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!
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 starting a series today that will bring you many interpretations of this universal courting and love song. We'll post other versions from time to time over the next few months.
We're starting the series with a classic version sung by famed cantors Naftali Herstik, Alberto Mizrachi, and Benzion Miller with the Neimah Singersin a concert "Cantors; A Faith in Song" recorded in the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam in 2003. Enjoy!
The English translation appears under the video on this page.
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Tumbalalaika - English Translation
A young lad stands, and he thinks
Thinks and thinks the whole night through
Whom to take and not to shame
Whom to take and not to shame Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika, strum balalaika
Tumbalalaika, may we be happy Girl, girl, I want to ask of you
What can grow, grow without rain?
What can burn and never end?
What can yearn, cry without tears? Foolish lad, why do you have to ask?
A stone can grow, grow without rain
Love can burn and never end
A heart can yearn, cry without tears
If you'll be in Florida in February, be sure to attend Al's 90 minute program on the Great Jewish Comedians. This presentation is a follow-up to last year's sold out program and will highlight 15 more of the funniest and most beloved nightclub and television skits performed by the great Jewish comedians of the century and little known facts and anecdotes about their careers. CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR DETAILS.
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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
Contact the Jewish Speakers Bureau Now to Book Program and Lecture Dates for 2019 and 2020
Now is the time to book our Jewish humor programs and lectures for your 2019 and 2020 events in South Florida and the Northeast. Book any of our 20 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, contact www.JewishSpeakersBureau.com.
BUY OUR LATEST BOOK IN PAPERBACK AND GET THE KINDLE VERSION (E-BOOK) FREE!
Buy our latest book "Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places" from Amazon in paperback for $9.95 and Amazon will offer you the Kindle (e-book) version free of charge. You can read the Kindle (e-book) on any computer, tablet, or smart phone with a Kindle reader that you can download free from Amazon. You can give the print version as a gift and keep the Kindle version for yourself. The 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!
Buy "Israel is a Funny Country" and Amazon will give you a free copy of the Kindle edition
Amazon.com is running a promotion of the Kindle Edition of our book, "Israel is a Funny Country." If you buy the paperback edition, Amazon will give you the Kindle edition free under their MatchBook program. After you order the book, return to the book page and click on Kindle Edition. The price will change from $2.99 to $0.00. Amazon offers free Kindle reading apps so you can read any Kindle book on your PC, Mac, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android smartphone.
Now is the time to book our Jewish Humor Shows and Lectures for your synagogue, JCC, or club.
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. We're taking reservations now for February 2018 dates in Florida and 2017 and 2018 dates in your community . Click above for details. To book a program, contact www.JewishSpeakersBureau.com.
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Add Laughter to Your Purim Celebration. Order Now From Amazon.com.
The Kustanowitz Kronikle - 25 Purim newsletters from 1988 to 2012 filled with parody, satire, and spoofs. Available now from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.. A great gift for the hosts of your Purim Seudah.
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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
Al Kustanowitz, Jewish Humor Central's Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, has collected Jewish humor even before there was an internet. For the last 25 years he has been editor and publisher of The Kustanowitz Kronikle.
Al is a member of the Jewish Speakers Bureau.
Want to contact us? Just send email to akustan@gmail.com.
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Well done in a beautiful sanctuary.
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