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!
Here we are on another erev Rosh Hashanah (actually New Year's Eve) with wishes for all of our readers for a Happy New Year. We're lucky to have two occasions each year for sharing these good wishes, our own Rosh Hashanah in September and the secular New Year in January.
To get the secular New Year off to a good start, we're sharing a video recorded at New York's Park Avenue Synagogue on erev Rosh Hashanah this year by Cantors Azi Schwartz and Mira Davis of the popular Israeli song Bashana Haba'ah with words by Ehud Manor and music by Nurit Hirsch.
Once again, a happy and healthy New Year to all and may it be a year of success for Israel in defending and protecting Am Yisrael!
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It's Friday again and time to welcome another Shabbat. Today we're sharing a beautiful rendition of the Kabbalistic prayer Ana Bekoach.
The singer is Hila Ben David.
Ana Bekoach is a liturgical poem from the Kabbalat Shabbat service that appears in the siddur just before Lecha Dodi. It's a Kabbalistic prayer composed by Rav Nehunia Ben Hakannah.
Known
as the 42-letter Name of God, Ana Bekoach is a unique formula
built of 42 letters written in seven sentences of six words each. Each
of the seven sentences correspond to the seven days of the week, seven
specific angels, and to a particular heavenly body. The letters that
make up Ana Bekoach are encoded within the first 42 letters of the book of Genesis. The
kabbalists explain that this combination of letters takes us back to
the time of Creation, and each time we meditate on a particular
sequence, we return to the original uncorrupted energy that built the
world. By performing the Ana Bekoach meditation, we enrich our lives with unadulterated spiritual light and positive energy.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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For
almost half a century, from the 1930s to 1976, The Barry Sisters,
Claire and Merna, were the voice of Jewish jazz in recordings, nightclub
acts, and television appearances on The Jack Paar Show, The Tonight
Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. Born
in the Bronx to Yiddish speaking immigrants from Kiev, Clara and Minnie
Bagelman started out in show business using their real names as The
Bagelman Sisters, but after awhile, Clara became Claire, Minnie became
Merna, and Bagelman became Barry. They performed songs in nine
languages. Looking
glamorous and sparing no expense for their orchestrations, they sang to
a full house at the Concord and other Catskills resorts.
In this Throwback Thursday special, Claire and Merna perform Cole Porter's "All of You" from "Silk Stockings" in a 1963 TV appearance.
Enjoy!
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We've
been following the career of the amazing Hasidic Israeli fiddler Daniel
Ahaviel ever since we discovered one of his early YouTube videos in 2010 and posted it on Jewish Humor Central. His
fame and his audiences keep growing as does our amazement at his
boundless energy, his synthesis of Jewish, Irish, and bluegrass music,
and finding that his talent comes from British secular musical roots.
Last year he performed at Kikar Hamusica, a modern complex in the picturesque Nachalat Shiva
neighborhood in central Jerusalem and one of the most enchanting places
to visit. Every day there are live performances in the square, the
repertoire of performances in the square is wide and comprehensive,
including rock n ‘roll, samba, klezmer, reggae, pop and Hasidic music.
Enjoy!
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A video of a prank call to the Harvard University admissions office,
made by an Israeli comedian who pretends to be the mother of a Hamas
terrorist, racked up millions of views on various platforms within 24
hours of its publication.
The illustrated clip produced by Racheli Rottner was the latest
Israeli dig at American universities, which have come under fire for
tolerating activities from students seen as downplaying the October 7
terror onslaught, supporting Hamas and targeting Jewish students on
campus.
The call, reported in The Times of Israel and which Rottner says is authentic, features a mother named Jaama whose son Hamid is angling to attend Harvard on a terrorist scholarship.
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It's
Monday again, and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today we're
sharing a joke told by Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport, also known as Rabbi Raps.
Rabbi Rapoport is the spiritual Leader of
the Chabad Ventnor Shul at the New Jersey shore.
He is a graduate of the Rabbinical College of
America and received his Rabbinical Ordination in 2003. Rabbi Rapoport
is also the director of the Jewish Learning Institute of Atlantic
County.
Here's
the setup: A young boy went to school for the first time. His mommy walked him to the school and said to him "My shepseleh, my zeeskeit, bubbeleh, be a good boy in school today." And then...
Enjoy!
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If you're spending January in South Florida, you'll have a unique opportunity to see the award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh in her acclaimed one-woman show Aging is Optional at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center on January 11 and 12, 2024. If you're wintering elsewhere, we're sharing a 10 minute excerpt from the show right here.
