Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi at Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, California

Mishkon Tephilo's historic landmark building on Main Street in Venice, California houses a beautiful synagogue that warmly embraces interfaith families and converts to Judaism. People notice its relaxed and inclusive vibe and find it less formal than other synagogues — as one of its regulars put it, "Hawaiian shirt optional." 

Mishkon is participatory and many congregants engage in synagogue services, leading a section or reading from the Torah on Shabbat. Services are held Friday night (usually on Zoom or at the beach), Saturday morning and all holidays, with occasional family services and alternative learning services. 

In today's video, Mishkon's spiritual leader, Rabbi Joshua Katzan and Happie Hoffman, Musical Director for BBYO International, welcome Shabbat with Lecha Dodi, a major part of the Friday night service.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Comedy Showcase with Orny Adams - Navy Seal in the Audience

Orny Adams (Adam Jason Orenstein) delivers a powerful, incisive stand-up comedy routine that vacillates between the relevant and the absurd. Orny attacks what’s wrong with the world and sometimes even what’s wrong with Orny. He’s brutally honest, satirical and his performance is ceaselessly energetic.  

We first ran into Orny Adams at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal seven years ago. We previously posted clips of Orny in one of his Showtime specials. Orny has been performing on late night TV shows and other comedy venues, and he's a regular at the Just for Laughs Festival.

Orny has had one hour stand up specials on Netflix, Comedy Central and his third special More Than Loud aired on Showtime. Orny has appeared all over television, most notably on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman and The Conan O’Brien Show. And you might also recognize him as Coach from the TV show Teen Wolf which ran for six seasons.

In this clip from a performance last September at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California, Orny finds out that there is a retired Navy Seal in his audience and turns the discovery into a monologue about heroes and accomplished people  and how he is being upstaged by them.

Enjoy!

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Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: Hotel Offers Dirty Room at Half Price -- A Candid Camera Classic

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. 

Hotels keep cutting back on service. Want a dirty room? Twenty-three years ago the Candid Camera crew took over a hotel and offered dirty rooms at half price. Let's see the results.

Enjoy!

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Israeli Standup Comedy with Yohai Sponder: When a Brit Calls You a Colonizer

Comedians Yohay Sponder and Shahar Hason got their start as comedians in Israel catering exclusively to Hebrew-speaking audiences. As the two became more and more well-known to Hebrew speakers throughout Israel, they noticed a huge demographic in the country that was missing out on the laughs. 

Sponder and Hason took the risk of crafting and re-writing their material from Hebrew to English (and from Israeli humor to American humor), all the while unsure whether or not they would even get a laugh out of an English speaking crowd. Their hard work and dedication to broadening the audience of one of Israel’s most unique cultural elements has launched the growing scene of Israeli Stand-up in English.

Sponder, Hason, and some of their friends carry on each Monday in Tel Aviv with their standup comedy show, Funny Monday. Their English is a bit hard to understand, but it's worth a try.

In this clip, Sponder has a good comeback to a British member of the audience who accuses him of being a colonizer.

Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "The Two Bumblebees"

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: Two bumblebees happened to meet in the field. One said to the other: "How's it going?" The other one said "It's not going well." And then...

Enjoy!

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Comedian Zehavit Rosenbloom on Looking for Kosher Certification Symbols

Zehavit Rosenbloom is a mom with seven children who is performing standup comedy and recording videos for Jewish audiences.She has created many Jewish chsracters including ultra religious Rebbetzins, secular Israelis, and El Al representatives who put passengers through intensive interrogations before letting them board planes.

She calls her comedy routines Zeya Comedy and we have been sharing some of her sketches in future Jewish Humor Central posts. Today we're sharing a sketch in which she finds letters on grocery products and interprets them as kosher symbols even though there is no such connection.

Enjoy!

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Havdalah with Marni Loffman, Composer and Vocalist

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 in 2017.

This version of Havdalah is by Marni Loffman, a composer, vocalist, educator, facilitator and ritualist. Marni's musical work weaves together the sounds of a multi-denominational Jewish American religious upbringing, of Ashkenazi ancestry, and of cultural influences growing up the United States such as American folk, pop, jazz and neo-soul. Marni's music explores diasporic identity, doubt, grief and healing through combining rabbinic and liturgical poetry and prose with original lyrics.

