Raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim where he forged a strong Jewish identity and a broad religious perspective.
Cantor Mutlu proudly represented Central Synagogue at the 2019 URJ Biennial in Chicago where he led Friday evening Shabbat services for nearly 5,000 worshippers.
Today we join Cantor Mutlu in welcoming another Shabbat with Oseh Shalom.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
Georgia Gibbs, born Frieda Lipschitz in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1918, was an American popular singer and vocal entertainer rooted in jazz. Already singing publicly in her early teens, Gibbs achieved acclaim and notoriety in the mid-1950s copying songs originating with the black rhythm and blues community and later became a featured vocalist for many radio and television variety and comedy programs.
Gibbs was the youngest of four children of Russian Jewish descent. Her father died when she was six months old, and she and her three siblings spent the next seven years in a local Jewish orphanage.
In 1943, with her name changed to Georgia Gibbs, she began appearing on the Camel Caravan radio program, hosted by Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore, where she remained a regular performer until 1947. It was Moore who bestowed upon her the famous nickname "Her Nibs, Miss Georgia Gibbs," ironically using the title to describe the singer of diminutive stature who had an enormous "authoritative" prominence in American pop music.
Enjoy!
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.
Dolly Parton, the musician, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman who died yesterday in Nashville, was a special favorite among Allen's team when Candid Camera moved its production to Nashville in the 1970s. Dubbed the "Queen of Country," Dolly was fun, witty and enormously talented.
Here are two of her Candid moments from 1975 when she took part in two elaborate Candid Camera Classics pranks. One involves faking an injury to get assistance in a parking lot, while the other features a disruptive musical performance in a grocery store designed to confuse and provoke reactions from unsuspecting shoppers.
Enjoy!
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 carries on about his experiences with Italian waiters in restaurants during a trip to Rome.
Enjoy!
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.
Here's
the setup: Two old ladies are sitting on a park bench across from the town hall where a big flower show is going on. One of the old ladies says to the other "Boy, life is so boring. For five dollars I'd tear my clothes off and run through that flower show and streak them all" And then...
Enjoy!
Lenny Schultz was an American comedian who performed during the 1970s on television and at comedy clubs in New York City. His madcap style of improvisational comedy influenced other comedians such as Robin Williams, Gallagher, Carrot Top, and David Letterman.
Throughout his comedy career he continued working as a high school gym teacher and was known to leave clubs early on school nights. Schultz said that both principals and fellow teachers would ask him for autographs after seeing him on TV the night before. Schultz was known among his fellow comedians as a "hard act to follow".
In this routine from 1977 Schultz tells the story of how it all began--the planet, life, everything-- complete with realistic sound effects.
Enjoy!
There is a custom to sing Yedid Nefesh between Mincha (afternoon prayer) on Friday and the beginning of Kabbalat Shabbat (literally: receiving or greeting the Sabbath—a collection of psalms usually sung to welcome in the Shabbat Queen. This custom is believed to have begun in the second half of the 20th century.
Shabbat shalom!
Raised in Nashville, she rose to prominence as a recording artist during the Big Band era. She achieved even greater success a decade later in television, mainly as the host of a series of variety programs sponsored by Chevrolet.
In 1966 she appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and sang Something Wonderful from The King and I by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Enjoy!
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, the Candid Camera crew rigged the sinks in a public restroom in Gulfport, Mississippi so that they could control the flow of water from the faucets.
Enjoy!
In Yiddish, the verbs for losing a game, losing your glasses and losing your way are all different.Today we get to learn the Yiddish word for losing and some of the words and expressions associated with loss.
Enjoy!
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: After a tiring day of work the commuter sat on the train, happy to close her eyes and get a few minutes of sleep. And then...
Enjoy!
Andy Kaufman's career was taking off in the 1970s, from the stage of the Improv comedy club in New York to Saturday Night Live and appearances on several variety and talk shows. He introduced his foreign man character and his lip sync to the Mighty Mouse theme. As he deconstructed the idea of the stand-up comedian, his only hope, in his words, was to entertain.
A favorite piece of an Andy Kaufman performance was audience participation, whether it was singing along or going out for milk and cookies after the show. In this bit from 50 years ago, he invites the audience to join him in a sing-along.
Enjoy!
There are currently four Igbo Jewish synagogues in Abuja: Gihon Synagogue, headed by Elder Ovadia Agbai; Tikvat Israel Synagogue, headed by Sar Habakkuk Nwafor; Plant for the Growth of Israel Synagogue, headed by Remy Ilona; and Igbo Israel Heritage Synagogue, headed by Dr. Michael Caliben. All four congregations have been studying and practicing Judaism for some years.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
The festival lasted only for a few days but the museum is open during the summer on Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. It's closed on Mondays.
The museum is currently featuring a new exhibit called Catskills Romance: Love and Desire in the Borscht Belt.
It traces the relationships — both conventional and otherwise — that unfolded across the grand hotels and humble bungalow colonies. It celebrates the resort owners, maitre d’s, social directors (tummlers), dance instructors, and staff who masterminded countless successful matches, and explores the beautiful rituals of courtship that defined Catskills summer. The exhibit highlights the essential spaces, activities, and ingredients that sparked connection: the poolside scene, the Mambo nights and Champagne Hour competitions, and the world-class entertainment that made the resorts irresistible to singles and couples alike.
Beyond the nostalgia, the exhibition uncovers more complex narratives: tales of hidden desire, lost innocence, and the enduring memories guests carried home long after the season ended. Drawing on rare artifacts, vintage photography, oral histories, and the iconic popular culture the era inspired, Catskills Romance offers an intimate, elegant look at a world where tradition and transgression mingled poolside — and a single dance could change a life forever.
The exhibition contains mature content and is not suitable for all ages. Parental discretion is advised.
