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!
Some
of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we
continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines
by iconic comedians on
Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.
Nightclub comic Morty Gunty (1929-1984) , the son of Austrian Jewish immigrants, began his stand-up routine in the Catskills
in the early 60's, appearing on various television programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Jack Paar Show. He made the talk/variety show rounds like most up and coming comics
did. He debuted on Broadway in 1967 in "Love in E Flat" and hosted his
own local television show for children called "The Funny Company". His
only venture into films would be What's So Bad About Feeling Good? and Woody Allen's film Broadway Danny Rose. Here's a video clip of Gunty doing his stand-up comedy on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Enjoy!
Today we welcome Shabbat with a rendition of Ahavat Olam by Dor Kaminka & Cantor Jenni Asher of Hamakom congregation of Los Angeles.
Hamakom is an inclusive Jewish community creating meaningful experiences through communal connection, celebrating, worshiping and
learning. Hamakom means “The Place” and represents the understanding
that spiritual life begins when you seek the extraordinary within the
ordinary.
Hamakom has programs for all ages, from The Nook (Infant
& Toddler Center) to an Early Childhood Center, one of the city’s
most respected; from a vibrant and inclusive JLC Religious School to Adult Education programs and Shabbat services.
Did you know that the first annual Thanksgiving Day parade was started by Macy's competitor Bernard Gimbel of the Gimbel's Department Store family in Philadelphia in 1920? It is the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the United States.
The Philadelphia parade helped inspire the creation of the Macy’s Christmas Parade in 1924, which later became the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
It was started by Macy’s immigrant employees, many of whom were first- or second-generation European immigrants. They wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving in the manner of the Old World holiday festivals and street parades they had grown up with.
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.
In
this Candid Camera classic stunt set in a Phoenix retail store 24 years ago, a Candid Camera staffer posed as a checkout clerk who charges each customer a six dollar charge for shipping and handling even though the purchase was being taken home from the store.
Shahar
Hasson is one of the leading stand-up comedians in Israel, appearing on
Israeli stages for over 25 years, He is a graduate of Yoram
Levinstein's acting school.
Shahar
is an entertainer who paved his way through the best entertainment
programs in Israel: Eretz Nehederet, Zahirut TV, TV at its best,
Laughter from Work, Limited Edition, Fun Night, Express Hearts and more.
In
this performance before a live audience, Shahar delivers
a stand-up routine filled with humorous observations about
international relations and cultural differences. The comedian's sharp
wit explores unexpected topics, including Israeli construction projects
and spy recruitment techniques.
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. Here's the setup: The Handelbaums had a good marriage for 60 years. And then one night there was a little problem. As they were falling asleep Sheila leaned over to Ken, and then...
Some
of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we
continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines
by iconic comedians on
Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.
Standup comedian Robert Klein is 83 now and doesn't have any performances currently scheduled, but he was in his prime in 1986 when he performed on Broadway.
Klein was the first to have a standup special on HBO. He is legendary due to his smart humor and funny insights into the everyday. In this piece he turns his attention to cheating at golf, hunting and fishing and then cutting corners in food processing.
This year’s annual Jerusalem International Oud Festival took place last week, and included well-known musical guests Ehud Banai,
Shalom Hanoch, Ravid Kahalani, Dudu Tassa — and Yehuda Poliker
performing with a 12-piece band for the final show.
Among the dozens of musicians performing at the festival were the
Bustan Avraham band of Arab and Jewish musicians, reunited since 2012
and led by three of the founders, Zohar Fresco, Taiseer Elias, and Am
Milstein, now with Haggai Cohen-Milo.
Also appearing at the festival was the Yearot Ensemble. Yearot
weaves Jewish sacred poetry (piyutim) with traditional Balkan and
Middle Eastern melodies, alongside original compositions inspired by
regional folk traditions.
As we welcome another Shabbat, let's listen to a new version of Adon Olam, to which the Yearot Ensemble added a verse from Shir HaShirim, the Song of Songs.
Today we're going back 62 years to watch Neil Sedaka sing a medley of songs that were popular in 1963 on The Ed Sullivan Show. The medley includes Blame It On The Bossa Nova, Slightly Out Of Tune (Desafinado), Fly Me To The Moon and A Felicidade.
Sedaka
was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1939. His father, Mordechai "Mac" Sedaka, was
a taxi driver of Sephardi Jewish descent from Turkey. Sedaka's paternal grandparents came to the United States from Istanbul in 1910.
