Tumbalalaika Around the World - Klezmer Tanz Plays at the Bath Inn in Nottingham, England

The Yiddish folk love song Tumbalalaika originated in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, but its exact origin is hard to pinpoint. That hasn't prevented it from being sung and played over and over, not only in places where Yiddish songs are sung, but just about everywhere in the world, in vocal and instrumental versions, in cabarets and in the movies.

Just as we have followed the songs Hava Nagila, Adon Olam, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, and Abanibi as they took different forms as interpreted by a wide variety of singers, musicians, and dancers, we're continuing the series today that we started back in 2012, bringing you many interpretations of this universal courting and love song.

This 28th rendition of Tumbalalaika is by Klezmer Tanz, A group of English musicians playing the beautiful tunes and songs of the klezmer repertoire at the Bath Inn in Nottingham.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam sung by the London Cantorial Singers in Liverpool

It's time to welcome another Shabbat with Adon Olam, the traditional song that concludes the Mussaf service. 

Today we're sharing a version sung at a Tribute Concert in the memory of Cantor Rev. Henry and Mrs Helena Chait held in Liverpool's historic Princes Road Synagogue on June 11. The concert featured their sons Rabbi Alby Chait, Chazan Benjamin Chait & Chazan Charles Chait who were singing together for the first time in 17 years. 

They were joined by Rabbi Natan Fagleman, Cantor Rev. David Rome, Cantor Henry Black & Cantor David Shine along with The London Cantorial Singers under the leadership of Alan Freedman, David Druce (choir chairman) & David Silkoff (choir pianist).

Princes Road Synagogue is home to the oldest Jewish congregation in the city. The first stone was laid in 1872 by William and George Audsley, and was completed and consecrated at a ceremony led by Chief Rabbi Dr. Nathan M. Adler in September 1874.

Today, the synagogue is a big part of the local community and welcomes visitors and members weekly to Shabbat followed by Kiddush in the newly renovated annex.

It is open, by prior arrangement, for tours by schools, community groups and visitors, and it also runs a full events calendar including talks, concerts and plays.

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Hava Nagila Around the World: A British Parody in 1972

We've been posting more than 100 versions of Hava Nagila during our 13 years of Jewish Humor Central. Most have been faithful interpretations with more or less reasonable pronunciations of the Hebrew words.

Today we're going back 50 years to share a parody of the song by three British actors and musicians, with a translation that has nothing to do with the meaning of the original words.

In this video, Dudley Moore, Val Doonican, and Peter Cook collaborate in a spoof of Hava Nagila in which Nagila is a little Japanese sports car that's being sold by a British car dealer. Sure, it's silly, and so is the rest of the comedy sketch. But it was funny enough to air in 1972.

Enjoy!

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British Royal Guard Plays "Moshiach" and "BaShana HaBa'ah" at London Veterans' Ceremony

Last week in London, with more than 1,400 people in attendance, the British Royal Guard marched to the Israeli songs Moshiach and BaShana HaBa'ah.  The event, at which British Chief Rabbi Ephrayim Mirvis was in attendance and led the service, commemorated the World War II military service of Jewish men and women. 

It also marked the 101st anniversary of the first wreath-laying by Jewish veterans at the Cenotaph – a central London memorial near Buckingham Palace. The costumed parading guard from Horse Guards Parade marched down Whitehall to the Cenotaph, where a wreath was laid in honor of those who served. This year’s event also commemorated Queen Elizabeth, who passed away earlier this year.

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Four Tevyes Come Together for a Very Special L'Chaim

If you liked the music of Fiddler on the Roof, you're going to like this.

On June 25, 2020, four actor/singers who played the role of Tevye got together at a virtual dinner for Chai Cancer Care in Manchester, England. They joined in singing To Life - L'Chayim with lots of energy and joy.

Chaim Topol - Broadway, Original West End, Film (1967-1994)

Dudu Fisher - Various Productions

Andy Nyman - West End (2018-2019)

Yehezkel Lazarov -Broadway National Tour (2018)

Enjoy!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: George Burns and Jack (Gracie) Benny in London Royal Variety Review

Back in 1961, George Burns did a skit in the Royal Variety Performance in a London theater, with Jack Benny playing the role of George's wife Gracie Allen.