Here is a the 3-min film that the museum is showing that describes the history of the Catskills resort era.
Enjoy!
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.
Sixty years ago the Candid Camera producers set up an office situation with a door that people were supposed to knock on before entering. But none of the realized how strong they were.
Enjoy!
Today we're starting a series of videos by Sasson, also known as Sass, giving you the inside scoop on the Hebrew that most Israelis speak among themselves. Today you’ll learn 7 untranslatable Hebrew words that reveal how Israelis really think, speak, and connect. These are not just vocabulary words - they carry culture, attitude, and personality.
In this video, you’ll learn:
Old Jews Telling Jokes started out as a website created in 2009 by Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman. The website and subsequent book, CD, and DVD were the result of their renting a storefront in Highland Park, New Jersey, and videotaping the old jokes told by their parents and friends.
The jokes, told by Jews 65 and older, have been widely reprinted and reposted on the Internet. At Jewish Humor Central, we have used some of the video clips in our Joke to Start the Week on Mondays. Now that we've found a new collection of these jokes, we will be posting them in the coming weeks as our Monday offering.
Here's one joke told by gynecological surgeon Michael Goldberg.
Enjoy!
In 1967 legendary comedians Jack Benny and George Burns, who evolved from the vaudeville stage to television, stepped into the roles of bickering comedic brothers Tom and Dick Smothers on this sketch from the classic hit comedy show and topped it off with the song "I Taught Him Everything He Knows."
Enjoy!
Israeli pop artist Rivka Zohar is a great performer. Her music fits
under the popular pop category, which is distinguished by catchy
melodies and approachable lyrics. Rivka's music is joyful and emotional
at the same time, focusing on universal themes and personal experiences
that connect with listeners.
Rivka has a special talent for
engaging her listeners with her music. Her music is filled with an
openness and sincerity that speaks to the human condition. Rivka's music
is consistently relevant and extraordinarily touching, whether she is
singing about love, loss, or personal development.
Known
as the 42-letter Name of God, Ana Bekoach is a unique formula
built of 42 letters written in seven sentences of six words each. Each
of the seven sentences correspond to the seven days of the week, seven
specific angels, and to a particular heavenly body. The letters that
make up Ana Bekoach are encoded within the first 42 letters of the book of Genesis.
The
kabbalists explain that this combination of letters takes us back to
the time of Creation, and each time we meditate on a particular
sequence, we return to the original uncorrupted energy that built the
world. By performing the Ana Bekoach meditation, we enrich our lives with unadulterated spiritual Light and positive energy.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
In today's video, two consultants are hosted by a client who takes them to a kosher restaurant for the first time. Okay, it's a parody and an exaggeration, but last winter we encountered a restaurant in Florida that was very much like this one, including the mashgiach and the upcharge for water. No kidding.
Enjoy!
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, shoppers at department stores in New York City encounter a sales clerk who repeatedly abandons her duties to take an immediate coffee break. As unsuspecting customers interact with the employee, the situation escalates, testing the patience of those attempting to make a purchase. The role of the sales clerk is played by actress Vivian Vance, who was best known for playing landlady Ethel Mertz on the sitcom I Love Lucy.
This Candid Camera episode took place 64 years ago in 1962.
Enjoy!
Today we're starting a series of videos by Sasson, also known as Sass, giving you the inside scoop on the Hebrew that most Israelis speak among themselves. Today we're starting with ten slang expressions that you'll hear all the time in Israel.
Enjoy!
Old Jews Telling Jokes started out as a website created in 2009 by Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman. The website and subsequent book, CD, and DVD were the result of their renting a storefront in Highland Park, New Jersey, and videotaping the old jokes told by their parents and friends.
The jokes, told by Jews 65 and older, have been widely reprinted and reposted on the Internet. At Jewish Humor Central, we have used some of the video clips in our Joke to Start the Week on Mondays. Now that we've found a new collection of these jokes, we will be posting them in the coming weeks as our Monday offering.
Here's one joke told by NYU professor Larry Zicklin.
Enjoy!
The honoree was Mason's older brother Rabbi Bernard Maza. Mason used his classic observational humor to poke fun at cultural quirks, assimilation, and traditional Jewish life, while praising the vital work of instilling Jewish identity in youth.
His unique background as an ordained rabbi allowed him to connect deeply with the crowd, delivering rapid-fire punchlines that kept the room laughing.
Here is Mason's speech at the event honoring his brother. Enjoy!
Cantor Sydney Michaeli served for two years as the Student Cantor at Temple Shaaray Tefila, and two years as the Cantorial Intern at Park Avenue Synagogue, both on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. While in school, Cantor Michaeli was a JDC Weitzman Fellow for Global Jewish Leadership and a UJA Federation Graduate Fellow. She has led multiple Birthright trips and participated in the iCenter’s Birthright Israel Fellowship. Cantor Michaeli was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in May 2023 upon completing her thesis and recital about the intersection of baroque oratorio and Jewish music.
Today we join Temple Rodef Shalom in welcoming Shabbat with a jazzy version of V'Shamru, part of the Friday evening service.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
In this Throwback Thursday musical special, Claire and Merna perform wrote "All of Me", a popular song writtten in 1931 by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. They performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1962.
Enjoy!
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 shopping mall, staffer Jose posed as a driver of a parking lot shuttle. Customers thought that the shuttle would take them to the mall entrance, but the sign on the shuttle said "Park and Ride" and that's exactly what it did -- after they parked they were taken on a ride around the parking lot.
Enjoy!
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 June Sponder toured the USA with shows in Boston, Philadelphia, and Fort Lauderdale.
In this video clip from a recent performance, Sponder reflects on Jewish attitudes toward comedy in a time of war.
Enjoy!
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