American Pop in Yiddish: Lea Kalisch Sings Elvis Presley's Hit "Can't Help Falling in Love"

Today we're sharing a Yiddish version of Elvis Presley's big hit "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You". It's sung by Lea Kalisch and with Rabbi Tobias Moss on guitar.

Lea Kalisch is a multi-genre multi-lingual singer, actor, dancer, skater, and producer. Some know her as the Eshet Chayil of Hip Hop. Tobias Moss is a rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, a musician on YouTube and busking on the streets, and a creator of digital content known as Rabbi T.

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Andy Kaufman Performs on the Johnny Carson Show in 1977

In August 1977 comedian and performance artist Andy Kaufman made an appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  

After doing impressions in his Foreign Man accent, a masterful Elvis Presley impersonation, and playing a wild song from the Islands of the Caspian Sea on the bongo drums, Kaufman sat for an interview with Carson. 

In the interview, he explains the origin of his Elvis character and tells a story of how his Foreign Man character got an autograph from a woman in a massage parlor on 42nd Street in New York.

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.

  

#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: The Jewish World of Elvis Presley

Elvis and Jews: At first glance these two words may not seem to go together. But the truth is that, despite growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family in the Deep South - an area sometimes known for its anti-Semitism - Elvis Presley nevertheless developed a deep affinity to Jews.

A new book, The Jewish World of Elvis Presley, by Roselle Kline Chartock celebrates Elvis's Jewish roots and the influence of his vast Jewish inner circle that goes back to his days of childhood poverty.

This book contains answers to two questions: What accounted for this deep affinity? And what was the nature of the personal relationships Elvis developed with the Jews he befriended in Memphis - including merchants and members of his inner circle, the Memphis Mafia - and those he met in the music and movie industries? 

Today's video clip of an interview with the author on Israel's i24news reveals a little-known side of this rock 'n' roll icon, including Presley's own Jewish heritage. There is within this book ample evidence that Presley's personality as well as his musical gifts were, in part, shaped by his Jewish world.

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.

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: Andy Kaufman as Elvis Presley

As a comedian, Andy Kaufman was truly one of a kind. After making a name for himself on Saturday Night Live with his Elvis Presley imitation, he took it to The Johnny Carson Show and other variety shows and perfected it to such an extent that audiences believed it was Elvis himself singing.

Starting with his awkward Foreign Man voice and awkward bearing, Kaufman started out doing really bad imitations and when he announced that he would be doing "The Elvis Presley," you didn't expect much. But wow, what a performance he turned in.

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.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Milton Berle as Elvis Presley's Twin Brother Melvin

With Yom Kippur in the rear view mirror, we hope you all had an easy and meaningful fast.

Now in this festive month of one holiday after another, we're taking a Throwback Thursday comedy break and turning the clock back to 1956. That's 62 years ago. 

Back then, color TV was just beginning to become available and most programming was in black and white. Milton Berle was in his prime and on his way to becoming the king of television. In 1956 he did a special with Elvis Presley on the deck of the U.S.S. Hancock in which Elvis introduced him as his twin brother Melvin Presley. 

After a couple of minutes of patter, they put their guitars to work in a rendition of Blue Suede Shoes. 

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.



#Throwback Thursday   #TBT

Classic Comedy Moments: Andy Kaufman's First Appearance as Elvis on the Johnny Carson Show

Andy Kaufman was an eccentric comedian and as he liked to call himself, a performance artist.

One of his most beloved characters was known as "Foreign Man." In that role he was introduced as an impressionist. 

He would do a few very bad impressions, setting a low level of expectation from his audience. Then announcing that he will imitate "The Elvis Presley," he turned his back to the audience, made a few changes to his appearance, and launched into what is probably the best Elvis impression ever seen.

Last year we posted a tribute to Kaufman on his 30th Yahrzeit that included his famous "Mighty Mouse" routine that he performed on Saturday Night Live's first show, and  a full (23 minute long) episode of Taxi where as Latka Gravas, he marries his girlfriend Simka in a hilarious wedding ceremony that's a sendup of all ethnic ritual ceremonies. Both of these hilarious videos are worth a second look.

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.)