Jewish Humor Central is a daily publication to start your day with news of the Jewish world that's likely to produce a knowing smile and some Yiddishe nachas. It's also a collection of sources of Jewish humor--anything that brings a grin, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, or just a warm feeling to readers.
Our posts include jokes, satire, books, music, films, videos, food, Unbelievable But True, and In the News. Some are new, and some are classics. We post every morning, Sunday through Friday. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label Central Synagogue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Central Synagogue. Show all posts
Cantor Daniel Mutlu was called to serve as Senior Cantor of Central Synagogue in 2017. Cantor Mutlu is a first-generation American born to Turkish Jewish parents.
Raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim where he forged a strong Jewish identity and a broad religious perspective.
Cantor Mutlu proudly represented Central Synagogue at the 2019 URJ Biennial in Chicago where he led Friday evening Shabbat services for nearly 5,000 worshippers.
Today we join Cantor Mutlu in welcoming another Shabbat with Oseh Shalom.
Beth Reinstein is a Cantorial Intern at New York City's Central Synagogue with a
mission to craft community through music. Born and raised in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, Beth’s first introduction to music came through joining
Temple Beth Emeth’s youth choir. It was there that
she discovered and experienced how music can bring a community together.
Through Temple Beth Emeth’s music program, Beth fostered a
love and passion for music that blossomed into her work.
While pursuing her secular music career,
Beth began to serve the greater Chicago area as a Cantorial soloist and
song leader. Beth has served as a Cantorial soloist and song leader at
Beth Emet the Free Synagogue, Temple
Sholom, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, and several other Chicago
communities. She also performs with Jewish Rock Radio’s group “Chicago
Sings” and had the opportunity to debut her own liturgical compositions
at URJ’s Biennial in 2019. It was through her work as a Cantorial
soloist that Beth realized her heart lay in Jewish music, and it was time to pursue the Cantorate.
In this video, Beth sings L'Cha Dodi, a traditional part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.
Beth Reinstein is a Cantorial Intern at New York City's Central Synagogue with a
mission to craft community through music. Born and raised in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, Beth’s first introduction to music came through joining
Temple Beth Emeth’s youth choir. It was there that
she discovered and experienced how music can bring a community
together. Through Temple Beth Emeth’s music program, Beth fostered a
love and passion for music that blossomed into her work.
While pursuing her secular music career,
Beth began to serve the greater Chicago area as a Cantorial soloist and
song leader. Beth has served as a Cantorial soloist and song leader at
Beth Emet the Free Synagogue, Temple
Sholom, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, and several other Chicago
communities. She also performs with Jewish Rock Radio’s group “Chicago
Sings” and had the opportunity to debut her own liturgical compositions
at URJ’s Biennial in 2019. It was through her work as a Cantorial
soloist that Beth realized her heart lay in Jewish music, and it was time to pursue the Cantorate.
In this video, Beth sings V'Shamru, a traditional part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.
Shabbat shalom!
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Tonight we welcome Shabbat with an energetic version of Lecha Dodi by the clergy of New York City's Central Synagogue.
The congregation began on Manhattan’s Lower East Side when its parent
congregations Ahawath Chesed and Shaar Hashomayim were founded in 1846
and 1839, respectively, by German-speaking immigrants who hailed
predominantly from the Czechoslovak area of Europe. By 1872, the
membership of Ahawath Chesed had prospered and grown as the city’s
population shifted uptown. When land became available at 55th Street and
Lexington Avenue, the location was well suited to them.
With amazing courage and vision, the 140 families of Ahawath Chesed
commissioned Henry Fernbach, a prominent New York Jewish architect, to
design its synagogue to seat more than 1,400 persons. At its dedication
in 1872, Rabbi Adolph Heubsch described the building as “a house of
worship in evidence of the high degree of development only possible
under a condition of freedom.”
In 1898, Ahawath Chesed agreed to merge with Shaar Hashomayim to
become Ahawath Chesed Shaar Hashomayim. In 1918, the congregation
renamed itself Central Synagogue.
Central Synagogue was designated a New York City Landmark in 1966 and
a National Historic Landmark in 1975. It is the largest Reform synagogue in continuous use in New York City and one of the leading
Reform congregations in the country.