In this video clip, Feldshuh portrays a range of characters from Mama Lily and Grandma Ada to a French nightclub singer to Naomi Bunch in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to broadcaster Sylvia Chronic and others.
Tovah Feldshuh is a six-time Emmy & Tony nominee and has been awarded three honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters.
Additionally, for her theatre work, she has won four Drama Desks, four
Outer Critics Circle Awards, three Dramalogues, the Obie, the Theatre
World, and the Helen Hayes and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Actress.
She has recently been twice nominated as Best Actress in a Drama in Los
Angeles for her work in the play Sisters-in-Law, in which she originated the role of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She recently starred in Funny Girl on Broadway as Rosie Brice.
Enjoy!
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Temple
Kol Emeth, a Southern Reform congregation in suburban Atlanta, Georgia
has been conducting Shabbat services with popular musical themes. We previously posted excerpts from their Beatles Shabbat, with most of the familiar Shabbat
prayers sung to famous Beatles songs. Last Shabbat the temple's Ahavat Torah Band played and sang the Kabbalat Shabbat liturgy to the melodies of Chicago.
Today we're sharing their rendition of Adon Olam, to the Chicago song 25 or 6 to 4. The original song was written by Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of the band. It was recorded in 1969 for their second album, Chicago, with Peter Cetera on lead vocals. Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the
night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26
minutes before 4 AM, i.e. 03:34 or 03:35.
The
performers are Blake Singer, Cantorial Soloist and guitar, Jon Warner bass and harmony, Ira Wajsman keyboard, Wayne Menick drums, Burt Kann vocals, Gil Estes trombone, Herbie Dorfzaun sax, and Jason Rones trumpet and flugelhorn. Enjoy and Shabbat shalom! A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS: THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL
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Even in the midst of tragedy, a dose of humor can serve to clarify and expose hypocrisy and muddled thinking.
It didn't take long for Israeli comedy
writers to create satiric sketches about the hypocrisy of the three college presidents who waffled on answering congressional questions about whether genocide violated the school's principles.
This sketch placed the three professors in the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, with headmaster Albus Dumbledore presiding over an inquiry into violation of the Hogwarts Code of Conduct.
It appeared on Eretz Nehederet, the Israeli version of Saturday Night Live, one of the most popular TV programs in Israel.
Harry Potter fans will enjoy this satire. If you haven't read the books or seen the films, we encourage you to step into the magical world.
Enjoy!
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Voted
one of the top 10 comedians in New York City by The Hollywood Reporter,
Modi Rosenfeld is one of the comedy circuit’s most sought after performers.
Featured on HBO, CBS, NBC, ABC, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, and E!
Entertainment, Modi has received rave reviews in The New York Times,
Time Out NY and The New York Post. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel,
Modi emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of seven
and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University,
he worked as an investment banker until his first open-mic night made
him realize that stand-up was his true calling. Equipped with a sharp
wit and a knack for reading an audience, Modi has gone on to become a
successful fixture in New York's vibrant comedy scene, often doing bits
that incorporate his heritage, and he is a hit with diverse Jewish
audiences as well as fans of all backgrounds and beliefs.
In this video clip from a comedy club stand-up appearance, Modi delivers a parody of the college presidents answering congressional questions about anti-semitism on campus. Mocking their personal appearance, he then likens their answers to the way Yeshiva students would analyze a Talmud text with commentary from Rashi and other sources.
Enjoy!
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In 2020 the Forverts 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 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the
series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of
Jewish Humor Central. Today
we get to learn the Yiddish word for a wedding and lots of related expressions.
Enjoy!
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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. e 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: Leslie and Joe were in the kitchen having dinner when Leslie said very tentatively to Joe: "I think there's something wrong with the car." And then...
Enjoy!
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It's been a tradition, or better said, a common practice, for Jews to eat Chinese food on Christmas day, either by going to Chinese restaurants or buying Chinese takeout food for dinner at home.
Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan made it sort of official when she was asked during her confirmation hearing where she was on Christmas day. Here's what she said:
The reasons most cited for the affinity between Jews and Chinese food are that Chinese restaurants are generally open on Christmas day, most of their menu items do not include dairy, and that their non-kosher meats are chopped up and hidden inside of dumplings or wrappers.
Today it's not so easy to find a kosher Chinese restaurant in many cities, but you'll likely have a selection to choose from if you live in the New York-New Jersey area, or in other states with large Jewish communities like South Florida, Los Angeles, or in Israel.
