Mi Sheberach - A Prayer for the Israel Defense Forces

As Israel absorbs missile barrages from Iran, we share a prayer for the brave Israel Defense Forces as they defend their country from land, sea, and air.

This is a version of the prayer which was attended and participated in by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a synagogue.

We pray for the safety of the soldiers and for the population that they are protecting.

Welcoming Shabbat with Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat by Ori Yavor and Friends

Mizmor Shir L'yom HaShabbat, based on Psalm 92, is a prayer recited during the Shabbat morning service. It praises and expresses gratitude to God for the gift of Shabbat and its significance in Jewish tradition. This soul-stirring rendition of the classic Shabbat tune is performed by Ori Yavor and friends.

Ori is a musician, therapist and host of diverse and special musical content.

Ori leads singing circles, Shabbat and Kirtan receptions, leading healing journeys with sounds – sound healing, accompanying yoga classes with a wide variety of instruments from all over the world.

Ori drums and sings in various ensembles (curamundo, HaQawwaliya), guides educational and experiential workshops/lectures – a musical journey around the world for all ages (3 months to 100), accompanies couples to the hupa, leads cocoa ceremonies, and more… everything is dynamic, adjusted and attentive to the audience and the atmosphere.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Musical Showcase: A Swinging Version of Tumbalalaika by Lea Kalisch and Jewbalaya

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 27th version of this universal courting and love song.

It's played by Jewbalaya and sung by its principal singer, Lea Kalisch. From Rap to Rumba, Folk to Feminism, Lea blends styles and languages like a smoothie. Lea is a Swiss Jewish international entertainer who gives tradition a facelift. Yiddish Theater, forgotten melodies, original songs, and mashups—all delivered with young, zestful energy. 

Jewbalaya plays a good-time mixture of Klezmer and Traditional New Orleans Jazz. With a horn section, drums, banjo, accordion and vocals, Jewbalaya offers a shmaltzy stew of funky beats and Yiddish treats. Jewbalaya has performed recently at the Lake Harriet Bandshell, Mall of America, The Slavic Experience Festival, and more.

In this video, Lea and Jewbalaya sing and play a swinging version of the Yiddish folk song Tumbalalaika. It was recorded at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. 

Enjoy! 

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: Expired Clothing - A Candid Camera Classic from 2001

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-four years ago the Candid Camera team went to Bloomingdale's in California and put tags on womens' clothing that showed an expiration date.

The team member posing as a sales clerk tried to convince customers that they shouldn't buy clothes that had  an expiration date that was fast approaching. Watch their reactions in this classic video.

Enjoy! 

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Children"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish words for children and a few related proverbs.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "Pool Closed"

Jewish Folks Telling Jokes is the title of a show that was performed in Toronto a few years ago. We've been running multiple jokes from the show and you've been requesting more. 

We're glad to report that we haven't run out of clips from Toronto, so you'll be seeing more of them. Today's session was filmed on location at an Aroma Espresso Bar in Toronto. The joke teller is Jack Samuel.

Here's the setup: A Jewish guy comes down from his condo, goes to the pool, and sees a sign. The sign says "Pool Closed. No swimming allowed." And then...

Enjoy!

Comedy Showcase: Israeli Comedian Yohay Sponder Jokes with Muslims at His Standup Show

With over 20 years of experience, Yohay Sponder brings his unique outlook on life to the stage.  Throughout his career he has starred in multiple TV and radio shows. He produces and headlines in 'Funny Monday - Israeli Comedy in English' and has performed all over the world. 

Having gained a massive following on social media, Sponder most recently finished up a sold-out tour in Europe with his new show "Self Loving Jew". 

This summer he is touring the USA, with shows in Boston, Philadelphia, and Fort Lauderdale.

In this video clip from a recent performance, Sponder asks if there are any Muslims in the audience. Watch what happens.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi Sung by Harvard Hillel's "ApiChorus" a Cappella

Today we welcome Shabbat with another version of Lecha Dodi set to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah in an arrangement by the Maccabeats. It's sung by ApiChorus, Harvard Hillel's Jewish a Cappella Group. 

Founded in 2023, ApiChorus is a coed group comprised of current students at Harvard University. They sing a diverse repertoire of Hebrew and English classics, represent a broad range of Jewish backgrounds, and perform at venues locally in Cambridge as well as in concerts across the country.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Freddie Roman Joins Jerry Lewis on the MDA Telethon in 1995

Today we're turning the clock and calendar back 30 years to 1995 when comedian Freddie Roman did a standup routine on the Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon.   

The MDA Labor Day Telethon was an enchanting yearly variety show that ran for half a century. Hosted for many years by Jerry Lewis, the telethon featured top stars from the world of music, comedy, and Broadway.

