Wishing a Happy 100th Birthday to Mel Brooks - the King of Comedy

"It's Good to be the King," as Mel Brooks said in one of his roles in History of the World, Part I. And on June 28 Brooks, the king of comedy, celebrated his 100th birthday.

Following the celebration, the comedy legend received massive tributes and honors for his unparalleled contributions to entertainment. A highly acclaimed two-part documentary, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!—directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio—is currently available to stream on HBO Max. 

One of the tributes to Brooks is a short 2 minute commentary on his life so far on ABC News. We're showing the video below. 

Over the years, we have posted 38 posts about Brooks and his many films. If you're a real Brooks fan, these are posts that you'll want to watch again and again. Here's a link to all of them. Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL ! 

Israeli Comedy Showcase: Comedian Yohay Sponder Banters with Superhero Captain Israel

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". 

In this clip from a recent performance, Sponder exchanges funny lines with an Israeli character dressed up as a superhero who calls himself Captain Israel. Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "WiFi Password"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today we're sharing a joke by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (YY) Jacobson, one of America's premier Jewish scholars in Torah and Jewish mysticism.

Rabbi Jacobson, an American Chabad rabbi from Monsey, New York, is one of the most sought after speakers in the Jewish world today, lecturing to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences on six continents and in forty states, and serving as teacher and mentor to thousands across the globe. 

He is considered to be one of the most successful, passionate and mesmerizing communicators of Judaism today, culling his ideas from the entire spectrum of Jewish thought and making them relevant to contemporary audiences. 

He served as editor-in-chief of the Algemeiner Journal, and as a choizer (transcriber) for Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

He also loves to tell jokes, and here's the setup: So this teenager is at the funeral of his great-uncle. So he turns to the rabbi before he begins the eulogy, and then...

Enjoy!

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Norm Crosby Performs on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour in 1970

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1950s, 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.

Norm Crosby was a Jewish comedian from Boston who served time on the Borscht Belt circuit and in Las Vegas hotels. He was known mainly as a source of malapropisms that he integrated into his comedy routines. 

Crosby became a frequent guest on TV talk and variety shows, including Dean Martin’s, and subsequently was a perfect choice as a regular roaster on the hugely popular Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts of the ‘70s, writing lines like: “Wilt Chamberlain is an insulation to young people all over the world. Wherever he appears, after every game the kids give him a standing ovulation.”

 

Here is a performance by Crosby on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour in 1970.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with a Sephardi Lecha Dodi by Cantor Jacob Agar

Cantor Jacob Agar of Congregation Beth Shalom in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania received his cantorial investiture at the H.L Miller Cantorial School at Jewish Theological Seminary of New York. Previously he studied opera performance and linguistics at SUNY Purchase College. Following conservatory, he sang with several opera companies in New York and New Jersey, and has worked with a wide variety of conductors. 

Cantor Agar is also a composer and arranger and is inspired by a wide variety of music. He was inspired to become a cantor by his love for Judaism, Jewish music, and his interest in using music to uplift people and bring them closer to Judaism. 

Tonight we welcome another Shabbat by joining Cantor Agar in a Sephardic version of Lecha Dodi. Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Six Snacks That Changed Israel - Bamba, Bissli, Krembo, Milky etc.

Israel’s favorite snacks are more than just tasty treats. From Bamba helping reshape peanut allergy research to Milky sparking a national debate about identity and emigration, these iconic foods tell the story of Israel itself. 

Israel Unpacked takes us on a trip to discover the surprising histories behind Bissli, Krembo, Shkeidei Marak, Shoko B’Sakit, and more in a fun journey through the snacks that reveal Israeli culture, immigration, innovation, and nostalgia.

Enjoy! 

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase - "Just Duck" - 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.

In this Candid Camera classic stunt set in a restaurant, patrons were given menus in which every item -- soup, salad, entrees, all contained duck as the main ingredient. Watch their reactions when they find out that it's impossible to order anything but duck!

Enjoy!

Comedy Showcase: Rabbi Bob Alper on Rental Cars and the New York State Thruway

The Borscht Belt Festival in Ellenville, New York, is in its fourth year. Last year, Catskills fans from all over descended on the festival at the Borscht Belt Museum for a dose of nostalgia, Jewish comedy, and classic Jewish food as it was served in the hotels of Sullivan and Ulster Counties.