Dani Klein is doing a great service to the kosher Jewish community by providing an updated list of kosher restaurants worldwide at www.yeahthatskosher.com. To find a certified restaurant in your area, his website is worth checking out.
Also be sure to check out the smartphone apps Kosher Near Me and Kosher GPS.
Congregation Beth Israel is San Diego’s oldest and largest Jewish
congregation with roots dating to 1861 when San Diego was a frontier
settlement. Jewish pioneers first came to San Diego in 1850 and,
although very few in number, gathered each year to observe the High Holy
Days.
According to the late historian Henry Schwartz, San Diego Jewry,
led by Old Town merchant Marcus Schiller, first met in 1861 to form the
congregation they called Adath Yeshurun (Assembly of Israel). Beth
Israel traces its origins back to the formation of Adath Yeshurun in
1861.
Join us today in welcoming Shabbat with the congregation singing Lecha Dodi by Aaron Bensoussan.
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Two days ago we posted a video of the White House annual Hanukkah reception where President Joe Biden wished all Jews a Happy Hanukkah and recalled his statement 35 years ago that you don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist and that he is a Zionist.
This week former President Donald Trump released his message to the the Jewish people, recommitting ourselves to extinguishing the evil of anti-semitism, and reaffirming everlasting solidarity with the Jewish people as we go forward with God's help that light will overcome this horrible darkness.
Wishing you a very happy seventh day of Chanukah!
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The a Cappella group Six13 is bringing some much-needed light into the world with a fun stroll through the Taylor Swift eras and their unique spin on 13 T-Swift tunes plus the reprise of a Six13 classic.
Six13 is a six-man vocal band that brings an unprecedented style of
Jewish music to the stage, with songs ranging from hip-hop dance tracks
to rock anthems. The members of the New York City-based group sound like
a full band – while using nothing but their voices.
Enjoy, and Chag Chanukah Sameach!
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Last night the White House hosted a Hanukkah reception to light the fifth candle of the Hanukkiah, a menorah that was fashioned from a piece of timber from the building.
The program started with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of New York's Central Synagogue setting the scene and thanking President Joe Biden for his support of Israel and the Jewish people during this stressful time.
The candles were lit by five Jewish White House staffers who are descendants of Holocaust survivors.
The president spoke about the warmth and kinship that he feels with the Jewish community. He reiterated what he said 35 years ago and was criticized then for his statement that "You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist."
Enjoy, and Chag Chanukah sameach!
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With the arrival of Chanukah, Jews everywhere dispel darkness for eight nights. During the long dark
nights of winter, it feels like you can’t see very far. But the
flickering menorah lights of Chanukah give us a message of hope, of
future, of our very redemption.
For the fourth day of Chanukah, we continue our series of holiday music videos with a new version of the traditional Maoz Tzur, composed by Yitzy Bald and sung by the New York Boys Choir.
Enjoy, and Chag Chanukah sameach!
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If
you happen to be in Walt Disney World's Epcot Center this month, you'll
likely encounter Disney's tribute to Hanukkah. Every year Epcot
features a storyteller relating the history of Hanukkah with a
personal twist.
The Hanukkah story is told at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, and leaves visitors knowing at least something about menorahs,
dreidels, latkes, oil, Antiochus, and Judah Maccabee.
But
wait! There's more. Voices of Liberty, the resident a cappella singing
group at The American Adventure pavilion gives a nod to Hanukkah by
singing a short medley including I Have a Little Dreidel and Hevenu
Shalom Aleichem. But this year instead of a medley, they are singing Paul Yarrow's song Light One Candle, a song made popular by Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Enjoy, and Happy Chanukah!
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Light one candle for the Maccabee children With thanks that their light didn't die Light one candle for the pain they endured When their right to exist was denied Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice Justice and freedom demand But light one candle for the wisdom to know When the peacemaker's time is at hand
Don't let the light go out! It's lasted for so many years! Don't let the light go out! Let it shine through our hope and our tears. (2)
Light one candle for the strength that we need To never become our own foe And light one candle for those who are suffering Pain we learned so long ago Light one candle for all we believe in That anger not tear us apart And light one candle to find us together With peace as the song in our hearts
Don't let the light go out! It's lasted for so many years! Don't let the light go out! Let it shine through our hope and our tears. (2)
What is the memory that's valued so highly That we keep it alive in that flame? What's the commitment to those who have died That we cry out they've not died in vain? We have come this far always believing That justice would somehow prevail This is the burden, this is the promise This is why we will not fail!
