Wacky Wednesday Comedy Delight: Mel Brooks, Sid Caesar and the Invention of Music

In Sefer Beresheet (Genesis 4:21) we read that Jubal (Yuval) was the ancestor of all who played the lyre, which is a stringed instrument, and the pipe. 

In his History of the World: Part 1, his hilarious take on world history, Mel Brooks came up with an alternate version of how music was created. 

Casting comedian Sid Caesar as an early caveman, Brooks has him accidentally discovering music by dropping a large rock on the foot of a fellow caveman and observing the "notes" that come out of his mouth as he screams with pain.

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 and Arab Youth Unite in Music with Ukuleles for Peace

In 2004 Roy and Kathy Sakuma established Ukulele Festival Hawaii, a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to bring laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout Hawaii and the world through the music of the ukulele.

British-Israeli musician and ukulele teacher Paul Moore regularly performs for both Arab and Jewish kids, and it gave him an idea: to combine his love for the ukulele (a small and easy to learn four- string instrument) and his experience with children to create Ukuleles For Peace.

The goal of Ukuleles for Peace is to bring Jewish and Arab children together to play in an orchestra with ukuleles, kazoos and other fun instruments. Paul works with the students once a week in their own schools, and then brings them together for performances. The children sing in Hebrew, Arabic and English. The hope is that playing together will create further opportunities for communal activities, and that parents and members of the communities will get involved in the program.

In 2015 Paul and his wife Daphna Orion brought a Ukuleles for Peace group of 12 Jewish and Arab teenagers from the towns of Hod Hasharon and Tira all the way to Hawaii to participate in the 45th annual Ukulele Festival.

Here is a Hawaii TV report about the group's participation in the festival followed by the complete 18 minute performance of Ukuleles for Peace in Hawaii.

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.

Musical Flash Mob Brings Sunshine to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem

A few years ago, thirty five students from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance's (JAMD) Community & Youth Project played a flowing series of events in the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Starting with a concert in the hospital lobby, and taking a classical approach to the Beatles  hit song "Here Comes the Sun" , the students continued and played in various locations throughout the Medical Center as doctors, patients and passers-by joined in the fun.

Shaare Zedek Medical Center is Israel's fastest growing hospital, responsible for medical care for more than 500,000 people each year. A national and globally recognised leader in both clinical care and academic research, Shaare Zedek is home to more than 30 inpatient departments, 70 outpatient units and dozens of research institutes. The hospital proudly serves as a center of advanced medicine for all the peoples of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas with constant attention to patient-centered care while embracing the latest modes of medical technology.

The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance is unique in the Israel's higher education system. With 800 students in the Performing Arts of Music, Composition, Dance and Choreography, JAMD's Community & Youth Project operates over 20 different projects throughout Israel allowing more than 300 children and young people from disadvantaged areas to study serious music & dance.

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.

A Taste of Jerusalem: Shalom Aleichem and Lecha Dodi During Kabbalat Shabbat at the First Station

We're heading into our first Shabbat back home after spending a month of holidays in Jerusalem. It's been a great month and we've enjoyed sharing some tastes of this great city with you. 

We're working our way back to our mix of jokes, music, fun, unusual news items, Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places and Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places, but with Shabbat starting tonight, we'll share just one more Taste of Jerusalem.

This is a taste of Kabbalat Shabbat, not the usual Friday night evening service, but a bonus afternoon musical pre-Shabbat service that's been taking place each week at First Station Jerusalem, the outdoor mall, event and dining center that opened in 2013.

Residents and tourists alike come here to celebrate a musical welcome to Shabbat. For the secular population, it's their Shabbat experience, and for the observant it's a pleasant way to set the stage for traditional services and Shabbat dinner at nightfall.

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.)

A Taste of Jerusalem: Sukkot Oktoberfest at the First Station

Originating over 200 years ago in Munich, Germany, the annual Oktoberfest is best known as a celebration of beer, food, and music that’s gradually spread to all corners of the globe.

This year, Jerusalem had its first full-scale Oktoberfest celebration during Sukkot at the First Station, with everything from traditional beer tents and live music to Bavarian beer and food.

During Chol Hamoed Sukkot, Jerusalemites came out in large numbers to sit at the long, wooden, communal tables, to enjoy some giant beers, sausages and pretzels and listen to live music.

Join us for another in our series of video Tastes of Jerusalem as we shop, drink, enjoy the music, and mingle with the residents and visitors to this lively city during the holiday season.

Tonight is Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in Israel, both days wrapped into one. The diaspora observes two days of Yom Tov on Monday and Tuesday. We'll be back blogging again on Wednesday.

Enjoy and Chag Sameach!

