Welcoming Shabbat with Yismechu by Cantorial Soloist Joel Stein at Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills, California

Dr. Joel Stein, Cantor Soloist at Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills, California is a singer-songwriter, composer and producer in Los Angeles.

Before Kol Tikvah, Joel led services at many temples in New York and LA including B’nai Jeshurun and the Brotherhood Synagogue in Manhattan, B’nai Keshet in Montclair, NJ, and Nachshon Minyan and Shomrei Torah in LA.

Tonight we welcome Shabbat with a rendition of Yismechu by Cantor Soloist Joel Stein. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam by Cantor Orly Campbell at Temple Sinai in Los Angeles

Orly Campbell graduated with a B.A., emphasis in Vocal Arts at California State University of Northridge in 2006. Prior to Orly beginning her journey at the Academy for Jewish Religion California (AJRCA) she was already a year into her most prideful job, being a new mom. She had no clue how she could attend a master’s seminary and raise a baby, let alone 4 children. 

Orly spent the last 6 years raising her kids and discovering her true love for hazzanut. She has worked in many different temples including Temple Ramat Zion, Stephen Wise,  Beth Shir Shalom, Desert Outreach Synagogue, Temple Judea, Temple Akiba and Temple Beth David, where Orly served as the Cantor for the past 3 years. 

Cantor Orly was ordained and received her Master’s Degree from the Academy for Jewish Religion in May 2019. She will continue sharing her love, passion and voice in hopes of elevating a congregant’s experience for services.

On April 17 at Temple Sinai in Los Angeles, Cantor Orly Campbell led the congregation in singing Adon Olam on a Sisterhood Shabbat.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Comedy Showcase with Orny Adams - Navy Seal in the Audience

Orny Adams (Adam Jason Orenstein) delivers a powerful, incisive stand-up comedy routine that vacillates between the relevant and the absurd. Orny attacks what’s wrong with the world and sometimes even what’s wrong with Orny. He’s brutally honest, satirical and his performance is ceaselessly energetic.  

We first ran into Orny Adams at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal seven years ago. We previously posted clips of Orny in one of his Showtime specials. Orny has been performing on late night TV shows and other comedy venues, and he's a regular at the Just for Laughs Festival.

Orny has had one hour stand up specials on Netflix, Comedy Central and his third special More Than Loud aired on Showtime. Orny has appeared all over television, most notably on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman and The Conan O’Brien Show. And you might also recognize him as Coach from the TV show Teen Wolf which ran for six seasons.

In this clip from a performance last September at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California, Orny finds out that there is a retired Navy Seal in his audience and turns the discovery into a monologue about heroes and accomplished people  and how he is being upstaged by them.

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.

 

Here Come the Rosh Hashanah Videos: Congregation B'nai Israel of Sacramento Sings "I Always Wanna Have Rosh Hashanah"

A week ago we started this year's Rosh Hashanah musical videos with a holiday version of Oklahoma! by the choir of Congregation B'nai Israel in Sacramento, California. Well, they're at it again with a set of Rosh Hashanah lyrics to There's No Business Like Show Business.

Founded in 1849 as one of the first few Jewish synagogues west of the Mississippi, B'nai Israel is a vibrant multi-generational and multi-cultural community in the heart of Sacramento,  California where people of diverse backgrounds pursue their Jewish journeys. It is an egalitarian, inclusive congregation committed to experiencing the joy and beauty of Jewish life.

With the holiday starting tomorrow night, let's get ready by joining the choir in singing I Always Wanna Have Rosh Hashanah!

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.  

Here Come the Rosh Hashanah Videos: Congregation B'nai Israel of Sacramento Sings "Roshklahoma"

It's that time of year again. In only nine days we will be attending Rosh Hashanah services in person in synagogues, and at home via Zoom sessions and live streaming services.

In addition to attending traditional services, we have been posting music videos that capture the spirit and nuances of the holiday season, by synagogue groups and choruses and by creative individuals.

We're starting to see some new videos and we'll be sharing them with you during the coming week. In the meantime, let's start with a music video that was posted last year by Congregation B'nai Israel in Sacramento, California. We missed it last year so we're playing catch up today.