Sedaka's mother, Eleanor (née Appel), was an Ashkenazi Jew of Polish and Russian descent. He grew up in Brighton Beach. Sedaka (the name is a variant of the Hebrew word Tzedaka - charity) is a cousin of singer Eydie Gorme.
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.
In
this Candid Camera classic stunt the crew rigged a dollar bill changing machine to dispense 100 pennies instead of the expected four quarters. Customers were not pleased and expressed their disappointment with expressions that had to be bleeped for family friendly television.
Yossi Tarablus is an Israeli comedian who performs both in Hebrew and English in Israel and around the world.
His
smart and honest style creates a hilarious combination of his life
experiences as a husband, a father, and of course, as an Israeli.
His
years of experience, wide appeal, and ability to perform
family-friendly material have made him a regular for comedy clubs,
universities, army bases, holiday groups, and corporate events. Not only
has Yossi performed in New York, Paris, and Sydney, he was also the
first Israeli to be invited to NBC's "Last Comic Standing" in 2008. In
addition his many standup appearances on TV, Yossi has hosted a
popular late-night radio show and has written wrote for shows including
"Tzchok M'avoda", "Kztarim", "Layla B’kef", "Dudu Topaz", and more.
In this clip from a performance at the Stand-up Factory in Tel Aviv, Tarablus talks about his vacation in Eilat, shopping, and vegans.
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. Here's the setup: Morris and Molly had been married for 50 years. The whole time she yelled at him, always finding fault in what he did. And then...
Some
of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we
continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines
by iconic comedians on
Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.
When Mark Schiff was twelve, his parents took him to a nightclub. There, live
on stage was Rodney Dangerfield doing his act. At that moment, he knew
the path he had to follow.
Mark has headlined in all the major casinos
and clubs across the country and has appeared many times on both The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman. He has
had both HBO and Showtime specials and has been the featured act at the
Montreal Comedy Festival.
Since we're now in the 100th year of Jewish Book Month, we'll be sharing information on recently published books on Jewish humor and comedy.
Mark Schiff has written a book about his comedy career called Why Not? Lessons on Comedy, Courage, and Chutzpah. Schiff, a long-time touring partner of Jerry Seinfeld, presents a hilarious account of decades of foolery with comedy and
acting legends and how he honed his mensch skills in all of life’s
arenas.
In the book he tells of how he was invited to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1989. Here is a video clip of that appearance.
Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is a hymn which is not sung in the synagogue, but in many homes after singing Shalom Aleichem and before saying the Kiddush. Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has
done for him and their family. Eishet Chayil is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon
concludes the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31). The poem has an acrostic
arrangement in which the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew
alphabet in regular order. The poem describes the woman of valor as one
who are is energetic, righteous, and capable.
This version is sung by Kobi Oved, a singer-songwriter, cantor, and musical director
who performs in Jewish music projects both in Israel and
internationally. He is known for his work as a singer, composer,
children's choir conductor, and musical director, and has been involved
in numerous musical projects.
The transliterated Hebrew text and English translation appear below the video. Enjoy, and Shabbat Shalom!
Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.
Batach bah lev ba'lah v'shalal lo yechsar
Her husband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.
G'malathu tov v'lo ra kol y'mei chayeiha
She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life.
Darshah tzemer ufishtim vata'as b'chefetz kapeiha
She seeks wool and flax, and works with her hands willingly.
Haitah ko'oniyot socher mimerchak tavi lachmah
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her bread from afar.
Vatakom b'od lailah vatiten teref l'vetah v'chok l'na'aroteiha She arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household and a portion to her maidservants.
Zam'mah sadeh vatikachehu mip'ri chapeiha nat'ah karem She plans for a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.
Ta'amah ki tov sachrah lo yichbeh balailah nerah She knows that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night.
Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.
Kapah parsah le'ani v'yadeiha shil'chah la'evyon She extends her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.
Lo tira l'vetah mishaleg ki chol betah lavush shanim She fears not for her household because of snow, because her whole household is warmly dressed.
Marvadim astah lah shesh v'argaman l'vushah She makes covers for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Noda bash'arim ba'lah b'shivto im ziknei aretz Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Sadin astah vatimkor vachagor natnah lak'na'ani She makes a cloak and sells it, and she delivers aprons to the merchant.
Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.