(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 Taste of Jerusalem on Sukkot: Adon Olam Becomes Street Theatre in Zion Square

When it comes to spontaneous street theatre in Jerusalem, Zion Square, at the bottom of Ben Yehuda Street is ground zero. And during the intermediate days (Chol Hamoed) of Sukkot and Pesach, Zion Square is where some of the best singers and performers show up to give the passing crowds a good show.

This week we have had quite a show, and we captured performances that we'll be happy to share with you in the coming days, even after the Sukkot holiday is over.

The video below of Adon Olam, the concluding song of the Shabbat morning service, turned into a spontaneous combination of music and dance this week. We know who the guitarist and violinist are, but the lady in gray who suddenly joined the duo with an unexpected dance routine remains a mystery to us.

The singer/guitarist and violinist, known as The Rabbi and Gypsy Lady, are regular performers in Kikar Zion (Zion Square) and also on stage in clubs and theaters around Israel. Rabbi Tomer Peretz's day job is as a teacher of Torah and Talmud, but he is also a singer, composer and guitarist. His musical partner is Alexandra Kanarit. This "Gypsy Lady" is a violinist and composer from the Ukraine.
 
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 Taste of Jerusalem: Music, Merchandise, and Giant Puppets at Sukkot Street Fair

Sukkot is an amazing time of year to be in Jerusalem, and that's where we are this week. With most schools closed for the entire week, the streets and parks are teeming with children and their parents attending the special events that have been planned to keep them in a happy holiday mood.

During this Sukkot week we'll be running a series of blog posts to share this mood with you and give you a taste of Jerusalem.

Today we'll start with a few minutes that we captured on the first intermediate day of Sukkot at an evening street fair in the German Colony. 

Every year the art fair, with street theater performances, exhibits, music concerts, central stages, art workshops, food stands, caricaturists, outdoor musicians, public dances, exhibitions and more is held all along Derech Beit Lechem.

You'll be with us as we walk past vendors of clothing, housewares, and gifts, food stands, and groups of performers including singers and giant papier mache puppets.

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.)

Musical Showcase: Meet "The Shuk" and their Uplifting Version of Shalom Aleichem

 

We've been showcasing new Jewish comedians and revisiting some classic old-timers in the six years that Jewish Humor Central has been visible online. Now we're doing the same for Jewish musical groups that are new on the scene and who make music that we like a lot.

Even though The Shuk was formed in 2008, we just came across them this week and we wanted to share their beautiful music with you.

What better way to get ready to greet Shabbat this evening than listening to this creative and moving version of the traditional Shalom Aleichem?

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.)

The Great Israeli Singing Groups: The Gevatron Sing Their Hit "Bat Shishim" Then and Now

Today we're starting another new series on Jewish Humor Central -- The Great Israeli Singing Groups. Every few weeks we'll profile one of the ensembles that brought joy to the people of Israel, whether on a kibbutz or in the streets of Tel Aviv in the early days of the state.

Just like us, they've aged. But just like us, they haven't stopped singing the songs that carried them through the founding and building of the state of Israel. We'll post video clips of them at reunions held recently alongside video clips at the height of their popularity.

We'll start with the Gevatron.   The story of the Gevatron troupe begins in early 1948, when a group of singers in Kibbutz Geva performed at the dedication of a new basketball court in the kibbutz. They called themselves the "Gevatron" – a combination of the name of the kibbutz with the name of the "Cheezbatron", a singing troupe that performed during the War for Independence. The young group started performing for communal occasions in the kibbutz, with accordion accompaniment. They were amateurs and sang mainly verses, written by members of the kibbutz, to borrowed melodies, Russian songs for the most part.

One of their most popular songs, Bat Shishim, was originally written for the kibbutz's 60th anniversary in 1981. It was revived and updated in 2008 when the Israel government chose it as the official song to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state.

In this video clip, recorded at their 60th anniversary concert, the Gevatron sing Bat Shishim. It's followed by a video recording of the group singing the original song and a TV report of members reminiscing about the old days after being awarded the prestigious Israel Prize.

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 is an English translation of the lyrics:
She (the song, the kibbutz, the State of Israel) is 60  years old,
The head of the Gilboa (mountain)
That someone painted in red

A great day is coming,
A young and new day,
That erases her wrinkles
And her years

She's real 
And not just a symbol
And not a flag or a sign
She is looking to the future 
As the past is behind her
Every single day

A great day is coming
A young and new day
That erases every wrinkle
And her years to the day

She is a grandma
And a mother
And a granddaughter
That becomes always new
Like the seasons of the year
A woman of the summer 
Or the winter
But in her heart she is always spring

Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: Rabbi Tomer and Gypsy Lady Play on Stage and in the Streets of Jerusalem

When we came across a rabbi and a violinist playing in the rain on a Jerusalem street two weeks ago, we pulled out our smart phone and captured a few minutes of their antics to post here as a Jerusalem curiosity.

