Welcoming Shabbat with a New Version of Lecha Dodi Sung All Across the UK

We've posted 25 versions of Shalom Aleichem since we started Jewish Humor Central, but so far most of them have been well known traditional melodies. This week it's time for something different.

Shabbat UK, a project of Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, is a truly ground breaking initiative that seeks to promote active engagement with Shabbat throughout the UK.

At its core, Shabbat UK is about harnessing all the goodness and uniqueness of a traditional, authentic Shabbat and inviting Jews around the country to celebrate it in a way they never have before. Shabbat is a central part of what it is to be Jewish. Its uplifting and transformative qualities play a crucial role in producing a stronger sense of Jewish identity and belonging.

Chief Rabbi Mirvis commissioned the Israeli rock band Shtar to compose a brand new tune for Lecha Dodi, the liturgical poem that we sing every Friday night to welcome the Shabbat in honor of Shabbat UK, which this year falls on March 1 and 2. He then sent it to schools across the UK. This is what happened next.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Welcoming Shabbat on a Boat with the Ah Men a Capella Singers

Critically acclaimed since its formation in 2015, the five male vocalists who make up the the cappella group AhMen  has created a contemporary and distinctively original sound. Its cutting-edge arrangements seamlessly blend favorite popular Jewish and Israeli songs 

with current pop chart toppers and soul classics.

  

Either as ‘pure’ a cappella or together with instrumental accompaniment, this talented and creative close harmony group has developed a fully adaptable act. This UK-based group has performed at concerts, intimate dinner parties, weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, award and charity events, synagogue services and has made studio recordings.

They recently got on a boat somewhere near London and recorded a version of Adon Olam that you're unlikely to hear in you local synagogue tonight.

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.

Standup Comedy From the UK: Alex Edelman Performs at the Edinburgh Fringe

This year Jewish Humor Central will be expanding the geographic scope of Jewish humor that we cover and discover. So look for some routines of Jewish stand-up comics outside of the USA.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts show in the world. It takes place for three weeks every August in Scotland's capital city. The Fringe offers performances in all the arts, including theatre, dance, cabaret, and comedy.

One of the comedy performers in this year's Fringe was Alex Edelman. Here is an excerpt from Alex Edelman's stand-up show Millennial, which the comedian performed at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. Part of his routine is a description of how, as a 16-year-old Orthodox Jew, he worked for three months at a non-kosher restaurant (KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken).

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.)

Ashkenazi and Sephardi Chefs Square Off at London Gefiltefest

You may have noticed that most of our posts are related to events in the United States, but we don't want to neglect funny and Jewish happenings in the other 190 countries (no, we're not kidding) where Jewish Humor Central is read.

On May 19, our brethren in the United Kingdom (ranking 4th in our readership) hosted Gefiltefest 2013 at the Jewish Cultural Centre in London. Gefiltefest is an annual gathering of Jews interested in food (are there any who aren't?). 

One of the highlights was a cook-off matching Ashkenazi and Sephardi master chefs. Ashkenazi and Sephardi cooking go back centuries, but the two are distinctly different from one another. Here at the fourth annual Gefiltefest, cooks from both sides took  part in a competitive match-up to test their skills in food preparation and presentation. Both teams were given one hour to complete an egg and potato dish representing their culture and cooking styles. There was only one winner. Who won? Watch the video and 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.)