Entertainment for the weekend featured standup comedy headlined by 80-year-old Rabbi Bob Alper who has been performing standup for more than 30 years in addition to his rabbinical duties in Philadelphia and Vermont, where he lives.

In this excerpt from his comedy routine, Rabbi Bob reminisces about an unusual security system in a rental car and driving on the New York State Thruway.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "Jenny the Horse"

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: A man was sitting in his room reading a newspaper. His wife walked in with a frying pan and hit him on the head. And then...

Enjoy! 

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Dick Shawn Performs in 1959

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1950s, 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.

Dick Shawn was born Richard Schulefand in Buffalo, New York and raised in adjacent Lackawanna. 

The best remembered roles of his career are the hot-headed Sylvester Marcus, son of Mrs. Marcus (Ethel Merman), in Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and easygoing Lorenzo St. DuBois/Adolf Hitler in the musical Springtime for Hitler, the play within Mel Brooks's movie The Producers (1968).

Here's one of his earliest standup performances from 1959. Yes, that's 67 years ago.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam as Sung by Cantor Marcus Feldman of Temple Sinai in LA

Recognized as one of “The Top Five Best New Voices in Jewish Music” by The Forward, Marcus Feldman is the Senior Cantor of Sinai Temple in West Los Angeles.

His voice has been heard at Dodger Stadium, The Getty Center, and all over the world via his YouTube channel. Training in opera as a tenor, Cantor Feldman graduated from the University of Southern California’s Thorton School of Music and the Marshall School of Business as a Renaissance Scholar in 2007.

Ordained as a cantor in 2011 at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, Cantor Feldman holds a Master’s of Jewish Sacred Music degree from the same institution, where he now serves as a Professor of Cantorial & Liturgical Studies. During his Cantorial studies, Cantor Feldman spent half a year in Jerusalem, Israel, studying Hazzanut with Cantor Naftali Herstik, formerly of the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, and taking courses at Hebrew University and the Conservative Yeshiva.

This rousing version of Adon Olam by Aminadav Aloni brings a vibrant rhythmic energy to the traditional closing prayer.  

Celebrating Our 5,000th Post in 17 Years of Jewish Humor

Jewish Humor Central made its first appearance on the Internet on Sunday, October 4, 2009. In the following 17+ years we have posted video clips to fulfill the mission that we established at the beginning -- an objective that has appeared as the header on our home page ever since.

We posted Jewish humor items in the following categories: Jokes,  stories, parodies, satire, legends, books, films, Unbelievable But True, and In the News. Some were new, and some were classics. Occasionally some were not really funny, but thought-provoking.We included our own comments, but generally relied on the links to tell their own story.

We included items from religious and secular sources of all Jewish denominations, and we tried to keep the site family-friendly. Any perceived slight to any group or subgroup has been unintentional, and we trusted that people without a sense of humor would not be offended by anything we posted or linked to.

 

About a month ago, we quietly reached a milestone -- 5,000 unique blog posts. So let's take time out to celebrate, look back over the years and repeat the five most viewed posts since Jewish Humor Central began. We hope you enjoy seeing them again and understand why they have been so popular. 

#1 - Barbra Streisand Performs Avinu Malkeinu at Shimon Peres' 90th Birthday Celebration in Jerusalem.

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2013/06/barbra-streisand-performs-in-hebrew-and.html

#2 - Alan King Explains All the Middle East Conflicts

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2015/12/a-rare-comedy-find-alan-king-explains_3.html

 

#3 - Ivanka Trump Goes to Shul on Sukkot and the Media Doesn't Get It

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2011/10/ivanka-trump-goes-to-shul-on-sukkot-and.html

 

#4 - I Could be Jewish For You

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2014/07/i-could-be-jewish-for-you-from-songs-by.html

 

#5 - Yiddishology - How Good Is Your Yiddish - "Shtipper" or "Shtupper"?

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2010/04/yiddishology-how-good-is-your-yiddish.html

Enjoy them all!

 

Thanks to all of our subscribers and casual readers for your feedback, encouragement, and loyalty through the years. We look forward to more postings to keep you smiling always. Remember, we post every day except on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.

