Wednesday, June 17, 2026

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!

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

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!

Monday, June 15, 2026

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, June 14, 2026

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!

Friday, June 12, 2026

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! 

Thursday, June 11, 2026

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

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

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!

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

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!

Monday, June 8, 2026

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, June 7, 2026

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!

Friday, June 5, 2026

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!

Thursday, June 4, 2026

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.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

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!

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

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! 

Monday, June 1, 2026

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, May 31, 2026

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!

Friday, May 29, 2026

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!

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Ron Eliran and Nechama Hendel as Ran and Nama

Ron Eliran (Menachem Leizerovich) was born in Haifa, British Mandate of Palestine. He was the middle child among three siblings. His Polish-Jewish parents ran a bakery. In the late 1950s, he formed one of the first Israeli folk-style duos, Ran and Nama with Nechama Hendel. 
 
In 1958, Ed Sullivan visited Israel looking for young performers to appear on a special show celebrating Israel's tenth anniversary. Eliran and Hendel were the finalists. While the name Ran was not a problem for English speakers, they could not pronounce Nechama, so the duo became known as "Ran and Nama." After their television appearance, the duo toured the United States for a year and a half. Eliran was the first Israeli singer to perform in Las Vegas.
 
Here are Ran and Nama singing Ana Pana Dodech on The Ed Sullivan Show 68 years ago.
 
 
   #Throwback Thursday       #TBT

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: Electric Car Runs on Flashlight Batteries - 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 classic Candid Camera stunt, Peter plays the role of a car rental agent at Los Angeles International Airport and tries to convince customers to rent a car that runs on flashlight batteries.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

20 "American Foods" That Are Actually Jewish

20 foods that most Americans consider "just American" carry Jewish histories that the mainstream food industry erased through commercialization.  

These foods that we eat every day are actually Jewish — 20 foods found in kitchens, delis, bakeries, and grocery stores worldwide that originated from Jewish culinary traditions, were popularized by Jewish immigrants, or were invented by Jewish food entrepreneurs. 

Most people eat these daily without knowing the Jewish connection — from the bagel you had this morning to the pastrami on your sandwich to the seltzer in your fridge to the cheesecake on your dessert menu. 

The "Bloodlines and Borders" YouTube channel posted a video identifying all 20 — what each food is, how it traces to Jewish origin, which Jewish immigrant communities brought them to America, how Jewish delis and bakeries turned regional foods into national staples, why New York deli culture is fundamentally Jewish, and which foods were adapted from Eastern European Ashkenazi tradition versus Sephardic or Mizrahi origin.

All except one are kosher, the exception being the Reuben sandwich which contains both corned beef and swiss cheese. But it still has two possible Jewish origin stories, having been created either by New York restaurateur Arnold Reuben or Reuben Kulakofsky, a Jewish grocer in Omaha, Nebraska.

Enjoy!

Monday, May 25, 2026

A Joke to Start the Week - "The Broken Tablets"

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: A grandpa sponsors his grandson David's Hebrew school experience. He wants to see how his grandson is doing. So one Sunday morning he visits David's Hebrew school located near a temple. And then...

Enjoy!

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Joan Rivers in "That Show" in 1968

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.  

Fifty-eight years ago Joan Rivers had her own show called That ShowEach episode had a theme and Joan did an opening monologue based on the day's topic. The show also featured an expert on the subject and a celebrity guest. 

Here's Joan in the first episode of That Show in 1968. Enjoy!

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Shavuot Starts Tonight! A Holiday of Torah Learning (and Cheesecake)

The holiday of Shavuot starts tonight. Although the two day holiday (one day in Israel) commemorates the giving and receiving of the Torah, it is the least well known and the least observed of the three pilgrimage festivals.

Shavuot doesn't have the vibrant visual symbolism of Pesach and Sukkot. Besides the festive meals that are part of every Jewish holiday, there is an emphasis on all night study and the reading of the Megillah of Ruth in the synagogue.

Here's a refresher from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offering six facts about the holiday, one of which we didn't know about until today. 

We'll be observing the two days of Shavuot tomorrow and on Shabbat, attending classes, eating cheesecake, and reading the Megillah of Ruth with new insight. We'll be back on Sunday with our usual mix.

