Welcoming Shabbat with Yedid Nefesh by Ein Lanu Zman of Agudas Achim Congregation of Northern Virginia

Ein Lanu Zman (We Have No Time) is the name of the house band of Agudas Achim Congregation of Northern Virginia. Together with Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey they play and sing a wide variety of songs as part of Shabbat and Holiday services.

Led by Rabbi Steven Rein and based in Alexandria, Virginia, the congregation describes itself as a community built on covenantal relationships, generating the connections that bind one individual to another and one generation to the next.

Today we're welcoming Shabbat with Hazzan Dienstfrey and the band easing into the Kabbalat Shabbat service with a version of Yedid Nefesh by Josh Warshawsky.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: 72 Years Ago, Jerry Lewis Sings "Never Been Kissed"

Jerry Lewis' gift of comedy lasted about 85 years, from his stage debut at age 5 in the Catskills until his death in 2017. Over the years we have posted video clips of some of his best shtick. 

On this Throwback Thursday, we're sharing a segment of the Martin and Lewis show from 1953, when Jerry was featured in a production of the song Never Been Kissed.

Enjoy!

Yiddish Word of the Day: Common Yiddish Exclamations

In 2020 the Forverts launched a daily series of short informal video clips called Yiddish Word of the Day.

The series, written and narrated by Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter, aims to give non-Yiddish speakers an introduction to familiar Yiddish words and phrases and how they might be used in everyday situations. 

Schaechter, who was appointed the new editor of the Forverts in 2016, is the first woman to helm the paper in its 119-year history, its first editor to have been born in the United States, and likely its first editor who is shomeret Shabbat.

We posted the first of this series in May 2020. Now that the Forverts is continuing the series, we'll continue sharing some of the words and phrases as a regular feature of Jewish Humor Central.

Today we get to learn some common Yiddish exclamations, some consisting of only one syllable.

Enjoy!

 

 

Jewish Food Showcase: Americans Try Israeli Snacks

A group of American friends sample Israeli snacks and drinks, rating each item on a scale of 1-10. 

They discuss the flavors and textures of each item, with some favorites being instant coffee, a smoky-flavored pasta snack, and a peanut butter-flavored puffed snack. 

The friends disagree on their ratings, with some finding items to be too sweet or salty while others enjoy the unique flavors. 

If you've been to Israel you probably have tasted all of these:

Elite Instant Coffee

Bissli 

Bamba 

Coke Zero  

Osem Croutons  

Wafers  

Halva

Enjoy!

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Married Life in 1965

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines by iconic comedians on Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.

Alan King (1927-2004) was synonymous with classic Jewish comedy during his career which lasted about 50 years starting in 1955. He had roles in many movies, but we remember him most vividly for his stand-up comedy routines in the Catskills and on television.

King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. He realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians such as Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby.

In one of his earliest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965, with his wife and two sons in the audience, King talks about married life.

Enjoy! 

Welcoming Shabbat with L'cha Dodi by Cantor Abbie Strauss

Cantor Abbie Strauss is a renowned composer, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist, with her works being enjoyed worldwide. 

Abbie founded the music school, The Institute of Jewish Rock and Judaism: Inside Out, driven by her desire to bring all people together as one in love and joy through music. She is a proud member of the Grammy's Recording Academy and an advocate for the arts.

Abbie is a Cantorial Soloist at Temple Judea, a Reform congregation in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where her husband, Feivel Strauss is a rabbi.

In today's video, she sings a lively version of L'cha Dodi.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom! 

Is Superman Jewish? His Creators Were

Before he became the world’s greatest superhero, Superman was a villainous, bald telepath bent on world domination.

But his transformation into the iconic protector of justice was shaped by two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland, whose lives of poverty and prejudice gave birth to the ultimate immigrant success story.

Superman's roots, like those of his creators, are a story of struggle, resilience, and the power of reinvention.

The story of how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster used their imagination to create Superman. His origin story, and theirs, is told on the Unpacked website.

Enjoy!

Israeli Comedy Showcase: Shahar Hason Standup Comedy Mocks Eurovision Song Choices

Shahar Hasson is one of the leading stand-up comedians in Israel, appearing on Israeli stages for over 25 years, He is a graduate of Yoram Levinstein's acting school. 

Shahar is an entertainer who paved his way through the best entertainment programs in Israel: Eretz Nehederet, Zahirut TV, TV at its best, Laughter from Work, Limited Edition, Fun Night, Express Hearts and more.

In this performance before a live audience, Shahar takes a deep dive into the  Eurovision song contest, mocking some of the choices by Estonia and Italy and praising the hopeful Israeli entry, "New Day Will Rise" as performed by Yuval Raphael.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "The Psychic Daughter"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today Mickey Greenblatt is back with another good one.

Marshal (Mickey) Greenblatt received degrees from Columbia (BA and BS in Flight Sciences), a DC from Von Karman Institute (1963) and his PhD from Princeton in Aerospace Sciences. He worked as a researcher for NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory. 

With four other scientists, he founded Fusion Systems Corporation, which invented microwave-powered UV lamps for drying coatings. He founded and served on the boards of technology companies and is active in volunteer work. He served on the executive committee of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington for many years.