Shabbat shalom and Shavua Tov!

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Comedian Rabbi Bob Alper on How He Won the Joke With the Pope Contest

There's a reason why Sirius/XM Satellite Radio plays Rabbi Bob Alper's bits several times daily, often sandwiched between Bob Newhart and Jerry Seinfeld.

Bob's unique background - he's an ordained rabbi who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary - prepared him well for a twenty-seven year comedy career with wonderfully unique material presented in a way that's intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.

Last month Rabbi Bob told an audience in central Florida about how he beat 4,000 competitors from 47 countries in winning a contest for a joke that Pope Francis would like when he visited the USA in 2015.

Here's the joke. Enjoy!

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Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: Real Life Set to Music - A Candid Camera Classic

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. 

Twenty-three years ago the Candid Camera crew set up shop in a supermarket where they had a pianist on the second floor play music to match the movement of shoppers on the ground floor. Did they notice that their real life was being set to music? Let's see.

Enjoy!

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Unpacking The Secret of Jewish Intelligence

From goat yoga to brain supplements, people try everything to boost their intellect. But what if an ancient philosophy practiced by Jews holds the key? Representing just 0.2% of the global population, Jews have won nearly a quarter of Nobel Prizes. Their incredible success prompts the question: What is the secret to Jewish intelligence?

Unpacked, a division of Open Dor Media, has posted an interesting video with the answer to this question. We found it informative and want to share it with you.

Enjoy!

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A Joke to Start the Week - "Free Dental Treatment"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. This week we're posting another 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 we're sharing one of the family-friendly ones with you today. 

Here's the setup: A priest comes into a dental office and the dentist asks him what the problem is. The priest tells him he has a toothache. And then...

Enjoy!

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Comedian Elon Gold on the Different Ethnic Demographics in His Audiences

Elon Gold has always been one of our favorite young stand-up comics. A practicing Orthodox Jew who attended Westchester Day School and Yeshiva University High School, he performs for Jewish and for general audiences. His Jewish routines tend to be family-friendly, and his general routines not so.

In his comedy special Chosen and Taken, Gold unleashed his sharp, biting humor. His manic wit transcends race and religion to celebrate the absurd things people do.

In this video clip, he contrasts the differences between Whites, Blacks, Italians, Jews, Asians, and Latinos.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Yedid Nefesh by UMD's a Cappella Group, Kol Sasson

Founded in 1997 as the University of Maryland’s premier Jewish a cappella group, Kol Sasson has been serving the national Jewish community with song for over twenty years. Comprised of students from all backgrounds, studies, and cities around the country, the members of Kol Sasson come together to perform a repertoire ranging from English and Israeli pop to traditional Jewish melodies, and more.

In today's video, we join Kol Sasson in welcoming Shabbat with Yedid Nefesh, a preliminary poem to the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Candid Camera Pie Tasting Becomes Pie Throwing in 1963

Candid Camera was a popular and long-running American hidden camera reality television series. Versions of the show appeared on television from 1948 until 2014. Originally created and produced by Allen Funt, it often featured practical jokes, and initially began on radio as The Candid Microphone on June 28, 1947. 

The show involved concealed 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 were told the show's catchphrase, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera." The catchphrase became a song with music and lyrics by Sid Ramin.

Today we're sharing a classic episode from 1963 in a testing laboratory where five men were supposed to compare pie crusts. But the session quickly evolved from pie tasting to pie throwing.

Enjoy! 

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#Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Shulem Lemmer Sings "God Bless America" With a Yiddish Twist

As Jews, we are deeply grateful to America, the land of the free, for providing a haven where we can celebrate our heritage and practice our religion unconditionally. 

Written by Irving Berlin, a Jewish immigrant, "God Bless America" has long symbolized hope and unity. It is our fervent prayer that this country continues to be safe and welcoming, under the right leadership, and remain a symbol of freedom for all. 

This rendition in both English and Yiddish, was performed by Shulem Lemmer at a Tzedek Association event in honor of Senator Cory Booker in February of 2024.  

Raised in Boro Park, Brooklyn, Shulem’s singular voice has gained widespread attention in the Chasidic community and beyond. Shulem made history as the first born-and-raised Orthodox singer to ever sign a major record deal in the U.S. His recent contract with Universal Music’s Decca Gold Label positions him as an artist primed to break through to a global audience with the release of his album, The Perfect Dream.

