Rabbi Bob Alper Speaks and Jokes About Jewish Humor at Chautauqua Institution

Last week at the Chautauqua Institution's week devoted to the spiritual power of humor, Rabbi Bob Alper took the stage to offer his views on the benefits of putting laughter into your life. Bob feels that making people laugh is a holy calling and that laughter can change the world.

Bob’s unique background – he’s an ordained rabbi who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary – all of which has prepared him well for a twenty-eight year comedy career with wonderfully unique material presented in a way that’s intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.  

Bob’s stand-up act is fast-paced, with impeccable timing and material that’s definitely sharp yet gentle and unhurtful.  In addition, he offers an informative, hilarious event called “The Spirituality of Laughter,” which is particularly appropriate for religious organizations, civic groups, school and hospital in-services.

The rabbi-comedian draws tremendous media attention, and he was recently named “Honorary Comedic Advisor to the Pope,” winning an international contest launched on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Yesterday we posted Rabbi Joseph Telushkin's talk on Jewish humor at Chautauqua's week of humor, and many of you asked for more like it. So here is another rabbi (who is also a comedian) giving his take on the healing power of humor, with a special Jewish emphasis.

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.

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin Tells the Fifty Best Jewish Jokes at Chautauqua

Last Thursday Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Humor: What the Best Jewish Jokes Say About the Jews, delivered a 45 minute speech at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York on The Fifty Best Jewish Jokes and What They Say about the Human Condition.  

As part of Chautauqua's Week Six, “The Spirituality of Humor,” Telushkin connected humor in Judaism to society at large.

The Chautauqua Institution is a non-profit education center and summer resort for adults & youth located on 750 acres in Chautauqua, New York, about an hour from Buffalo. It offers programs in the arts, education, religion and music. 

We don't usually post such long videos, but we think this one is worth your time. If you don't have 45 minutes to spend on it now, we suggest that you take it in 10 minute bites over the course of a few days. At the end of the lecture, Telushkin takes questions from the audience, whose members used the opportunity to tell some of their favorite jokes.

We watched the whole lecture and enjoyed it thoroughly. We didn't count the jokes, but Telushkin easily wove many old favorites into his talk.

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.