'Twas the Night Before Pesach - A Benji Lovitt Passover Comedy Special

American-Israeli comedian Benji Lovitt, now living in Tel Aviv, has made a contribution to the growing collection of Passover videos. He recruited a bunch of his friends' children, and got them to recite his original version of a song usually played in December.

And what a night it was! Coronavirus, social distance, Zoom, modems, routers, internet cables, and a last minute miracle.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Comedy Snapshot: Benji Lovitt on Israelis Shopping in America

Standup comedian Benji Lovitt got started in Texas, moved to Jerusalem and then to Tel Aviv. He's been living in Israel for 13 years now. He performs for audiences in Israel and the US.

We keep running into him when we travel to Israel, the latest encounter having been during the week of Passover in April.

Benji’s observations on Israeli society, combined with his lifelong involvement in Jewish education, create a hilarious narrative that has brought smiles to faces all over the world.

Since making aliyah in 2006, Benji has been called on by Jewish organizations to share his hilarious insights into cultural differences as he translates both the challenges and marvels of life in Israel.

In this short video clip, Benji shares his observations about Israelis shopping in America.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THEPLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO. 

Comedy Showcase: Benji Lovitt on Passover in Israel vs. Abroad

With Purim in the rear view mirror and supermarkets stocked with 5 lb. boxes of matzo, the Jewish world is focusing on the upcoming holiday of Passover. 

In three weeks the store shelves will be picked clean of most kosher l'Pesach products, and we'll be sitting down for the annual Pesach seder (in Israel) and two sedarim everywhere else in the world.

Stand-up comedian Benji Lovitt asked an audience of Israelis and Americans how they react to the difference between Pesach observance in Israel vs. abroad. 

Texas native and Israeli resident, Benji has made a career out of turning his actual experiences in making aliyah to Israel seven years ago into a series of hilarious standup comic routines.

His standup comedy has been seen in person and online by viewers in Israel, the US, and around the world, and his improvised videos and hilarious blog entries have been featured in publications such as the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post, Ynet, PresenTense magazine, the Jewish Daily Forward and Israel21c, among others.

Enjoy! 


A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Israeli Comedians Take a New Direction: Weekly Standup Comedy in English

Comedians Yohay Sponder and Shahar Hason got their start as comedians in Israel catering exclusively to Hebrew-speaking audiences. As the two became more and more well-known to Hebrew speakers throughout Israel, they noticed a huge demographic in the country that was missing out on the laughs. 

Sponder and Hason took the risk of crafting and re-writing their material from Hebrew to English (and from Israeli humor to American humor), all the while unsure whether or not they would even get a laugh out of an English speaking crowd. Their hard work and dedication to broadening the audience of one of Israel’s most unique cultural elements has launched the growing scene of Israeli Stand-up in English.

As Ashley O'Brien wrote in the Jerusalem Post, 

Every week Sponder and Hason, along with an impressive list of other Israeli and international comedians, take to the stage in Tel Aviv to deliver fresh material to Israel’s English speakers. No topic (or audience member) is off-limits on a Funny Monday, and locals, Olim (immigrants to Israel), and tourists fill the seats of the Chelsea Hotel for a chance to cut loose with some of Israel’s funniest people.  

We're starting a new series, bringing you some of the stand-up routines from the Chelsea Hotel in Tel Aviv. We're asking you to comment and let us know if you want to see more of these videos. We know that the language that these comics use it a bit raw and uncensored, but it is typical of Israeli humor. This video clip includes comedy by American comedian Elon Gold and Israeli-American comedian Benji Lovitt.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Comedian Benji Lovitt and Professor Alan Dershowitz Reflect on Jewish and Israeli Humor

Benji Lovitt, one of our favorite American-Israeli comedians, after spending the last 10 years in Israel, was a guest last month on Israel TV's One on One With Alan Dershowitz, where the American Harvard professor traded jokes and observations on Jewish humor with the comedian.

Topics included only-in-Israel moments and the origin of chutzpah, 

After observing that political correctness doesn't exist in Israel, Dershowitz indulged in some geographcal correctness in giving equal credit to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as his favorite city in Israel.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Comedian Benji Lovitt in TV Interview on Israeli Humor

Comedian Benji Lovitt has been delivering standup comedy ever since he made aliyah to Israel from his native Texas nine years ago.

