Wednesday, June 5, 2019

YidLife Crisis Explorers Find Surprising Traces of Jewish Life in Detroit


Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion, the Montreal-based Jewish comedians of YidLife Crisis who travel the world looking for unusual slices of Jewish life, set their sights on the Jewish community of Detroit, Michigan a few months ago.

Sure enough, they found some unexpected instances of Jewish life in previous decades, including a shvitz (steam bath) that had been regularly frequented by members of the Purple Gang (Jewish American bootleggers and hijackers in Detroit during the 1920s).

After a venik massage - a back and shoulder massage with a broom made from a fragrant bundle of leafy birch or oak tree twigs, and a nosh at a kosher deli, our intrepid explorers visit the old home of Temple Beth El where a rabbi and a pastor (no, this is not a joke) are building an interfaith community center.

Enjoy!

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 IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.


2 comments:

  1. Very ironic that you showed this video this morning.
    Yid Life Crisis will show their movie "Chewdism" and
    perform at the Cote Saint Luc Men's Club in Montreal
    on Thursday the 6th of June.
    Al, we remember your 2 appearances at the CSLMC,
    Mannie Y PRES

    ReplyDelete
  2. So wonderful to see these places, like the Beth El Synagogue.

    ReplyDelete