Great Jewish Comedians", “Israel is a Funny Country”, and "Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places." Click above for details and videos. To book a program with Al, e-mail: dan@hudakonhollywood.com
"Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places" is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions
This book presents 150 anecdotes and associated video clips that reveal the myriad ways that Jewish culture, religion, humor, music, song, and dance have found expression in parts of the world that, at first glance, might not seem supportive of Jewish Life. It includes 50 videos of Hava Nagila being performed from Texas to Thailand, from India to Iran, and from Buenos Aires to British Columbia. Also highlighted are 34 international versions of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Adon Olam, Abanibi, and Tumbalalaika. Whether you’re reading the print version and typing in the video URLs or reading the e-book version and clicking on the links, you’ll have access to 150 video clips totaling more than 10 hours of video. Enjoy!
"Israel is a Funny Country" is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions
This book explores the multifaceted nature of humor in Israel, some of which is intentional and some of which is unintentional. Either way, the quirks of Israeli life contribute to making that life interesting and fulfilling. In the pages of this volume, we take a look at humorous slices of Israeli life, Israeli comedy, satire and parody, funny TV commercials, unusual stories about food, surprising rabbinic bans on daily activities, simchas as they can only be celebrated in Israel, and endearing aspects of Israeli culture. There are more than 120 anecdotes and links to video clips totaling more than six hours of video. We hope that these anecdotes and video clips give you a new and different insight into life in Israel, and encourage you to join in the fun by planning a visit to the land flowing with milk and honey.
Now is the time to book our Jewish Humor Shows and Lectures in person or on ZOOM.
Bring Al's Jewish humor lectures and comedy programs with the funniest videos on the Internet to your community and your synagogue, club, JCC, organization or private event in person or via ZOOM. We're taking reservations now for 2024 and 2025 dates in your community. Click above for details. To book a program with Al, e-mail: dan@hudakonhollywood.com.
Now Open: The Jewish Humor Central Gift Shop
Jewish Humor Central logo merchandise is now available. Click on the image above to see the complete collection -- More than 100 items from tote bags, baseball caps, mugs, aprons, drinkware, T-shirts and sweatshirts, to pajamas and underwear.
The Best of Jewish Humor Central - Now Available in eBook and Paperback at Amazon.com
The Best of Jewish Humor Central - More than 400 video clips, including music and comedy videos for all the Jewish holidays. View them on Your PC, Mac, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, iTouch, Android Tablet and Smartphone. Click on the image above to peek inside and download a free sample. And now, a paperback edition for anyone who prefers a traditional book and doesn't mind typing the URLs instead of clicking on them.
About the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
A long-term devotee of Jewish humor, Al Kustanowitz has been collecting and sharing it even before there was an internet. In 2009, after a 36-year career at IBM managing new technology projects, he founded Jewish Humor Central (jewishhumorcentral.com. Through the blog he brings a daily dose of fun and positive energy to readers who would otherwise start the day reading news that is often drab, dreary, and depressing (subscribing is free). He has published 12 books on humor based on his more than 4,000 blog postings, each of which includes a video clip and his commentary.
He has presented more than 100 programs in South Florida and the Northeast on topics that include the great comedians and entertainers of the 20th century, funniest moments in film and television, flash mobs around the world, and composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the City University of New York and taught computer science courses at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Association of Yiddish Clubs.
You can contact Al via email at akustan@gmail.com.
Israel’s Tenth Trial
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by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz In this unprecedented hour of trial, Israel
stands at a historic crossroads facing a perilous moment, waging battle on
eight fr...
A Friend Indeed
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[image: Dry Bones cartoon, Trump, MAGA, President, Jerusalem, Embassy,
America, Huckabee,]
Welcome Ambassador Huckabee!
* * * And *IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO MAK...
Thoughts on the Haggadah by Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum
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[image: Story 375601404]
We just recently were able to find the latest version of my fathers, Rabbi
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Hamantaschen: The Symbolism behind Purim Cookies
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Purim is a celebration of masquerade, Mishloach Manot, Hamantaschen and
book of Esther reading. Every Jewish holiday focuses on a special dish and
the tria...
Taking the Shuk to the Next Level
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Anyone who has spent any time on my blog, or just getting to know me, knows
how much I love Jerusalem’s famous outdoor market, Shuk Machane Yehuda.
I’ve ...
Kettlebell Training Massachusetts
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In April 2006, legislation was passed requiring all residents in
Massachusetts specializes in assisting Massachusetts residents who have
been put on exhi...
A chat with some protesters…
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Originally posted on don of all trades:
Hi protesters, it’s me, Don. Do you remember me? No? I’m a police officer.
We’ve met before. Excuse me? Did you say...
Trayf of the Week: Bacon Jam
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Just when you thought it was safe to eat your bagels in mixed company,
comes this devilish concoction. Next time a Goyishe friend offers you a
shmear, mak...