His humor has spanned performances in comedy clubs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, entertaining groups visiting Israel, acting in an improv comedy troupe, posting hilarious comedy skits on YouTube, writing funny and satiric columns for Israeli newspapers, and presenting a program on exploring Israeli history through comedy.

In this video clip, Benji was interviewed by an Israeli TV reporter on the subject of Jewish and Israeli humor.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Comedy Spotlight: Benji Lovitt on the Shuk, Israel's Open-Air Markets

Benji Lovitt, a native Texan who moved to Israel about eight years ago, has brought his comedy impressions of Jewish life in Israel and America to audiences of all ages in both countries.

Last year he addressed a group of students attending the MASA Israel Leadership summit. MASA Israel connects Jewish young adults (ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. We previously published his funny recollections of learning Hebrew at a Jewish American summer camp, and the mismatch of the Hebrew taught in camp and the everyday Hebrew spoken in Israel.

In today's video clip, Benji focuses on the Shuk, the open-air fruit, vegetable, and everything market (both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have big ones), and goes through an imaginary interview to find qualified applicants to sell products at the shuk.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Masa Israel Journey connects Jewish young adults
(ages 18-30) to gap year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs. - See more at: http://www.masaisrael.org/#sthash.jBUT7d8d.dpuf

Comedian Benji Lovitt on the Hebrew You Learned in Jewish Summer Camp

Texas native and Israeli resident, comedian Benji Lovitt has made a career out of turning his actual experiences in making aliyah to Israel seven years ago into a series of hilarious standup comic routines.

His standup comedy has been seen in person and online by viewers in Israel, the US, and around the world, and his improvised videos and hilarious blog entries have been featured in publications such as the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post, Ynet, PresenTense Magazine, the Jewish Daily Forward and Israel21c, among others.

In this video clip, Benji tells his audience of Masa Israel leaders about the Hebrew he learned in Jewish summer camp and how they taught him nouns and phrases but didn't quite manage to teach him how to construct sentences and engage in meaningful conversations with real Hebrew speakers.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Comedian Benji Lovitt Offers "Thanksgivukkah Pie" Music Parody to Celebrate the Occasion

Because of the convergence of Chanukah and Thanksgiving Day this year, we're seeing lots of new music videos created for the occasion, by musicians and parodists old and new. 

We've been posting them as they come in, using some discretion to bring you only the ones we think are the best, and anticipating a reprise of all of them at the end of Chanukah to give you a chance to vote for the best one.

We were hoping that some of our favorite comedians and parodists would join the fun and we were very happy to see that Benji Lovitt, an American comedian who relocated to Israel seven years ago, has produced Thanksgivukkah Pie, a funny animated parody of American Pie. The original song, by by folk rock singer/songwriter Don McLean, was a number one hit in 1972. It's a recounting of the aftermath of the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. 

Just in case you want to add some fun to your Thanksgiving celebration by singing Benji's song, we're including the lyrics just below the video.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 

A long, long time ago

I can still remember how that oil used to last a while

And I knew if it made it eight

Then Jews would get to celebrate

And then we’d be rejoicing with a smile

But this year’s just unprecedented

A holiday that’s so demented

Chanukkah plus turkey

It doesn’t get more quirky

I can’t remember if I cried

From Jewish and American pride

My apple pie is extra fried

The day the chags collide

CHORUS:

So try my new Thanksgivukkah pie

It’s delicious, not nutritious, and it’s so good you’ll cry

Like soofganyot, it is super deep-fried

So don’t eat more than one or you’ll die, don’t eat more than one or you’ll die

Now the Pilgrims stood up to the Greeks

And the Maccabees threw such a feast

Or maybe I mixed up my facts

When we eat the dreidel, it gobbles loud

And we spin the turkey which wobbles proud

I think I’ve lost my mind, got to relax

Let’s appreciate this special day

With the Macy’s Hanukkah Parade

The floats are on the go

Nes gadol haya po….SHAAAAAM!

So gather round with all your friends

Sing Maoz Tzur until the end

And stuff yourself, I recommend

The day the chags collide

CHORUS:

So try my new Thanksgivukkah pie

It’s delicious, not nutritious, and it’s so good you’ll cry

Like soofganyot, it is super deep-fried

So don’t eat more than one or you’ll die, don’t eat more than one or you’ll die