Lyrics in English and Yiddish appear below the video. Enjoy!

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Lyrics: 

While the storm clouds gather, Far across the sea, 

Let us pledge allegiance, To a land that’s free. 

Let us all be grateful, For a land so fair, 

As we raise our voices, In a solemn prayer. 

 

God bless America, Land that I love, 

Stand beside her and guide her, Through the night with a light from above. 

From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam, 

God bless America, My home sweet home. 

God bless America, My home sweet home.

 

 גאט בענטש אמעריקע לאנד וואס איך ליב

 שטייזשע ביי איר און מדריך זיי איר מיט א שטראל איבעראל איבער איר

 פון די בערגן ביז די טאלן ביז די ים'ן ווייס מיט שוים 

 גאט בענטש אמעריקע מיין זיסע היים

Are Jewish Noses a Real Thing? Unpacking This Harmful Stereotype

Unpacked, a division of Open Dor Media, has posted an interesting video on how and why Jewish noses have been portrayed as a hateful stereotype through the ages. We found it informative and want to share it with you.

Even today, Jews are often depicted in the media as having extra-large and hooked noses, perpetuating the myth and hateful stereotype of the "Jewish nose." This stereotype has persisted for centuries, even though scientific studies have disproven the notion that Jewish noses are larger than those of other ethnicities. As a result, nose jobs have become a norm and are sometimes even encouraged within many Jewish communities. This harmful stereotype continues to affect the perception of Jewish people, despite the evidence against it. 

While some Jews may share similar characteristics to other Middle Eastern peoples because the Jewish People originate from the Land of Israel, which is in the Middle East, the singular stereotype of the "Jewish nose" persists and serves as a dangerous and often harmful rhetoric that has no basis in reality.

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A Joke to Start the Week - "Becky and Sadie Play Cards"

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:  Becky and Sadie have been friends for 50 years. Now they're in their 70s, living in a nursing home, and playing cards. And then...

Enjoy!

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Israeli Comedy by Zehavit Rosenbloom - "Yafit and Hertzel go to the Doctor"

Zehavit Rosenbloom is a mom with seven children who is performing standup comedy and recording videos for Jewish audiences.She has created many Jewish characters including ultra religious Rebbetzins, secular Israelis, and El Al representatives who put passengers through intensive interrogations before letting them board planes.

She calls her comedy routines Zeya Comedy and we are sharing some of her sketches in Jewish Humor Central posts. Today we're sharing a skit in which an annoying Israeli woman named Yafit goes to a doctor with her husband Hertzel.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Yigdal by Rabbi Hillel Lavery-Yisraeli and Lara Traum

Most synagogues conclude the Friday evening service with the liturgical poem Yigdal. 

Yigdal (Hebrew: יִגְדָּל‬ means "Magnify [O Living God]") is a Jewish hymn which in various rituals shares with Adon Olam the place of honor at the opening of the morning and the close of the evening service. 

It is based on the 13 Articles of Faith formulated by Maimonides (The Rambam). A translation can be found in any bilingual siddur in the language of the country where it is sung.

Today we're welcoming Shabbat with a traditional Ladino Sephardic version of Yigdal by Rabbi Hillel Lavery-Yisraeli of the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism of Flushing, New York, and Lara Traum.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Tumbalalaika Around the World - As Sung by Singer/Actress Julie Benko

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, sharing our 25th version of this universal courting and love song.

The version of Tumbalalaika that we're sharing today is by singer/actress Julie Benko. Julie portrayed Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl (2022) and originated the role of Ruth Stern in the Broadway musical Harmony (2023). Julie sings the song in Yiddish and English.

Enjoy!

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Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special - "Tickle Yourself" - A Candid Camera Gold Flashback

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. 

Twenty-three years ago the Candid Camera crew tried to prove or disprove the theory that it is impossible to tickle yourself. Let's see the results.

Enjoy!

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Comedian Modi Rosenfeld on Bringing Light to Dark Times

On June 18 ILTV's Maayan Hoffman met with comedian Modi Rosenfeld to talk about his effort to bring laughter to Israelis during such difficult times. 

Modi reflected on the importance of taking time out of praying and helping with the war to pause for laughter, and then return to the serious business of helping Israel. 

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