 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom! 

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: "Tips for the Doctors" - 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.

In this Candid Camera classic stunt set in a doctor's office, a Candid Camera staffer posed as a receptionist at a desk that had a tip jar on the counter. She asked patients if they wanted to leave a tip for the doctors. Watch their reactions!

Enjoy!

Comedy Showcase: Jerry Seinfeld and Conan O'Brien on Raising Children

In 2009 Jerry Seinfeld was a guest on Conan O"Brien's late night show. They discussed the realities of raising children and the humorous aspects of modern fatherhood. 

The conversation explores shared frustrations with evolving technology and the impact of handheld devices on interpersonal communication.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "A Jew in a Bar"

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: A guy walks into a bar, looks around, sees about 10 people, and then he notices there's a guy with a yarmulke. And then...

Enjoy! 

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Rita Rudner on the Pitfalls of Diet and Exercise in 1988

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.

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 38 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 72 now and still performing in South Florida and other locations.

Rita Rudner shows her signature wit in this piece from her never-before-seen stand-up special Rita Rudner: Down Under (1988)! From trying to eat healthy and lose weight to her hilarious thoughts on exercise and sports, Rita proves you don’t need a gym to work out your abs—just laughter.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam to "Summer Nights" at Temple Rodef Shalom

Tonight we welcome another Shabbat with the singing of Adon Olam by the congregation of Temple Rodef Shalom, a Reform shul in Falls Church, Virginia. The congregation welcomes the start of summer with an outdoor service called Hot Shabbat. 

Last week they started the summer season with a version of Adon Olam set to the song Summer Nights from the Broadway show and movie Grease.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom! 

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Sammy Davis Jr. Sings "Something's Gotta Give" in 1955

On this Throwback Thursday let's revisit an appearance by Sammy Davis Jr. singing Something's Gotta Give on The Ed Sullivan Show in1955. 

Sammy Davis Jr. was an American singer, actor, comedian, dancer, and musician who converted to Judaism in 1960. He found a deep spiritual connection to the faith after a near-fatal 1954 car accident and related heavily to the shared histories of oppression and perseverance between African Americans and Jewish Americans.

Davis lost his eye when he crashed his car driving home to California from Las Vegas in November 1954. One of several stories about what sparked Davis’ path to conversion originates with the aftermath of the accident. He wrote in his 1965 autobiography, Yes I Can, that his friends Tony Curtis, who was Jewish, and Janet Leigh, who was not, arrived at the hospital and Leigh gave him a religious medal with St. Christopher on one side and a Star of David on the other. “Hold tight and pray and everything will be all right,” Leigh told him.

Davis later told Alex Haley in a Playboy interview that he gripped the object so tightly that the Star of David left a scar on his hand, “like a stigmata.” He took it as a sign that he should convert.

Enjoy!

 

   #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: "My Donut, Your Coffee" - A Candid Camera Classic

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.

In this classic episode two members of the Candid Camera team sat next to a man having a cup of coffee in a diner. When they dunk their donut in his coffee, watch his reaction.

This Candid Camera episode took place 64 years ago in 1962.  

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day - "Toys"

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 toys and playthings.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "Ordering Non-Kosher on El Al and Kosher on Lufthansa"

It's another Monday, and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today we're sharing a joke by Rabbi Bob Alper.

Rabbi Bob Alper is the world's only practicing clergyman doing stand-up comedy... intentionally. His fresh, contemporary, and totally "unorthodox" style has been delighting audiences internationally, from the top NY comedy clubs to The World Bank and The National Comedy Center. And his unique brand of intelligent, 100% clean humor appeals to people of all faiths. 

Bob's a special favorite on the clean comedy channels of Sirius/XM Satellite radio, and he's appeared on Showtime, CNN, and Good Morning America.  

Here's the setup: A fantasy of mine is ordering non-kosher on El Al Israel Airlines. Can you imagine "Will the passenger who ordered treif..."  And then...

Enjoy! 

Sunday Comedy Showcase: Revisiting Rodney Dangerfield's Funniest Doctor Jokes

Born Jacob Cohen and initially going by the stage name of Jack Roy, the 19-year old Rodney Dangerfield ventured into the world of stand-up only to find disappointment.  After nine years of going nowhere, he completely dropped out of showbiz and, to support his family, sold household aluminum siding.  