Piha patchah v'chochma v'torat chesed al l'shonah She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.
Tzofi'ah halichot betah v'lechem atzlut lo tochel She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Kamu vaneha vay'ash'ruha ba'lah vay'hal'lah Her children rise and praise her, her husband lauds her.
Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.
Sheker hachen v'hevel hayofi ishah yir'at Hashem hi tit'halal Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God shall be praised.
T'nu lah mip'ri yadeiha vihal'luha vash'arim ma'aseha Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Ed Ames (Edmund Urick) (1927-2023) was a pop singer and actor. He was also part of the popular 1950s singing group with his siblings, the Ames Brothers.
Best
known for his singing career with three of his brothers as The Ames
Brothers, and his acting in the role of Mingo, a Cherokee tribesman in
the TV series Daniel Boone, Ames was a committed Zionist and president of the California chapter of the Zionist Organization of America.
In this video from the Ed Sullivan Show 57 years ago, Ames sings a medley including Gentle On My Mind, My Cup Runneth Over, The Look Of Love and Kiss Her Now.
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.
In
this Candid Camera classic stunt set in a California supermarket 21 years ago, a Candid Camera staffer posed as a shopper with special Premier Shopper status and cut in front of shoppers who had already started to check out. Watch their reactions!
Hevenu
Shalom Aleichem is one of the most widely played and sung Hebrew songs
around the world, probably second only to Hava Nagila. We have been
sharing versions of this song as performed in India, Guatemala, Australia, Korea, Belarus, and in an Irish pub.
After posting 25 versions of the song over the years, we came across a line dance version created by Indonesian choreographer Uli Elfrida and posted on the British line dance website Copperknob.
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.
It's an oldie but goodie that you've probably heard before, but like many of these, we find it interesting to see the same joke told in a slightly different way by a different joke teller.
Here's
the setup: A Jewish couple from the suburbs get a new Mercedes. And they want to get it blessed. So they go to an Orthodox rabbi and they say "Rabbi, we got a new Mercedes." And then...
We know Billy Crystal as an actor, comedian, singer, writer, producer, director, and television host. But he got his start in standup comedy.
For his work, he received numerous accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards (out of twenty-one nominations), a Tony Award, a Mark Twain Prize and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. He has hosted the Academy Awards nine times, beginning in 1990 and most recently in 2012.
For this Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase, we're going back 47 years to 1978 to revisit one of his earliest appearances.
Cantor
Abbie Strauss is a renowned composer, multi-instrumentalist, and
recording artist, with her works being enjoyed worldwide.
Abbie founded
the music school, The Institute of Jewish Rock and Judaism: Inside Out,
driven by her desire to bring all people together as one in love and
joy through music. She is a proud member of the Grammy's Recording
Academy and an advocate for the arts.
Abbie
is a Cantorial Soloist at Temple Judea, a Reform congregation in Palm
Beach Gardens, Florida, where her husband, Feivel Strauss is a rabbi.
In today's video, she sings Oseh Shalom with composer Michael Hunter Ochs. In addition to his success in contemporary popular music, Ochs is
universally recognized as a leading composer of Jewish and interfaith
worship music. On any given Friday evening his music can be heard in
synagogues around the world.
Standup comedian Peter Fogel is a regular performer on the South Florida circuit.
We're
looking forward to seeing his show, Two Funny Jews With Nothing To Do, with Stu Moss and David Glickman at
Temple Shaarei Shalom in Boynton Beach, Florida on December 25.
Here's a clip in which he talks about messing with telemarketers, trick or treaters and holiday shoppers at the mall.
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.
In this classic episode from 2001, a waitress in El Paso tests customers' reactions to unusual service. Their responses range from amused to outraged, as the prank unfolds. Will anyone suspect a Candid Camera setup?
From spy dramas to teen chaos, Israeli TV has taken Hollywood by storm. Some of America’s biggest hits — from "Homeland" to "Euphoria" — started in Israel.
In this video from Unpacked, we see how some of the award winning TV movies and series became the basis for American versions. Among the TV shows depicted are:
Homeland / Hatufim
Euphoria / Oforia
In Treatment / BeTipul
Your Honor / Kvodo
Echo 3 / When Heroes Fly
Suspicion / False Flag
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: A woman is frying some eggs for breakfast in the kitchen when her husband came in and said "Careful, careful, be careful. You're cooking too many at once." And then...
