Comedian Modi Rosenfeld Gets His Mayoral Proclamation and Day in New York

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.

In June Modi was honored by the city of New York with a proclamation naming June 26, 2018 as Mordechai (Modi) Rosenfeld Day. 

As Sandy Eller wrote in Vos Iz Neias,

Amid a strictly kosher barbeque featuring hamburgers, vegetarian burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, salads, pickles, wine, beer, watermelon, brownies and blue and white cookies in tribute to the State of Israel, guests gathered on the mayoral residence’s rear lawn, enjoying a perfect summer evening with magnificent river views.

Mayor de Blasio and his wife Chirlaine McCray continued their annual tradition of sprinkling their speeches with a smattering of Hebrew words and discussing “tikun olam,” with the mayor speaking out, as in previous years, against BDS while McCray discussed mental health issues.

Describing Israel as New York City’s “sixth borough,” de Blasio introduced Israeli Consul General Dani Dayan, who spoke briefly, and also presented a proclamation to the evening’s honoree, actor, comedian and cantor Mordechai Rosenfeld, better known by his stage name, Modi.

In accepting the proclamation, Modi didn't disappoint the guests. He delivered a short, funny commentary which you can watch below.

Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "A Loud Prayer"

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

Today we're taking another deep dive into the Internet and coming up with an oldie but goodie retold by Ellis Simon, a resident of the Los Angeles Jewish Home.

Here's the setup: Two young boys were spending their night at their grandma's house.  So that night they got ready for bed and started to say their prayers. And then...

Enjoy!

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Tumbalalaika Around the World - Vietnamese Interpretation by Nguyen Nhung

The Yiddish folk love song Tumbalalaika originated in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, but its exact origin is hard to pinpoint. 

That hasn't prevented it from being sung and played over and over, not only in places where Yiddish songs are sung, but just about everywhere in the world, in vocal and instrumental versions, in cabarets and in the movies. 

Just as we have followed the songs Hava Nagila, Adon Olam, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, and Abanibi as they took different forms as interpreted by a wide variety of singers, musicians, and dancers, we're continuing the series today that we started back in 2012, bringing you many interpretations of this universal courting and love song.

This rendition of Tumbalalaika was recorded by Vietnamese singer Nguyen Nhung.

Enjoy! 

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Welcoming Shabbat with Benji Rafaeli and His Chai 5 Orchestra

Shalom Aleichem has been one of the most popular songs that we post to welcome Shabbat each week. Today marks the 24th time that we are posting still another rendition of this poetic welcome that's part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service. It's by Benji Rafaeli and his Chai 5 Orchestra.

Benji Rafaeli was born in to a musical family and till today carries on their musical tradition. Benji sings in 18 different languages, plays the guitar, piano, organ, drums and other instruments. His music has touched hearts around the world. His previous solo albums include The Moshiach and Standing Tall America.

The Benji Rafaeli Orchestra has been thrilling audiences with live music for over twenty years. Benji excels at providing several types of music for events. Jewish, Russian, DJ & Dance Music, Show Tunes, Contemporary, Pop, World, and Israeli music are all his specialties.

We've seen Benji perform a few times at Waterways, an outdoor mall in Aventura, Florida. He plays and sings while the snowbirds dance around his bandstand. Maybe we'll see him again this winter when we head down to Florida for another round of Jewish humor lectures for seniors in Deerfield Beach and a lecture on The Great Jewish Comedians at Florida Atlantic University on March 6.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca in "The Hickenloopers: The Phone Messages"

It's Throwback Thursday again and today we get another chance to go back 67 years to 1951 and another episode of The Hickenloopers on Your Show of Shows.

Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca starred in many episodes of the hilarious marital tribulations of Doris and Charlie Hickenlooper.

In this sketch, Doris Hickenlooper (Imogene Coca) gets into trouble with Charlie when she proves incapable of writing down his phone messages.

Enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

You Know You Are Dating an Israeli Man When...

There's a YouTube channel called Dating Beyond Borders that focuses on dating around the world. It has some funny insights into dating in different cultures.

The format is "You know you are dating an ____ man or woman when..." and then shows some stereotypical examples of dating situations.
 
One of the countries they profile is Israel and illustrate what it means to date an Israeli with video vignettes of dates in progress.

Back in October we posted a video vignette called You know you are dating an Israeli woman when...

Today we're back with the reverse situation: You know you are dating an Israeli man when...

Are they exaggerating? You probably know the truth.

Enjoy!

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Evolution of Jewish Dating: From Eliezer's Shidduch for Yitzchak and Rivkah to the Robotic Future

Jewish matchmaking has been going on for thousands of years, and it comedians Meir Kay and Mendy Pellin have collaborated in a survey of the Jewish dating scene from Biblical times to the present day.

Starting with Eliezer's quest for a bride for Yitzchak, and revisiting the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah, the two comics show how the urge to merge has developed to include rabbinic romance, speed dating, online dating, smartphone app dating, and robotic dating in the future.

Enjoy!

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Jimmy Kimmel Asks Kids on the Street What They Know About Chanukah

Last week on the second night of Chanukah late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel took to the streets of New York to ask random kids questions about Chanukah.

Most children who don't celebrate Chanukah are familiar with the story of Christmas, but they are less educated about the miracle of Chanukah. So Jimmy's crew went out on the street and asked kids who don't celebrate Hanukkah to tell us what they know about it.

- What is Chanukah?
- Have you heard of Jewish people?
- Why doesn't Santa bring any of the Jewish kids toys?
- Can you spell Hanukkah?
- Would you like to meet a Jewish person?
- Do you know any Hanukkah songs?

Enjoy the last day of Chanukah!

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Nir Sarussi and Ariella Zeitlin are an Israeli virtuoso duo of performers who perform internationally for all kinds of crowds. This week they showed up in Zion Square in Jerusalem to play a medley of Chanukah songs. 

The violinists found an enthusiastic audience for their renditions of the classic songs in an Irish tempo reminiscent of Riverdance.

Zion Square, at the junction of Ben Yehuda and Jaffa streets, is where you're likely to find all kinds of musicians and entertainers any time of the day or night. It's one of the pleasures of living in and visiting Jerusalem.

Enjoy as we celebrate the seventh day of Chanukah!


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White House Hosts Two Hanukkah Parties to Light the Fifth Candle

Yesterday President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted an afternoon and an evening Hanukkah party at the White House. All Jewish members of Congress were invited and the fifth candle was lit at each party, by a chaplain and by a Chabad rabbi.

The party included songs sung by the Y-Studs, the Yeshiva a cappella group whose songs we have posted here on Jewish Humor Central.

The president's remarks focused on our relationship with the State of Israel, recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and the swift opening of the new United States Embassy.

Welcoming Ivanka and Jared Kushner, he said "I'm also proud that the Jewish faith is so deeply woven into the fabric of my family. It's a great honor."

Each of the parties lasted more than an hour, and the full videos are available on YouTube. We'll include the links below so if you have the time you can watch both of them. If you're not inclined to spend so much time with them, here is a short version of one of the parties.

Happy Hanukkah and Shabbat shalom!

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FULL VIDEO OF THE HANUKKAH PARTIES BELOW: