Welcoming Shabbat in South Africa with Lecha Dodi by Singer Leigh Nudelman

Leigh Nudelman is an Ashkenazi South African Jewish singer, who is single-handedly reviving Yiddish music in Johannesburg. A fourth generation South African, Leigh eloquently describes the power of Yiddish to connect her to her ancestors, just as she expresses the struggles and joys of being Jewish in South Africa today.

In this video, Nudelman and her Beis Clef ensemble sing the traditional Kabbalat Shabbat song Lecha Dodi. Beis Clef is a Johannesburg-based Jewish community that explores Jewish identity through music, ritual and creative expression. Their monthly Friday night gatherings bring together traditional liturgy, contemporary arrangements and communal singing in an intimate home setting.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

A Prayer for the IDF After 100 Days of War by Cantor Hershtik, the Maccabeats, and Four Childrens' Choirs

Marking 100 days since October 7th, War Cabinet Minster, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Cantor Netanel Hershtik and the Maccabeats joined in prayer for the IDF.

Cantor Hershtik and the Maccabeats are joined by the childrens' choirs of the Harkham Hillel Academy of Los Angeles, California, Yavneh of Paramus, New Jersey, Yeshiva College of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Jacob Spadaro and TABC Studio 1600 choir of Teaneck, New Jersey.

Am Yisrael Chai. Bring the hostages home now!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Mizmor Shir by Congregation Bet David of Sandton, South Africa

Today's Shabbat welcome comes from Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, where members of the Bet David congregation sing one of the traditional versions of Mizmor Shir, part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Founded in 1971, Congregation Bet David is a Progressive Jewish congregation. Bet David is a warm, welcoming, and inclusive congregation that invites individuals and families of all observance levels to worship and learn together.

The Bet David community is a diverse congregation engaged in social issues, culture and learning – a congregation rediscovering Jewish values that give meaning and provide a strong foundation to face the challenges of contemporary life.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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The New Jewish Comedians: Meet Ariel Kagan, Standup Comic

We've been posting clips of Jewish comedians going back to the days of vaudeville and burlesque, from Jack Benny to Alan King, and including dozens more. We've posted many of them since we started Jewish Humor Central 14 years ago.

 But a new generation of Jewish comedians is on the rise. And they're very funny. It's a rare one who can get through a routine without off-color words or phrases, but some are trying very hard to let the jokes and situations carry the day without resorting to outright foul language.

Some of the new comedians are only new to us, since we haven't been watching all the late night TV shows and going to comedy clubs where they make their first appearances. But as we discover them, we'll share some of their video clips with you.

Today we're sharing a video clip of Ariel Kagan. Ariel grew up and learned the basics of the trade in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa. He moved to Toronto in late 2012.

Ariel started to notice the ease with which people give advice to their friends, but concluded that much of it is very paradoxical and nonsense. So he set out to illustrate the many ways that people brandish advice.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi by Congregation Bet David of Sandton, South Africa

Today's Shabbat welcome comes from Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, where members of the Bet David congregation sing one of the traditional versions of Lecha Dodi, the hymn that is usually sung in the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Founded in 1971, Congregation Bet David is a Progressive Jewish congregation. Bet David is a warm, welcoming, and inclusive congregation that invites individuals and families of all observance levels to worship and learn together.

The Bet David community is a diverse congregation engaged in social issues, culture and learning – a congregation rediscovering Jewish values that give meaning and provide a strong foundation to face the challenges of contemporary life.

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 Ein Keiloheinu by the Bet David Choir of Sandton, South Africa

Today's Shabbat welcome comes from Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, where members of the Bet David congregation sing one of the traditional versions of Ein Keiloheinu, the hymn that is usually sung in the Shabbat Musaf service.

Founded in 1971, Congregation Bet David is a Progressive Jewish congregation. Bet David is a warm, welcoming, and inclusive congregation that invites individuals and families of all observance levels to worship and learn together.

The Bet David community is a diverse congregation engaged in social issues, culture and learning – a congregation rediscovering Jewish values that give meaning and provide a strong foundation to face the challenges of contemporary life.

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 by the Bet David Choir of Sandton, South Africa

Founded in 1971 in Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, Congregation Bet David is a Progressive Jewish congregation. Bet David is a warm, welcoming, and inclusive congregation that invites individuals and families of all observance levels to worship and learn together.

This week we join the Bet David choir in a traditional rendition of Adon Olam, the song that usually ends the Shabbat Shacharit service.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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South Africa Flash Mob Celebrates Israel's 70th Birthday

Celebrations of Israel's 70th birthday continue around the world. In Johannesburg, South Africa, the Israel embassy and the Jewish community united with the band Hatikva Shesh playing Hachi Israeli for a flash mob.

Participants included the Israel embassy in Pretoria, the South African Zionist Federation, together with Jewish schools and the Jewish Community of Johannesburg.

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.

Adon Olam Around the World: Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir Sings Adon Olam Medley

Regular fans of Jewish Humor Central know that Monday is set aside for a Joke to Start the Week and Thursday is Throwback Thursday for comedy nostalgia.

We're trying to keep a few days each week available for surprises, the Greatest Jewish Comedians, and whatever we find funny or nachas producing. But we're reserving Fridays as best we can for something musical or funny to ease us into welcoming Shabbat. 

Today we're sharing another version of Adon Olam, the concluding hymn of most Shabbat services. Since we started blogging we've posted 22 versions of the song performed around the world. We don't usually find it as a featured concert piece, but you never know what selections will appear on concert programs.

The Jewish Male Choir of Johannesburg, South Africa sang a medley of multiple versions of Adon Olam with 24 singers and a five piece musical ensemble backing up Cantor Steven Leas, Professor Russel Lurie, Cantor Chilly Chrysler, and Cantor Ezra Sher.

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.