Don't let the light go out! Don't let the light go out! Don't let the light go out!
Kolot HaLev – Voices of the Heart – is Greater Washington, DC's independent community choir focusing on Jewish choral music.
Kolot HaLev has performed in various venues beyond its home base,
including the Jewish Heritage Museum in New York City, Arlington
National Cemetery, the Library of Congress and the Italian Embassy in
Washington DC among other prominent venues. In response to invitations
from the community, KHL presents at local and regional music festivals
and at nursing homes as time allows. KHL has become recognized as a
source of highest quality, inspiring Jewish music, catering to audiences
that return again and again.
Adon Olam, the well-known Jewish prayer, is actually a poem that describes the greatness of God and is often sung to the tune of different songs. In 2015 we posted a version sung by Kolot HaLev to the tune of Moscow Nights.
In this performance by Kolot HaLev led by musical director Ramon Tasat, the prayer is sung to the rousing melody of "Asa Branca" by Luiz Gonzaga and Humberto Teixeira.
Enjoy, Shabbat shalom, and Chag Chanukah Sameach!
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The Boys Town Jerusalem choir has a new Hanukkah video. It's for Chanukah, with lyrics by Haim Nahman Bialik and a melody by Nahum Nardi.
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.
Enjoy! Chag Chanukah Sameach!
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Today we continue our Hanukkah posts with Chanukah Light by Ari Goldwag.
Ari Goldwag aims to influence and inspire with his music and Torah.
His God-given gifts include singing, composing, and producing some of
the latest hits in contemporary Jewish music. These gifts are present in
every album, video, and Torah lesson that Ari shares with his community
and fans.
Ari first entered the Jewish music world at a young age and his
singing career began when he joined Miami Boys Choir, achieving fame for
his touching solos. He starred in five albums and three videos before
his departure from the group at age 14.
Ari has released eight solo albums, including his latest hit album “It's
Geshmak to be a Yid” released in the spring of 2022, and has starred in
and produced several unique music videos. His exceptionally popular
video, “Am Echad,” has been viewed over eleven million times on
YouTube. The video promotes a strong and vibrant message of unity among
various and diverse groups of the Jewish people. His YouTube channel
has reached over 30 Million views.
Ari lives with his wife Talia and their seven children in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel.
Enjoy!
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On this Thursday night we will light the first Hanukkah candle. In the few days before the holiday begins and all through the eight days, we will bring you music videos and Chanukah posts as we do every year.
Tonight we're starting with You Can Light With Me, a parody of Taylor Swift's hit song You Belong With Me with new lyrics in the Chanukah spirit. The singers are the Y-Studs.
Originally from Yeshiva University, the Y-Studs a cappella group started as a club in 2010 and
have since grown beyond the collegiate level to the professional stage.
You may have seen some of their music videos, like the viral hit Evolution of Jewish Music and their cover Hashem Melech that have contributed to over 10 million views across social media channels - as well as over 38,000 YouTube subscribers.
Enjoy!
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On November 14, the Maccabeats, the a cappella group that started out as Yeshiva University's student vocal group, performed on stage at the end of the March and Rally for Israel on the National Mall in Washington, DC. We posted their performance two days later here on Jewish Humor Central.
As they headed to Washington, the Maccabeats created a vlog (video blog) of their preparations for the trip, and included scenes of the 290,000 other participants getting ready for the day of support for Israel.
This vlog takes you behind the scenes and behind the massive stage where singers, political leaders, and Jewish community leaders addressed the unprecedented crowd.
It's a piece of an important day in American Jewish history that we should always remember.
Am Yisrael Chai!
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Koolulam led an international musical project advocating for the return of the hundreds of
abducted civilians currently being held in Gaza by Hamas. Our loved ones.
More than 100 locations around the world took part in this urgent call.
The song for this project was chosen by Tamar Forti, who lost her brother, Nir at the Nova peace party. As Madonna's fan, she found comfort in this song's lyrics and asked Koolulam leaders to use it to raise awareness for the hostage situation.
The special video was produced in collaboration with The Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv and the families of the abducted and missing forum to raise awareness for the hostage situation worldwide.
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
INTHE VIDEO
IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.
Media and PR:
Sharon Malin – Sharonmalin.malin@gmail.com
For further information follow us on Facebook: / koolulam
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The song – Madonna's – 'Like a Prayer' (1989).