The telethon was created to help support the MDA, which is leading the fight against muscular dystrophy. 

The world of comedy lost Jerry in 2017 and Freddie in 2022 but their humor lives on in YouTube.

Enjoy!

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: The Domino Effect (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 team went to a video rental store (remember those?) and set up an array of video tape boxes in such a way that anyone touching the first one would start a sequence of falling boxes like falling dominos. Watch the customer reactions when all of the boxes fall in sequence.

Enjoy! 

YidLife Crisis Comedians Jamie and Eli Explain Shavuot, Which Starts Tonight

Jamie Elman & Eli Batalion are filmmakers, writers and performers hailing from Montreal with credits spanning 25 years of theater, music, television and film - from starring in Mad Men, House MD and Curb Your Enthusiasm to writing, directing and producing films shown at the Sundance, Toronto, Berlin and SXSW film festivals.

Their unique friendship spawned an irreverent tribute to the Yiddish language, culture and comedic tradition they were reared on. Calling it YidLife Crisis, they hatched the world’s first Yiddish sitcom, toasting, roasting and wrestling with the modern Jewish experience. Its popularity has led to various awards and nominations, over 4 million online views, frequent live performances across North America and Europe, and hours of documentary content covering their travels and the Jewish diaspora.

To get ready for Shavuot, which starts tonight for one day in Israel and two days in the diaspora, Jamie and Eli are back in Montreal to visit Rabbi Lisa Grushcow at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom for a humorous discussion of the holiday and its association with cheesecake. See video below.

We will be observing Shavuot tonight, tomorrow, and Tuesday, so Jewish Humor Central is taking a few days off. We will be back with our usual mix on Wednesday.

Chag Shavuot sameach! 

Welcoming Shabbat with Anim Zemirot by Pirchei Shamayim Boys Choir

Pirchei Shamayim Boy's Choir is a choir club that is spread out in several cities in Israel. 

The purpose of the choir is to encourage musical children and to give them a good feeling and to instill in them confidence in the talent that God has blessed them with. Also to create a situation in which they will strengthen their studies at school.

The choir publishes songs and music videos, as well as occasional performances that give a lot of satisfaction and confidence to the children. 

As we welcome Shabbat, Pirchei Shamayim sings Anim Zemirot, a liturgical poem that most synagogues sing toward the conclusion of the Shabbat morning service.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom! 

"Bad Shabbos", a Hilarious New Film Comedy, Opens Tomorrow in Select Theatres

Last winter, Bad Shabbos, a hilarious comedy film about a disastrous Friday night dinner on New York's Upper West Side, made its debut in Florida Jewish film festivals.

Tomorrow it goes mainstream and opens in selected theatres, including one in Teaneck, New Jersey.

 As Natalia Winkelman wrote in The New York Times,

Those who have attended a Shabbat dinner — which occurs on Friday and kicks off the Jewish Sabbath — know that the traditional greeting is “good Shabbos.” The ensemble comedy “Bad Shabbos” telegraphs its silliness right from the title.

Directed by Daniel Robbins, the movie takes place over a disastrous dinner on the Upper West Side, where David (Jon Bass) and Meg (Meghan Leathers) — a newly engaged Jew and gentile — plan to introduce their parents for the first time. But before they can start, a disturbing prank by David’s brother, Adam (Theo Taplitz), goes awry, causing an emergency that the family must hide from the Midwestern in-laws. The crisis involves a body and a ticking clock, as well as a zany, meddlesome doorman (Method Man, always welcome) added for good measure.

Starting tomorrow, the film will make its way across the USA. Be sure to check Fandango and other theater sites for dates and showtimes.  

The official trailer is posted below. Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Dreaming"

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for dreaming and some of the words and expressions associated with dreams.

Enjoy!

Comedy Showcase: Rabbi Bob Alper - Standup Comedy About His Wife and Family

What happens when a stand-up comedian is also a rabbi? Rabbi Bob Alper is a legendary stand-up comedian who has been making audiences laugh for years. Bob brings a unique blend of spirituality and humor to the stage. 

His experience as a rabbi and stand-up comedian gives him an unmatched storytelling ability that resonates with diverse audiences.

Throughout his thirty year comedy career he has presented wonderfully unique material in a way that's intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.

Since 2010 we have posted more than two dozen video clips of his stand-up routines. We keep finding new clips.

Here's a clip from a recent presentation where he tells funny stories about his wife and family. Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "The Jewish Fire Brigade"

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 fire broke out inside of a chemical plant. The alarms went off and notices were sent to all the nearby fire brigades. And then...

Enjoy! 