Currently, Central Synagogue’s thriving community comprises 2,600 member families.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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Tonight Jews all over
the world will sit down for the first of two seders and retell the
story of the Exodus from Egypt about 3400 years ago. In Israel there
will be one seder.
This year the first day of Passover coincides with Shabbat, so instead of our weekly posting of a Shabbat melody, we are posting a medley of Pesach songs from the Haggadah.
Last year Cantor Azi Schwartz of the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City joined with two of his children to sing a medley of the most popular seder songs, including Ma Nishtana, V'Hi She'amda, and Dayenu.
Tomorrow and Sunday we will be celebrating Pesach with our family at home and in the synagogue, so there will be no Jewish Humor Central posting until Monday.
If you will be unable to attend Passover services this year, many congregations will be conducting services on Zoom and on TV. The Jewish Broadcasting Service will feature Orthodox services from The Hampton Synagogue and Reform services from the Central Synagogue. The Conservative Park Avenue Synagogue will be live streaming its Passover services on their website.
Shabbat shalom and Chag Pesach kasher v'sameach!
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As
we welcome the last Shabbat before Passover, we're interrupting our
series of Pesach videos to make room for a new version of Shalom
Aleichem, sung by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Cantor Julia Cadrain of New
York City's Central Synagogue.
This year in the Diaspora we are experiencing a three-day holiday weekend with Passover and its two sedarim coming right after Shabbat. We'll be with our family attending the sedarim Saturday night and Sunday night and remote services on Sunday and Monday. Jewish Humor Central will be back on Tuesday with more Passover videos.
Wishing you and your families a Chag Kasher v'Sameach!
Enjoy!
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It's 2021 and we wish
a Happy New Year to all of our readers and viewers. It's also erev
Shabbat and it's time to welcome another Shabbat with our 64th version
of Adon Olam, the hymn that ends the Shacharit service.
To see all 64 versions scroll down the left column to Keywords and click on Adon Olam.
Today we're sharing a version by the cantors of New York City's Central Synagogue.
Senior Cantor Daniel Mutlu is a first-generation American born to Turkish
Jewish parents. Raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu
attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim where he forged a strong
Jewish identity and a broad religious perspective.
Student Cantor Jenna McMillan is a fourth-year cantorial student from Wixom, Michigan.
She graduated from University of Michigan with a bachelors in Judaic
Studies and Anthropology. While at U of M, she worked at her home
congregation, Temple Israel of West Bloomfield, lending her voice to
their Kabbalat Shabbat and Shacharit services.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
A
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This erev Shabbat we're sharing a version of Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat, from the Kabbalat Shabbat liturgy. It was sung at New York City's Central Synagogue, where very Friday evening, more than 500 people attend Shabbat worship
in the breathtaking Main Sanctuary (a National Landmark) and more than
1,000 virtual visitors join via live streaming.
It's sung by Cantor Julia Cadrain, who joined the Central Synagogue's clergy team in 2012, after being
ordained by HUC-JIR’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. She loves
serving the congregation in numerous and varied capacities. Some
highlights include co-producing a record of music from Central’s Friday
night service called Sounds of Shabbat, overseeing Central’s adult bnei
mitzvah program, and conducting the teen choir.