Twenty-five years later, at the age of 45, Rodney decided to give comedy another try, appearing in clubs at night while still selling siding during the day.  He ultimately found success, due to luck, persistence and his enormous comedic talent.   

Here's a collection of Rodney Dangerfield’s funniest doctor jokes from his iconic 70 plus appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It's a nostalgic look back at his standup comedy, delivering his best one-liners about doctors, health, and everyday life. Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Eshet Chayil Sung by Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School Choir

Traditionally sung on Friday night during Shabbat dinner, Eshet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is a tribute to the strength, beauty, and dignity of righteous women. 

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 the Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School Choir.

Shabbat shalom!

Israeli Musical Showcase - Kol Esperanza Shows Their Range in New 2026 Reel

Kol Esperanza consists of Israeli singers Nimrod Grinboim, Nadav Inbar, and Omer Shaish together with the talented operatic duo of Betty Lipska and Shai Terry, known as Lev Voce, and Musical Director Tomer Adaddi.  

The group started performing in 2014. We've been attending their concerts in South Florida every winter, and we think we'll see a lot more of them in the coming years.

In this newly released video reel, Kol Esperanza show their musical range in a medley of popular songs. We hope you enjoy them.

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: Tea Sandwiches - Candid Camera Gold from 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.

In this classic episode from 63 years ago, patrons at a diner are surprised when faced with dainty, miniature tea sandwiches instead of the substantial meals expected. The segment tests reactions as service staff playfully persists in offering these tiny portions to customers looking for a standard lunch.

Enjoy!

The Great Israeli Singing Groups: The Dudaim Sing Shayeret HaRochvim

The Dudaim (Hebrew: הדודאים) was an Israeli folk duo which was active between the years 1957–1993, consisting of vocalist Benny Amdursky and guitarist Israel Gurion. The name of the band Dudaim comes from the Hebrew word for the mandrake plant, which is native to the Mediterranean region. 

Dudaim was formed in 1957 when Amdursky and Gurion met in a party in Jerusalem and started singing together. Their first album Erev Shel Shoshanim came out in 1957, and included the hit song in the same name. Another hit song from the same album was Tapuach Hinani (תפוח חינני) which was later recorded by the Weavers. In 1959, they toured Europe and the USA. They recorded several albums in France and the US, where they changed their name to Ben and Adam for promotional purposes.

In this video, the Dudaim sing the Israeli folk classic Shayeret HaRochvim (The Riders Convoy) with lyrics by Naomi Shemer and music by Shimon Israeli. The video was filmed at the Solomon's Pillars עמודי שלמה, in the Timna park פארק תמנע, located in the Arava Desert הערבה.

Enjoy! 

A Joke to Start the Week - "Processing in Heaven"

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: It was the end of a very busy day, and Hashem was in heaven greeting all the people who had passed away that day. And then...

Enjoy! 

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Red Buttons "Never Played This Theater" in 1978

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.   

Red Buttons was born Aaron Chwatt on February 5, 1919, in New York City, to Jewish immigrants on New York City's Lower East Side.
  
He became a performer after winning an amateur contest at age 12. Six years later he was a singing bellboy in a Bronx tavern. His stage name came from the red buttons on his bellboy uniform. 

A talented and versatile performer of stage, screen, and television, Buttons was equally at home in dramatic or comedic roles, but it was as a burlesque comedian working in the Catskills Mountains that he first made a name for himself. Buttons appeared in plays on Broadway and in movies.   

Buttons, the comedian who became known at celebrity roasts for his "never got a dinner" speech, delivered a variation on this speech as "Never played this theater" at a Just For Laughs comedy night in 1978,

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi at the New Orleans Jazz Festival Shabbat

Tonight we welcome Shabbat with a version of Lecha Dodi sung by two cantors from two Reform synagogues in New Orleans. 

This Lecha Dodi was recorded earlier this month at a Jazz Festival Shabbat at New Orleans' Touro Synagogue. The singers are Touro's Cantor Kevin Margolius and Cantor Rebecca Garfein from nearby Temple Sinai.

Shabbat Shalom!