A Salute to Israeli Films on Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day

Tonight at sundown Israel starts celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, a national holiday.

Fifty-eight years ago, in 1967, the Israel Defense Forces broke through the Jordanian defenses and captured the Old City of Jerusalem, marking the reunification of the city under Israeli control.

 

To share this joyous holiday, we're posting a medley of songs from classic Israeli films from the unforgettable face of Chaim Topol to lesser-known cinematic gems.

 

Featured films include The Policeman, Sallah Shabati, Kazablan, and The Band. They are sung by Azi Schwartz, cantor of New York City's Park Avenue Synagogue.

 

Chag sameach! 

 

Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem at Congregação Israelita Mineira of Brazil

The Congregação Israelita Mineira (CIM) was founded in 1996 in Mineira, a state in Southeastern Brazil. In the synagogue, Tiféret Israel, with capacity for up to 400 people, men and women can pray together. 

Since July 2020, the religious leader of the CIM has been Rabbi Lucca Myara.

In this video, Rabbi Myara sings Shalom Aleichem, which is usuallly sung at the beginning of the Shabbat meal.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Rita Rudner on Driving While Married

We've been big fans of Rita Rudner ever since she started to appear on late night TV in the 1980s.

One of the hallmarks of her comedy is that it's clean, free from the vulgarity and shouting that many stand-up comics find necessary.  Her delivery is demure, tasteful, full of wry observations, and very funny.

Rudner started her career as a dancer, then switched to stand-up comedy about her dating experiences.  She married British producer Martin Bergman about 30 years ago and they have a daughter.  She is fond of Jewish humor but generally reserves it for when she performs for Jewish audiences.

Rita is 71 now and still performing in South Florida and other locations. We came across a video clip of her taking the stage to hilariously air the differences between her husband's driving and her own.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

  #Throwback Thursday        #TBT

Comedy Showcase: Rabbi Bob Alper on His Year in Israel

What happens when a stand-up comedian is also a rabbi? Rabbi Bob Alper is a legendary stand-up comedian who has been making audiences laugh for years. Bob brings a unique blend of spirituality and humor to the stage. 

His experience as a rabbi and stand-up comedian gives him an unmatched storytelling ability that resonates with diverse audiences.

Throughout his thirty year comedy career he has presented wonderfully unique material in a way that's intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.

Since 2010 we have posted more than two dozen video clips of his stand-up routines. We keep finding new clips.

Here's a clip from a recent presentation where he talks about the year he spent in Israel while studying to be a rabbi.

Enjoy!

50,000 Marchers Salute Israel in Fifth Avenue Parade

On Sunday thousands of Jewish day school students were joined by marchers from Jewish nonprofits, non-Jewish allies, dancing troupes, and identity groups such as Russian-speaking Jews to show support for Israel and demand that the hostages in Gaza be released from their captivity.

As Luke Tress and Jessica Steinberg wrote in The Times of Israel,

The march mostly retained its festive tone, with day school groups doing choreographed dances and costumed performers playing music.

The parade is a significant show of support for Israel in the city, and a moment of solidarity for the Jewish community, as Jewish New Yorkers continue to deal with the fallout from the October 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel.

The theme for this year was “Hatikvah,” meaning “The hope” — the title of Israel’s national anthem.

The annual event is organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, with the support of the UJA-Federation of New York. Organizers strive to keep the march nonpolitical in tone.

The annual parade began in 1965 with an impromptu march by thousands of Zionist youth in support of Israel. JCRC-NY has managed the event since 2011.

Here's a sample of the hours-long parade, with 400 students of SAR Academy of Riverdale marching and singing down Fifth Avenue.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "Assisted Living"

It's another Monday, and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today we're sharing a joke by Rabbi Shais Taub, an American Hasidic rabbi and author.

Rabbi Taub writes about Jewish mysticism and is also known for his work in the field of addiction recovery. He is a weekly columnist for Ami magazine. 

Here's the setup: There was this couple in their 90s who moved into Assisted Living. From the day they arrived the manager of the home noticed how the husband was speaking to the wife. And then...

Enjoy!

Israeli Singer Yuval Raphael Wins Second Place in Eurovision Song Contest Final

When we posted news on May 7 that Israeli singer Yuval Raphael would be a top contender to win the Eurovision song contest in Basel, Switzerland, we didn't know how her song, New Day Will Rise, would be received by the jury and the general public. With the finals having just been completed today, we know the result.

Israel's entry got the most popular votes but the jury placed it at number 14, resulting in an overall second place finish.

As Amy Spiro wrote in The Times of Israel,

Israel’s Yuval Raphael finished in second place overall at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, and first in the public vote, as Austria’s JJ took the overall win at the annual competition.