After some searching on the Internet, we discovered that the duo, known as The Rabbi and Gypsy Lady, are regular performers in Kikar Zion (Zion Square) and also on stage in clubs and theaters around Israel.

Who are these street and theater performers? Rabbi Tomer Peretz's day job is as a teacher of Torah and Talmud, but he is also a singer, composer and guitarist, and can be found often at the junction of Ben Yehuda Street and Jaffa Road in Zion Square. His musical partner is Alexandra Kanarit. This "Gypsy Lady" is a violinist and composer from the Ukraine. 

Together they are The Rabbi & Gypsy Lady who for most of their lives have created music and shared their love with other people through art performance. They love what they do and they do what they love. 

For the last three years both of them have separately been engaged in street shows, making people happy. One day they met each other at Kikar Zion, Jerusalem, immediately connected with mutual common energy. Two people who became one through art and now The Rabbi and Gypsy Lady perform together. 
 
They play a wide range of Israeli songs and their original compositions, but they seem especially drawn to rock music. Two of their favorites are Stairway to Heaven, the Led Zeppelin standby, and Ain't no Sunshine, the song made popular by Bill Withers.

Here is one of their performances of Ain't no Sunshine at the Theatron HaStudio in Haifa.

Enjoy!

The Great Jewish Comedians: Victor Borge in a Hilarious Opera Satire

Victor Borge (1909-2000) was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in the United States and Europe. His blend of music and comedy earned him the nickname "The Clown Prince of Denmark","The Unmelancholy Dane", and "The Great Dane."

He was born as Borge Rosenbaum to a Jewish family in Copenhagen. His parents were both musicians. He began piano lessons at the age of two, and it was soon apparent that he was a prodigy. He gave his first piano recital when he was eight years old, and in 1918 was awarded a full scholarship at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
 
When the Nazis occupied Denmark during World War II, Borge was playing a concert in Sweden, and managed to escape to Finland. Even though Borge did not speak a word of English upon arrival, he quickly managed to adapt his jokes to the American audience, learning English by watching movies. He took the name of Victor Borge, and, in 1941, he started on Rudy Vallee's radio show, but was hired soon after by Bing Crosby for his Kraft Music Hall program.

Most of his humor centered on his relationship with his beloved piano and the funny variations on classical music that he created and performed to the delight of his audiences.

In this video clip, Borge takes us through his hilarious satire of an opera performance.

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.) 

Hasidic Israeli Super Fiddler With Secular Roots Performs With Boundless Energy

We've been following the career of the amazing Hasidic Israeli fiddler Daniel Ahaviel ever since we discovered one of his early YouTube videos five years ago and posted it on Jewish Humor Central.

His fame and his audiences keep growing as does our amazement at his boundless energy, his synthesis of Jewish, Irish, and bluegrass music, and finding that his talent comes from British secular musical roots.

All over the world yesterday was Simchat Torah, the last day of the month of holidays that began in September with Rosh Hashanah. But in Israel, Simchat Torah ended on Monday because the holiday is only seven days long in Israel.

Not to be denied an extra day of exulting in the presence of many Torah scrolls, Israelis in Jerusalem extended the celebration in a way that they couldn't on the actual holiday, by bringing in a brass band and Ahaviel and his violin to entertain a crowd on what's called Isru Chag, a day meant to ease the transition from a religious festival to everyday life.

We're not posting the celebration here because it's too long for our Jewish Humor Central format, but here's a link to it if you want to take the time to watch for a half hour. 

We are posting below a video of Ahaviel in a performance last year at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City's Lincoln Center. We came across an article in Mishpacha magazine that details Ahaviel's journey from growing up in Northwest London.

As Rachel Ginsberg wrote in the article,

He was born in northwest London 48 years ago as Daniel Wistrich, to left-wing, idealistic, forward-thinking parents who had exchanged all vestiges of their Judaism for a commitment to a progressive England and a united Europe. His father, Ernest Wistrich — originally Wistreich, son of a well-off, assimilated family in prewar Poland — managed to get on the last train out before the Nazi invasion.

He quickly acclimated to the surrounding English culture and Anglicized his name. As an accomplished social activist, he lobbied for Britain to join the European Union and for the creation of the euro currency. Daniel’s mother is a retired academic and local Labour councillor.

“I knew nothing about Judaism except that Jews died in the Holocaust,” Daniel says. The family didn’t go to shul on Yom Kippur, and he didn’t have a bar mitzvah. “Three-quarters of my family on both sides perished in Poland, and I grew up thinking Judaism as a relevant spiritual force was dead.”