Founded in 1849 as one of the first few Jewish synagogues west of the Mississippi, B'nai Israel is a vibrant multi-generational and multi-cultural community in the heart of Sacramento,  California where people of diverse backgrounds pursue their Jewish journeys. It is an egalitarian, inclusive congregation committed to experiencing the joy and beauty of Jewish life.

Here's their version of Oklahoma!, with new words reviving the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune as Roshklahoma!

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. 

Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by Cantor Menachem Mirski of Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, California

Today we welcome another Shabbat with a rendition of Shalom Aleichem by Cantor Menachem Mirski of Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, California.

Cantor Mirski was born and grew up in Przemyśl, Poland. Music, spirituality and philosophy are three of his passions, to which he has been devoted throughout his entire life. He received a master's degree in philosophy in 2005 at the Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland. 

Soon after, in 2006, he founded his first klezmer band, Klezmaholics, with whom he recorded two CDs and toured Sweden, Ukraine, Romania and his home country, Poland. The tour included concerts at the Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków in 2017 and 2018, together with American Yiddish singer Cindy Paley. 

During his rabbinic program cantor Mirski has worked for several Reform and Conservative communities in the Los Angeles area: Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks, Temple Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, Adat Shalom (Los Angeles), and Temple Beth Israel in Pomona, as a cantor, b'nai mitzvah tutor and Torah reader. He has also worked as a rabbinic intern at Masorti Olami, leading religious services as well as teaching weekly on-line Torah class for Warsaw's Jewish community.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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.

 

Welcoming Shabbat with Yismechu by Rabbi/Cantor Didi Thomas

Today we welcome Shabbat with Yismechu, from the Shabbat afternoon service, sung by Rabbi/Cantor Didi Thomas. A California native, child of an interfaith family, and former professional actress and singer, Rabbi/Cantor Didi draws on her eclectic life experiences to bring a unique presence and musicality to all of her services. 

Known for her warm embracing style, she inspires participants toward a greater sense of unity and connection regardless of their faith or level of observance. Her services uplift the soul and make the heart soar; they are spiritual, multi-dimensional, and universally appealing. Rabbi Thomas is devoted to creating inclusivity and spirituality in all aspects of her rabbinate.  

She is the founding Rabbi for Temple Emet of Torrance, which is a highly participatory community dedicated to creating a sense of family amongst congregants, enhanced worship and learning experiences, as well as a greater connection with the Divine. 

She has served as Cantor for Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, and as Educator, Music Specialist, or Cantorial Soloist for several large Los Angeles and Texas congregations including Temple Isaiah, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Wilshire Boulevard, Temple Aliyah, Kadima Hebrew Academy, and Temple Emanu-El of Dallas. 

Her daughter, Alissa Thomas-Newborn, ordained at Rabbi Avi Weiss' Yeshiva Maharat in Riverdale, New York, is an American Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader who became the first Orthodox female clergy member to preside in the Los Angeles, California area when she assumed her post as a spiritual leader at B’nai David-Judea Congregation (BDJ) in August 2015. The announcement of her appointment came on May 2, 2015 from the pulpit by the lead clergyman of the synagogue, Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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.

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam Sung to John Denver's "Country Roads" by Congregation Beth Am of San Diego

Congregation Beth Am of San Diego, California, conducts a Campfire Shabbat service the first Friday of every month. It's a musical spiritual and uplifting service around the campfire, led by Rabbi David Kornberg and Ephron Rosenzweig, with guitar and lots of fun, camp-style songs. 

Last month the service ended with a version of Adon Olam based on John Denver's famous song Country Roads.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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.

Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi by the Temple Beth David Choir of Westminster, California

Temple Beth David is a Reform congregation of over three hundred families in California's West Orange County.

Serving the greater Long Beach community for over fifty years, Beth David is led by Rabbi Nancy Myers. Known as the Singing Synagogue, Beth David has Adult and Junior Choirs.

In today's video, Cantorial Soloist Nancy Linder leads the Temple Beth David Adult Choir in Craig Taubman's version of Lecha Dodi.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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.   