Raphael received the most votes from the public, 297, out of any of the 26 finalists, but was only 14th place in the jury vote, landing Israel with a second-place finish.

Austria topped the jury vote and finished fourth in the televote to take the win with its operatic ballad “Wasted Love.” Estonia finished in third place and the heavy favorites going into the competition, Sweden, ended up only in the fourth spot.

Raphael gave a strong performance, singing in an elaborate stage setting, and ascending a spiral staircase during the song. Here is the video of her song at the finals.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Yah Ribon Olam by Kedmah

Kedmah is an ensemble of musicians and prayer leaders excavating the power and beauty of Mizrahi Jewish expression through ancient poetry and song. Today's video, Yah Ribon Olam, one of the zemirot for Shabbat, is on their debut album, Simu Lev.

Led by Rabbi Yosef Goldman and Yoni Avi Battat, Kedmah honors the artists’ Iraqi, Syrian, and Yemenite ancestry in conversation with their intersecting musical influences. Their interactive performances, workshops, and recordings allow listeners to experience the spiritual and emotional depth of Middle Eastern piyyut (liturgical poetry) and the ages-old tradition of Arab melodies that adorn them. Part educational initiative, part performance group, the social and pedagogical impact of this project is strengthened by a commitment to musical creativity, historical accuracy, spirituality, and public performance at the highest level.  

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

NBC Pays Tribute to Comedian Joan Rivers in a TV Special

NBC honored the life and legacy of the late comic with "Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute," an hour-long television special that aired on May 13.

As Amaris Encinas wrote in USA Today,

Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, an executive producer on the special that aired on May 13, believes her mother would be pleased with how it turned out. “This tribute is everything my mother would have wanted — hilarious, unfiltered, and filled with people she respected (and roasted)," she said. "And as usual, she was still the funniest person in the room. It’s incredibly moving to see so many iconic comedians come together to celebrate her legacy, especially the women whose careers she helped make possible by breaking down so many doors."

“I know she’d be thrilled to see how far things have come, and she’d still have notes," her daughter added. "This is more than a tribute. It’s a reminder of the trail she blazed and the joy she brought to so many.”

"Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me," Rivers said in a letter she left for her daughter, Melissa Rivers. "Well, it’s about time."

The comedy special, which featured cameos from famous comics, was filmed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on the opening night of the 2024 New York Comedy Festival, NBC said in a news release.

Here's a video clip of comedian Chelsea Handler in one of the tributes from the show. Enjoy! 

Musical Showcase: Riki Rose Sings Que Sera Sera -- in Yiddish!

Raised in the cloistered Satmar community of Williamsburg, Riki Rose left that world in her twenties, but didn’t abandon the Yiddish language that had permeated her environment since infancy. 

Within the past ten years she’s appeared in dozens of Yiddish comedies, cooking shows and concerts, gaining a loyal following on Instagram.

She recently posted a YouTube video of her singing Que Sera Sera in Yiddish.

Enjoy!

Now Streaming: "Kugel" - a Prequel to the Beloved Israeli Series "Shtisel"

If you loved Shtisel, the Israeli TV series that ran for three seasons a few years ago, you'll be glad to know that the same writers and production team that created it have released a new eight-episode series called Kugel. The new series is a prequel to Shtisel and takes place in Antwerp, Belgium, the home of Nuchem Shtisel and his daughter Libbi.

So it's a delicious return to where it all began, but you won't see Dov'aleh Glickman, Michael Aloni, Neta Riskin and Shira Haas, who played the memorable roles of Shulem, Akiva, Giti, and Ruchama in the original. Sasson Gabay and Hadas Yaron have the leading roles in this prequel, and award-winning Israeli actress Mili Avital also has a major role.

Years before Akiva Shtisel and Libbi crossed paths, Kugel takes us to Antwerp, Belgium, where Nuchem, a charming yet rule-bending jewelry dealer, juggles ambition, love, and family drama. As his marriage crumbles, his daughter Libbi dreams of becoming a writer—until a chance encounter on an Antwerp tram changes everything. Told with the humor and heart that made Shtisel a global sensation, Kugel explores love, ambition, and the delicate balance between tradition and individuality. From the creators of Shtisel, this is a deliciously complex story you won’t want to miss!

Shtisel is still streaming on Netflix, but to watch Kugel you'll have to subscribe to IZZY, the Israeli streaming service. IZZY costs $15 a month, but they're offering an annual subscription that brings the monthly cost down to $7.

Here's the trailer for the 8-episode series. Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "A Bus Hits Moshe"

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: Moshe Goldberg was walking down the street and as he crossed the street, a bus hit him and knocked him unconscious. And then...

Enjoy!