Original Lyrics and production by Maddona and Patrick Leonard
Musical arrangement & production - Nitzan Zifroni and Ben Yaffet
Video
Music video director & chief Editor: Yair Tamir
Video clip editors: Maor Keshet, Matan Ben Shimol Alisan Davidi and Roy Kreizman
Graphic design: Eyal Armor
After effects - Eran Moshketal
Technical support - Studio Omer Leshem
Camera Crew
Cinematography - Uria Sayag
Cinematography - Nir Maman
X-jib operators - Daniel and Yitzchak Hanit
Camera assistant - Yerahmiel Adler
Camera equipment - AG Production Solutions
Lighting additions equipment - Hakol BAKOL
Amplification additions equipment - Israel Raz
Rehearsal room - Rafsoda, Savta studio
Stills photographer - Tali Raz
Stage
Conductors: Roni Stav & Matan Ben Shimol
Children's Choir: Neve Oz Bands and Petah Tikva Stage Sounds, under the direction of Samdar Horowitz
Lightning designer: Ziv Holtzman
Head of sound: Sela Wisblom
Choirs and congregations from Israel and the world
Koolulam credits
Founders - Michal Shahaf, Ben Yaffet and Or Teicher
Director, Koolulam Israel - Limor Abkasis
Chief Producer - Assaf Diamant
Artistic director - Yotam Kushnir
Line Producer - participating countries - Bella Fisher
Koolulam production team - Dafna Hillel, Guy Maor, Yara Konfino Gabai, Corail Maman, Hadar Levy
Translation - Ella Widislavsky
Social networks photography: Hillel Mish'an
Special thanks
To The Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv team: Haim Sela and Adi Polak
The staff of the kidnaped and missing forum - Nimrod Arlok, Tzahi Eliyahu, Gazit Kolton, Dorit Gvili, and Almog Israelov.
Amir Feingold.
Big Thanks to all of the musical conductors around the world who took part in this project and didn't stay silent:
Galit Shear - London, England
Tamara Samuel - Sydney, Australia
Kenneth Birnbaum (SAR High School), Naomi Cohen & Adena Korn (Abraham Joshua Heschel School), Daniel Henkin (Ramaz Upper School) - New York City
Alasdair Ong - Hong Kong
Carey White - USA/New Jersey
Escuela Olami ort Mexico (teacher Donna Rotblatt) - Mexico city
Lisa Jacobson - Ashwood Victoria - Australia
Reesa Pawer - Canada\Richmond
Beny Zekhry - Brazil
Justin Kett/Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School - London, United Kingdom
Dor Magen Kiryat Tiv’on - Israel
Cantor David Rosen - Toronto, Canada
Jessica Alterman - Argentina
Oren Kaunfer - USA
Kayla Sawoski - Los Angeles, CA United States
Anthea Canes - Los Angeles
Corey Fooks - Australia, Melbourne
Kristian Summerer - USA/Doylestown
Clive Noble - Haifa, ISRAEL
Radim Raszka - Family Gospel Ostrava Czech Republic/Ostrava
Maria Haegele - Germany.Bochum
Laura Wolfson - Canada/Oakville
Buki Silber - USA/New York
Melissa Valverde - Costa Rica
Paula Baruch - Canada, Hamilton, Ontario
Buki Silber - USA/New York
MartÃn Nisnevich - Argentina - Buenos Aires
Tzameret Ben David - Silicon Valley, California
David Niego - Bruxelles
IVOR JOFFE - CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Liyu Lu - Western Galilee. Israel
Alain Picard - Switzerland
Marcela Obermeister Shasha - Amsterdam The Netherlands
Adi Gafni - Portugal, Lisbon
Mindy Escobar - Leanse - El Paso, TX USA
Dela Huettner - Switzerland/zurich
Tamar Pinto - Washington DC
Leah Peer Denver Colorado, USA
Cantor Judy Adelman Gershon - Toronto Canada
Brian Scott Maui, HawaiiNaama Perel - Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Michael Ballak cameraman, Marcela Obermeister - Netherlands
Jack Leopold - Waterville, Maine
Jewish community of Uruguay URUGUAY
Jack Leopold - Waterville, Maine, USA
Liyu Lu - Chinese Community.China
Adi gafni - Lisbon Portugal
Jonathan Shapiro – Connecticut, USA
Nisa Felps - Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Marcela Obermeister Shasha – The Netherlands
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.
A Friend Indeed
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