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: California's Bullis Charter School Choir Sings "Hinei Ma Tov"

Charter schools such as the Bullis Charter School in Los Altos, California are unique public schools that offer an additional educational choice to California families. 

Charter schools are allowed the freedom to be more innovative while being held accountable for advancing student achievement. As a public charter school, BCS is free to innovate and implement new programs and teaching methods in order to provide the best education possible for our students.

The K-8 school has four choirs comprising more than 145 students. The Spring concert of their Cambiata choir included a virtual rendition of the Hebrew folk song Hinei Ma Tov.

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.

Welcoming Shabbat with Lechu Neranena by Two Los Angeles Cantors

Lechu Neranena is the opening psalm of Kabbalat Shabbat, inviting us to come together and sing our hearts out. 

Here is a melody composed by Cantor Jacqueline Rafii of the Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, California for this text, inspired by its joyous and uplifting words. Cantor Lisa Peicott of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in L.A. joins her for this performance.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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 Special Virtual Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

And now for something completely different. Today instead of our usual video of comedy or music that runs for 5 minutes or so, we're sharing a very special hour-long production of the musical comedy Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

This production was put together by a team of more than 40 members of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys and the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center's Youth program in California.

With a talented cast of young actors, dancers, and musicians all keeping their distance from one another in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and with the help of some creative computer graphics, the production stays on track with the music and lyrics of the original production.

We think it's  worth the time to watch, and if an hour is too much, you can watch it song by song.

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. 

Yiddish Word of the Day: Cake

As people continue to spend their days and evenings at home, due to coronavirus social distancing restrictions, the Forverts has launched a 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. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll be sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we'll look at the many variations of cake, and a few proverbs to illustrate their use.

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.

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Orthodox Rabbi Becomes Mixed Martial Arts Fighter in California

An Orthodox Jewish rabbi from Encinitas, California hadn't thrown a punch in his life until he wanted to enter an amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight.

Yossi Eilfort's journey began  when he joined forces with MMA fighter and judo specialist Thierry Sokudju of Cameroon and started training at Team Quest Gym in Encinitas.

"I never thought that a rabbi would be interested in fighting," said Sokudju. "But I was stoked. He never quits."

Eilfort had 12 years of Krav Maga experience, a self-defense system developed for military in Israel, but wanted more experience with mixed martial arts fighting.

Eilfort trained nearly every day while balancing his duties at Chabad at La Costa. He also trained on Fridays during the fasting period, but had to forego a last round of preparation for Shabbat.

The 22-year-old entered his first bout at Mansion Fights in a historic North Hollywood house and used the simple moniker "The Rabbi." Before entering the octagon, he watched as a previous fighter was wheeled out on a gurney.

Twenty friends, family and congregation members were on hand to see him swiftly take down his opponent. Eilfort won in the second round by TKO.

"It was very uncomfortable hitting someone," said Eilfort. "I actually held back, but I proved what I wanted."

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.

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Passover in the Desert with Wilderness Torah

We're accustomed to celebrating Passover indoors, seated at a large table, reading the Haggadah and sharing a festive meal with family and friends. But after the Exodus from Egypt, our earliest ancestors experienced Passover in the desert.

Today a group of nature-minded Jews of all denominations experience Pesach in the California desert with Wilderness Torah.

Wilderness Torah creates a big tent filled with all kinds of people bound together by a connection to nature. They work hard to create spaces where people with a range of practices are welcome. They think building pluralistic community is a fun challenge and causes participants to think creatively about the meaning of our traditions and how we practice them.

They encourage participants from all backgrounds and especially ask each one to respect others’ observance levels. The kitchen and meals are kosher and mostly vegetarian, but there is no on-site supervision by a mashgiach.

As Merissa Nathan Gerson wrote in Tablet magazine,

Wilderness Torah has developed from a small gathering of campers to a full cycle of outdoor festivals tied to Jewish holidays—Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot, and Tu B’Shevat—as well as other back-to-nature wilderness quests for adults throughout the year. The group has also created a nature-mentorship b’nai mitzvah program called B’Naiture for 11-to-13 year-olds, and an outdoor-education program called B’Hootz that takes younger kids camping, hiking, and into the wilderness to learn Torah through outdoor experience with mentors.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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.