Mickey also loves Jewish jokes and sent us this one to share with you. Here's the setup:  The father tucked in his 3-year-old daughter, told her a story, and then it was time for her prayers. She said "God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, God bless grandma and goodbye grandpa." And then...

Enjoy! 

Welcoming Shabbat with L'cha Dodi by Rick Recht at United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis

Rick Recht is one of the top touring musicians in Jewish music playing over 150 dates each year in the US and abroad.

Rick has revolutionized and elevated the genre of Jewish rock music as a powerful and effective tool for developing Jewish pride and identity in youth and adults across the US. 

Rick is the national celebrity spokesman for the PJ Library and is the Executive Director of Songleader Boot Camp – a national songleader training immersion program held in various cities around the U.S.

Rick and his band have played at literally hundreds of URJ, Ramah, JCC and private camps around the country.  Rick has been featured in concert and as scholar in residence at the NFTY, BBYO, and USY International conventions, the URJ Biennial, the American Conference of Cantors, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and Jewish communities across the US.   Rick has 13 top selling Jewish albums including his most recent release, Halleluyah.

Let's welcome this Shabbat with Rick singing L'cha Dodi at A Friday night service at United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: The Barry Sisters Sing "Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard" in1965

For almost half a century, from the 1930s to 1976, The Barry Sisters, Claire and Merna, were the voice of Jewish jazz in recordings, nightclub acts, and television appearances on The Jack Paar Show, The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show.

Born in the Bronx to Yiddish speaking immigrants from Kiev, Clara and Minnie Bagelman started out in show business using their real names as The Bagelman Sisters, but after awhile, Clara became Claire, Minnie became Merna, and Bagelman became Barry. They performed songs in nine languages.

Looking glamorous and sparing no expense for their orchestrations, they sang to a full house at the Concord and other Catskills resorts.

In this Throwback Thursday special, Claire and Merna perform "Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard", on The Ed Sullivan Show. The song was written by Jule Styne and Bob Hilliard. It was featured in the 1954 movie Living It Up.

Enjoy!

 

  #Throwback Thursday        #TBT

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: Your Own Private Fire Hydrant - A Candid Camera Classic from 2000

Candid Camera was an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as The Candid Microphone on June 28, 1947. 

After a series of theatrical film shorts, also titled Candid Microphone, Funt's concept came to television on August 10, 1948, and continued into the 1970s. 

The show involved concealing cameras filming ordinary people being confronted with unusual situations, sometimes involving trick props, such as a desk with drawers that pop open when one is closed or a car with a hidden extra gas tank. When the joke was revealed, victims would be told the show's catchphrase, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera."

Peter Funt joined the show professionally in 1987 when he became a co-host with his father. During this time the show was being broadcast on the CBS television network. In 1993, Allen Funt had a serious stroke, from which he never fully recovered. This required Peter to host the show full-time. 

The show went through a few revivals. During his time on the show Peter was a producer, host and acted on the show. He also produced and hosted over 200 episodes.

Twenty-five years ago the Candid Camera crew posed as workers who were told to install a fire hydrant in the middle of homeowners' front lawns. Let's watch their reactions to the situation and when they were told they're on Candid Camera.

Enjoy!  

Hava Nagila Around the World: Ukrainian Band Kommuna Lux Performs Rousing Version of Hava Nagila

One of the joys of posting videos on Jewish Humor Central is discovering new versions of traditional Jewish and Hebrew songs as they are performed around the world, often in unexpected places.

Since we started Jewish Humor Central in 2009 we have posted 129 different versions of Hava Nagila. The song has shown up in many countries, including some unexpected ones (Scroll down the left column on this page and click on Hava Nagila in the Keywords list and you'll see what we mean.)

Today we're posting a version of Hava Nagila that was performed by the Ukrainian band Kommuna Lux.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "Job Interview"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. This week we're posting another joke from Dr. Jay Orlikoff, a retired dentist from Centereach, New York, a community on Long Island in Suffolk County.

After a distinguished and meritorious dental career, he is shifting his focus to telling and posting jokes on YouTube. We were fortunate to find some of his jokes and we're sharing one of the family-friendly ones with you today. 

Here's the setup: An employer puts an ad in the paper. He's looking for someone who can type, can operate a computer, and is also bilingual. And then...

Enjoy!

Long Story Short - A New Animated Jewish Family Dramedy is Now Available on Netflix

Netflix has just released a new very Jewish 10-episode animated comedy drama created by Bojack Horseman creator Raphael Bob Waksberg. We think it's worth watching the 25 minute episodes.

As Mira Fox, PJ Grisar, Olivia Haynie and Nora Berman wrote in The Forward, 

The Schwooper family, the central figures in the new animated Netflix series Long Story Short, are diverse and unique — religious and atheist, gay and straight, farmers and businesswomen. Simultaneously, they are basically like every Jewish family you’ve ever met. 

Naomi (Lisa Edelstein), the family’s domineering matriarch, is constantly nagging her kids to do better — her youngest son Yoshi (Max Greenfield) should be more professional; Shira (Abbi Jacobson), the middle child, should wear more dresses; her oldest, Avi (Ben Feldman) should be more observant. Her kids are constantly rolling their eyes and responding with sarcastic jabs. You’ve certainly seen this family. Maybe you’ve lived it.