This version of Mizmor Shir is based on Makom Bina, a nigun composed by Deborah Sacks Mintz. In addition to composing new Jewish music,
Deborah can be found regularly performing and recording with a myriad
of musicians and ensembles. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, Deborah is
pursuing rabbinical ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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Now You Can Book Engaging Multimedia Programs for 2026 and 2027 in Person and Via ZOOM
Now is the time to book our Jewish humor programs and lectures for your 2026 and 2027 events in person and via ZOOM anywhere in the world. Book any of our 26 popular programs including "The Great Jewish Comedians", “Israel is a Funny Country”, and "Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places." Click above for details and videos. To book a program with Al, go to www.jewishhumorlive.com
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Just Published: The Kustanowitz Kronikle - 35 Years of Purim Parody
Every Purim for the past 35 years we have published a Purim parody edition of The Kustanowitz Kronikle, covering virtually every aspect of Jewish life, and including parodies of hundreds of popular movies. This year we decided to retire the series and capture all the fun in a book that's just been published and is available at Amazon.com. It has every Purim issue of The Kustanowitz Kronikle from 1988 through 2022 in a full-color, full-size paperback book with hilarious headline stories and parody movie picks. Here are a few examples: TRUMP, NETANYAHU SWAP ROLES, COUNTRIES; NEW TALMUD VOLUME "VOTIN" FOUND IN IRAQ; JOINS "FRESSIN", "NAPPIN", TANTZEN","PATCHEN"; "JUDAICARE" PROGRAM PLANNED TO ENSURE THAT ALL JEWS HAVE SYNAGOGUE MEMBERSHIP; RABBIS CREATE TALMUD AMERICANI; NEW LAWS EXTEND HALACHA TO THANKSGIVING AND JULY 4; JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE UNITE TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING; FOCUS ON REDUCING HOT AIR; RABBIS TO REQUIRE SHECHITA FOR MANY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Jewish Humor Central Staff
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief:
Al Kustanowitz Food and Wine Editor:
Aviva Weinberg Israel Food and Wine Consultant Penina Kustanowitz Reporter and Photographer:
Meyer Berkowitz Reporter Phyllis Flancbaum
"Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places" is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions
This book presents 150 anecdotes and associated video clips that reveal the myriad ways that Jewish culture, religion, humor, music, song, and dance have found expression in parts of the world that, at first glance, might not seem supportive of Jewish Life. It includes 50 videos of Hava Nagila being performed from Texas to Thailand, from India to Iran, and from Buenos Aires to British Columbia. Also highlighted are 34 international versions of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Adon Olam, Abanibi, and Tumbalalaika. Whether you’re reading the print version and typing in the video URLs or reading the e-book version and clicking on the links, you’ll have access to 150 video clips totaling more than 10 hours of video. Enjoy!
"Israel is a Funny Country" is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions
This book explores the multifaceted nature of humor in Israel, some of which is intentional and some of which is unintentional. Either way, the quirks of Israeli life contribute to making that life interesting and fulfilling. In the pages of this volume, we take a look at humorous slices of Israeli life, Israeli comedy, satire and parody, funny TV commercials, unusual stories about food, surprising rabbinic bans on daily activities, simchas as they can only be celebrated in Israel, and endearing aspects of Israeli culture. There are more than 120 anecdotes and links to video clips totaling more than six hours of video. We hope that these anecdotes and video clips give you a new and different insight into life in Israel, and encourage you to join in the fun by planning a visit to the land flowing with milk and honey.
Now Open: The Jewish Humor Central Gift Shop
Jewish Humor Central logo merchandise is now available. Click on the image above to see the complete collection -- More than 100 items from tote bags, baseball caps, mugs, aprons, drinkware, T-shirts and sweatshirts, to pajamas and underwear.
The Best of Jewish Humor Central - Now Available in eBook and Paperback at Amazon.com
The Best of Jewish Humor Central - More than 400 video clips, including music and comedy videos for all the Jewish holidays. View them on Your PC, Mac, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, iTouch, Android Tablet and Smartphone. Click on the image above to peek inside and download a free sample. And now, a paperback edition for anyone who prefers a traditional book and doesn't mind typing the URLs instead of clicking on them.
About the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
A long-term devotee of Jewish humor, Al Kustanowitz has been collecting and sharing it even before there was an internet. In 2009, after a 36-year career at IBM managing new technology projects, he founded Jewish Humor Central (jewishhumorcentral.com. Through the blog he brings a daily dose of fun and positive energy to readers who would otherwise start the day reading news that is often drab, dreary, and depressing (subscribing is free). He has published 12 books on humor based on his more than 4,000 blog postings, each of which includes a video clip and his commentary.
He has presented more than 100 programs in South Florida and the Northeast on topics that include the great comedians and entertainers of the 20th century, funniest moments in film and television, flash mobs around the world, and composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the City University of New York and taught computer science courses at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Association of Yiddish Clubs.
You can contact Al via email at akustan@gmail.com.
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