Shabbat shalom and chag sameach!

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: "The Very Last Donut" - 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 California donut shop, Peter stands behind the counter of a nearly empty Winchell's doughnut shop, attempting to sell the final remaining treat to unsuspecting customers. As patrons arrive expecting a full selection, Peter offers creative explanations for the depleted stock to gauge how each person reacts to the limited inventory.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Israel Wins Second Place in Eurovision 2026 Song Competition

For the second year in a row, Israel finished in second place at the Eurovision Song Contest, beaten only by Bulgaria’s Dara with “Bangaranga.”

The song that took second place was performed by Israel's Noam Bettan, who sang in Hebrew, French, and English. 

As Amy Spiro wrote in The Times of Israel,

Saturday night’s achievement came after months of speculation, hand-wringing, allegations, and reforms surrounding the Eurovision voting process. Which begs the questions: How did Israel actually fare in the voting breakdown, and did the changes introduced this year affect the outcome?

Israel still did notably well in the voting from the public, coming in third place in the televote. But, bucking predictions, it was actually the jury votes that pushed Bettan to a second-place finish, after he picked up support from the majority of the professional panels at the grand final.

All 35 countries taking part in the Eurovision select a seven-member jury made up of music professionals, who each rank every performance, are instructed to vote solely based on artistic merit, and are forbidden from discussing or coordinating their votes with each other. Enforcement of those rules, of course, is largely impossible.

The European Broadcasting Union appeared to want the juries to have a cooling effect on the more volatile popular vote — bringing them back this year in the semifinal rounds after they were scrapped in 2023. But when it came to support for Israel, Bettan appeared to win over many on the juries with his smooth vocals, solid performance, and unwavering stage presence.

Last year, Raphael received only 60 votes from the juries, coming in a middling 14th, but she topped the televote to send Israel soaring to second overall. This year, Bettan received 123 points from the professional panels, putting Israel in eighth place after he received at least some jury points from 22 of the 34 voting countries. Last year, Raphael got jury points from only 14 of the 36 nations.

Here is a video of Bettan's performance in the Eurovision Grand Final.

Monday, May 18, 2026

A Joke to Start the Week - "Morris Emigrates to America"

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 1936. Morris had decided to flee his native Germany. He sold everything he had, took the cash, and converted it to gold. And then...

Enjoy! 

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Sunday Standup (and Sitdown) Comedy Showcase: Victor Borge Performs at the Hollywood Palace in 1967

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.  

Today we're sharing one of Victor Borge's early standup comedy routines (actually sitting down.)

Victor Borge (1909-2000) was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in the United States and Europe. His blend of music and comedy earned him the nickname "The Clown Prince of Denmark","The Unmelancholy Dane", and "The Great Dane." 

He was born as Borge Rosenbaum to a Jewish family in Copenhagen. His parents were both musicians. He began piano lessons at the age of two, and it was soon apparent that he was a prodigy. He gave his first piano recital when he was eight years old, and in 1918 was awarded a full scholarship at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.


When the Nazis occupied Denmark during World War II, Borge was playing a concert in Sweden, and managed to escape to Finland. Even though Borge did not speak a word of English upon arrival, he quickly managed to adapt his jokes to the American audience, learning English by watching movies. He took the name of Victor Borge, and, in 1941, he started on Rudy Vallee's radio show, but was hired soon after by Bing Crosby for his Kraft Music Hall program.


Most of his humor centered on his relationship with his beloved piano and the funny variations on classical music that he created and performed to the delight of his audiences.


In this 1967 video clip from the Hollywood Palace TV Show, Borge previews safety features on new pianos.


Enjoy!

Friday, May 15, 2026

Welcoming Shabbat and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day)

Today is erev Shabbat and also Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day). It's an Israeli national holiday that commemorates the reunification of East Jerusalem (including the Old City) with West Jerusalem following the Six-Day War of 1967, which saw Israel occupy East Jerusalem and the West Bank, effectively annexing the former. 

It is celebrated annually on 28 Iyar on the Hebrew calendar, and is marked officially throughout Israel with state ceremonies and memorial services.

Let's enjoy the day with a nostalgic look back at some scenes from the Old City 59 years ago accompanied by Meir Levy singing Naomi Shemer's Jerusalem of Gold.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!