Here's the official trailer. Enjoy! 

Welcoming Shabbat with Yismechu by Madeleine LeBeau of Rodef Shalom Congregation in Virginia

Madeleine LeBeau is a cantorial student at the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Her love of Jewish music and passion for the Jewish community took root in her home congregation, Temple Rodef Shalom in Northern Virginia. 

From age four through her graduation from high school, Madeleine took every opportunity to be engaged with Jewish life, from singing in multiple choirs to performing in Purim Shpiels to taking on leadership opportunities in her synagogue community. Through these experiences, Madeleine began to appreciate how building community – a true sense of connection and belonging – is essential to sustaining Judaism. 

In this video, Madeleine leads the congregation in singing Yismechu.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Israeli Comedy Showcase: Yohay Sponder Spars With His Audience at Funny Monday Comedy Club

Social media sensation Yohay Sponder has gone viral with his charming and unapologetic comments on Jews in general, Israeli Jews specifically, and overall audience interaction on topics ranging from political correctness (or not), Muslims, women, terrorists, gays, and the Holocaust — many things people are feeling, but stand back from expressing.

Since 2016, Sponder has been producing “Funny Monday,” an Israeli standup comedy show in English that, among other things, touches upon current events from an Israeli-Jewish point of view.

In this video, Sponder engages in banter with non-Jewish members of his Funny Monday audience from Panama and China.

Enjoy!

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: High Rise Delivery - A Candid Camera Classic

Candid Camera was an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as The Candid Microphone on June 28, 1947. 

After a series of theatrical film shorts, also titled Candid Microphone, Funt's concept came to television on August 10, 1948, and continued into the 1970s. 

The show involved concealing cameras filming ordinary people being confronted with unusual situations, sometimes involving trick props, such as a desk with drawers that pop open when one is closed or a car with a hidden extra gas tank. When the joke was revealed, victims would be told the show's catchphrase, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera."

Peter Funt joined the show professionally in 1987 when he became a co-host with his father. During this time the show was being broadcast on the CBS television network. In 1993, Allen Funt had a serious stroke, from which he never fully recovered. This required Peter to host the show full-time. 

The show went through a few revivals. During his time on the show Peter was a producer, host and acted on the show. He also produced and hosted over 200 episodes.

In this episode the Candid Camera crew raised a house 10 feet off the ground and waited while a succession of delivery people became frustrated in their attempts to deliver pizza, a taxi, flowers, Chinese food, and a singing telegram.

Enjoy!  

Comedy Showcase: Actor/Comedian Paul Reiser on Lying About Our Age

Paul Reiser is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He comes from a Romanian Jewish family and attended the East Side Hebrew Institute, a Jewish Day School which merged with the Park East Synagogue in the early 1980s to become the Park East Day School.

He played the roles of Michael Taylor in the 1980s sitcom My Two Dads, Paul Buchman in the NBC sitcom Mad About You, Modell in the 1982 film Diner, and Detective Jeffrey Friedman in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. He has gained recognition for his roles as Jim Neiman in the 2014 film Whiplash and Dr. Sam Owens in the Netflix series Stranger Things. 

Reiser is ranked 77th on Comedy Central's 2004 list of the "100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time". The name of his production company, Nuance Productions, is inspired by one of his lines in the film Diner, where his character explains his discomfort with the word "nuance".  

In this excerpt from his first standup special in over 30 years, Reiser talks about the consequences of lying about our age as we get older.

Enjoy!

A Joke to Start the Week - "The Little Girl's Dog"

It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today Mickey Greenblatt is back with another good one.

Marshal (Mickey) Greenblatt received degrees from Columbia (BA and BS in Flight Sciences), a DC from Von Karman Institute (1963) and his PhD from Princeton in Aerospace Sciences. He worked as a researcher for NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory. 

With four other scientists, he founded Fusion Systems Corporation, which invented microwave-powered UV lamps for drying coatings. He founded and served on the boards of technology companies and is active in volunteer work. He served on the executive committee of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington for many years.

Mickey also loves Jewish jokes and sent us this one to share with you. Here's the setup: Sol and Sophie are both 62 years old. They're celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a very romantic restaurant. It's another Monday and time for another Joke to Start the Week. Today Mickey Greenblatt is back with another good one.

Marshal (Mickey) Greenblatt received degrees from Columbia (BA and BS in Flight Sciences), a DC from Von Karman Institute (1963) and his PhD from Princeton in Aerospace Sciences. He worked as a researcher for NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory. 

With four other scientists, he founded Fusion Systems Corporation, which invented microwave-powered UV lamps for drying coatings. He founded and served on the boards of technology companies and is active in volunteer work. He served on the executive committee of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington for many years.

Mickey also loves Jewish jokes and sent us this one. Here's the setup: A man was walking through a park in Paris and he saw a little girl playing with her dog, a Rottweiler. All of a sudden the dog attacked the girl and started to bite her. And then...

Enjoy!