Daniel’s musical talent developed almost accidentally, and under unfortunate circumstances. His mentally disabled older brother — who passed away as a teenager — was sent to a music therapist, and little Daniel was his escort. Daniel was enchanted by the music, and the teacher encouraged his parents to develop his talents. She even predicted he would one day become a great concert violinist.

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.)

Musical Showcase: Introducing Nefesh Mountain - Blending Bluegrass Music and Jewish Spirit

In addition to introducing our readers to new comedians, from time to time we've been doing the same for new musical groups and highlighting some of their songs. 

Today we discovered the new bluegrass group called Nefesh Mountain. Founded by husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, Nefesh Mountain is pioneering this blend of Jewish Americana throughout the country, bringing their unique knowledge and passion for both Jewish and Bluegrass traditions to the fore, singing English and Hebrew songs alike. 

As a duo, Doni and Eric alternate lead and harmony vocals while switching between instruments, using the drive of the banjo, intrigue of the guitar, nuance of the mandolin, and visceral sound of the dobro.

You may recognize Doni Zasloff as Mama Doni, the role she has played in producing CD and DVD albums of children's songs. In 2012 we featured her video Mission Immatzoble as one of our Passover posts.

Nefesh Mountain conducts Shabbat and holiday services around the USA. Their first album will be released later this year.

Here is one of the songs from the album, 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.)

Remembering Cantor Seymour Rockoff and His Funny Jewish Musical Parodies

Who do you think of when people start reminiscing about funny musical parodies? Allan Sherman? Weird Al Yankovic? Sure, but growing up in a world of Jewish and liturgical music, the name that always came to mind first was Seymour Rockoff, a rabbi and cantor who passed away last week in Harrisburg, PA.

One of the creators of the series of parody record albums titled Rechnitzer Rejects, Rockoff had a knack for applying a funny twist in writing new lyrics to popular songs. 

In 2007 the Yeshiva University publication Chavrusa wrote:

Marty Davidson, who served in cantorial posts in Baltimore and Jerusalem, approached him with an idea of producing an album with humorous songs. Rabbi Rockoff appeared on the first five of Davidson’s eight volumes of Rechnitzer Rejects, the albums containing these songs.

Rabbi Rockoff ’s sense of humor and natural ability to entertain provided a different and creative outlet for him. When attending the annual conventions of the Cantorial Council of America, he would share with his colleagues some of his spoofs, taking traditional American tunes and changing the lyrics to make them more Jewish. 

Rabbi Rockoff wrote and recorded such tunes as ‘Boro Park’ (sung to ‘New York, New York’), ‘Cold Chopped Liver’ (sung to ‘Ol Man River’), ‘Searching Through the Night’ (sung to ‘Strangers in the Night’) and ‘Learning How to Layn’ (sung to ‘Singing in the Rain’).

We couldn't find a video of  Rabbi Rockoff singing his own words, but here's a video of Cantor Henry Rosenblum singing Cold Chopped Liver at a concert at Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto in 2010. The original lyrics by Rabbi Rockoff appear below.

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 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.)


Cantor Henry Rosenblum singing "Cold Chopped Liver, "Cantor Seymour Rockoff's parody of Ol' Man River

When I return to my Shabbos table 
After I spend so much time in shul 
I am so hungry that I am not able 
To keep far away from that dish so cruel 

Every week I take one taste, I spread it on a cracker like a fleishik paste 
It tastes so good I clean the plate 
A few hours later I don’t feel so great 

Oy, Cold chopped liver, that heartburn giver, 
I shouldn’t choose it but I cant refuse it 
It keeps me groaning, just keeps me groaning, oy vey 

I don’t eat taters, I skip the chicken, 
Although each shtickel is finger licken 
Just cold chopped liver what keeps me groaning oy vey 

Some matzo meal, a little chicken fat
Keeps the chopped liver from falling flat 
Salt and pepper give it ta'am and spice 
I chop a few onions and I pay the price 

I must promise that come next Shabbos 
I won't surrender to that stomach bender 
That cold chopped liver, what keeps me groaning oy vey

Adon Olam Around the World: A Special Tribute to American Independence

We've been following the trail of Adon Olam, the traditional song that ends the Shabbat morning service, as it appears in new forms in countries around the world.

After singing along with congregations in Brazil, Budapest, Israel, and throughout the USA, today we're taking you to Winter Park, an Orlando, Florida suburb to see the cantor and children of Temple Israel as they sang Adon Olam last week to the tune of America the Beautiful in tribute to our nation's observance of Independence Day on the Fourth of July.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

(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.)