They performed one of the Burns and Allen classic routines that 12 years after Gracie died in 1964, George performed again with comedian Madeline Kahn, a routine that we posted on Jewish Humor Central in 2015.

We never saw the original skit, but thoroughly enjoyed both of the revised versions. We hope you'll enjoy them too.

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  #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Aish UK Brings Chanukah Festivities to the Streets of London

Aish UK is at the forefront of British Jewry, providing wisdom, depth and beauty. For the last 25 years, Aish UK has existed to inspire deeper connections in Judaism to ensure a vibrant future for the Jewish People.

This week Aish UK took to the streets of London to find out what the British public knows about the Jewish Festival of Lights, Chanukah. They spun dreidels, ate doughnuts in Leicester Square, and sang everybody's favorite Chanukah songs in some unfamiliar tunes. 

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Mizmor Shir by Guitar Choir of Radlett Synagogue in England

Radlett Reform Synagogue is a synagogue in a former church building on Watling Street in Radlett, Hertfordshire, England. It is affiliated with the Movement for Reform Judaism. 

Its Senior Rabbi, Paul Freedman, was elected in 2015 as Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK, succeeding Sybil Sheridan in the role.

The synagogue choir sings while playing their guitars. During this coronavirus lockdown, they made a distance video of Mizmor Shir l'Yom HaShabbat.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Comedy Showcase: UK Standup Comic Ashley Blaker on Driving Habits of the Very Frum

Last week we shifted our geographic focus "across the pond" to England and were pleasantly surprised to find that Jewish standup comedy is very much alive in the UK, especially in Orthodox circles.

We posted a video clip of Ashley Blaker, who has become very popular in the UK and also in Israel. Now he's bringing his comedy to New York. On Thursday night, December 7, Blaker will be performing his Strictly Unorthodox show at the Gramercy Theatre.


Much of his comedy centers on his migration from secular Judaism to becoming a frum Baal Teshuva (newly observant Jew) and the difficulties of being accepted by co-religionists who are FFB (Frum From Birth).

In this video he reflects on the driving habits that he's noticed among the very frum, and the steps he will have to take to be seen as a member of their community.

Enjoy!

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Hunting for the Best Bagels in London With YidLife Crisis Comedy Duo (Britishkayt Part 1 - Continued)

We've been following the Canadian comedy duo of Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion as they travel the world in search of funny situtations involving Yiddish culture, language, and food.

Their web series, YidLife Crisis, was recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for best original digital media series.

They have taken their act on the road, performing a live version of their show in Krakow, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles and Birmingham, England.

The pair has also received a prestigious grant from the Natan Fund and have created a series of five travelogues featuring their impressions of Tel Aviv. In February we posted their funny Valentine’s Day episode guest staring Mayim Bialik.

Last month we started  touring London with Jamie and Eli as they search for the perfect bagel (or beigel as it's spelled in England). With the help of guide David Rosenberg they learn the history of "tailor-made" unionization in London's East End. 

We got a lot of praise for that post so today we're back with Jamie, Eli, and David as they continue the search for the best bagel (or beigel as they call them in London's East End).

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.)  

Hunting for the Best Bagels in London With YidLife Crisis Comedy Duo (Britishkayt Part 1)

We've been following the Canadian comedy duo of Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion as they travel the world in search of funny situtations involving Yiddish culture, language, and food.
 
Their web series, YidLife Crisis, was recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for best original digital media series.
 
They have taken their act on the road, performing a live version of their show in Krakow, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles and Birmingham, England.
 
The pair has also received a prestigious grant from the Natan Fund and have created a series of five travelogues featuring their impressions of Tel Aviv. In February we posted their funny Valentine’s Day episode guest staring Mayim Bialik.

Today we're touring London with Jamie and Eli as they search for the perfect bagel (or beigel as it's spelled in England). With the help of guide David Rosenberg they learn the history of "tailor-made" unionization in London's East End. 

(TO BE CONTINUED...) 

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.)