What’s Irish/Italian American, Orthodox Jewish, on Broadway and funny?
Written by Michael Vass
Comedy is timeless. It is as much of the human condition as breathing, it can be found in every culture and continent. I even was reading about some Ancient jokes going back to the pharaohs of Egypt and before…
“How do you get the Pharaoh to go out? But several maidens on a barge dressed in fishing nets and ask him to go fishing.”
Comedy is intrinsic to all of us. Whether you prefer Abbot and Costello’s Who’s On First, or Monty Python’s Dead Parrot Sketch, Robin Williams, or Richard Pryor, or perhaps even an Orthodox Jew.
Yes I said an Orthodox Jew.
I wasn’t aware that such a person existed either, until I read that he will be in a one-man play on Broadway in November. His man is Yisrael Campbell, the son of an Irish and an Italian parent – both of whom are very Catholic. Yisrael Campbell is obviously not your ordinary comic, nor Orthodox Jew.
Still that doesn’t stop him from being funny.
I think I have to acknowledge that I’ve stolen this book! I called the Broward County Library recently because I knew I was doing a show and I was going to talk about stealing a book, and I know Jews are very touchy about ethics; particularly other people’s ethics.
You weren’t going to sit idly by a book stealer. I called the Broward County Library and said, “I have your book. Send me 400 other books and I’ll send you your book.” That’s a Hezbollah joke.
I’ve got to be the only guy doing Hezbollah jokes! “
Of course some of his humor may not translate to those not from Israel or Jewish
“So I’m the Showmermers Vlal Schomershebat (phonetic) Conservative Convert and as long as I only cook with my cigarette smoking car-driving television-watching TV-talking non-observant room mate everything will be kosher.”
Then again there is no shortage of comedians who’s target audience is somewhat smaller than everybody. Like say Larry the Cable Guy, or Eddie Izzard (who is great). But that does not take away from their ability nor their talent to make us laugh out loud.
So if you are in New York in November, and you want to see something really different that you can share with friends that will stand out, this stand up comic just might be the ticket.
Zohan and Restless - films of a changing Israel and Zionism?
Written by Michael Vass
It’s not often that I can recall an Adam Sandler comedic movie being referred to as an important window on the state of Israel or Judaism. In fact I don’t recall ever having read that kind of comparison. Until now.
Adam Sandler’s latest film You Don’t Mess With The Zohan deals with an expert soldier who leaves Israel to come to New York City to be a hairdresser. It’s a film that leaves any real seriousness far behind. Yet it does criticize the Palestinian issue (without providing a resolution), looks at father-son relationships, and the exodus from Israel – or the yoredim as it is sometimes called.
Brian Britt looks at all these issues and the question of Israel as a post-Zionist and/or post-Judaism society. He also uses the dramatic and yet quite similar meaning of the film Restless to further draw on these issues. It’s quite the article.
It’s an interesting progression of thought that ultimately acknowledges the failure of both films to address the root of the question he sees in them. But I believe that such a question may be far more interesting for my readers. Do you agree?
Blacks Drawn to Judaism
At Congregation Shearith Israel, almost half of the people studying Judaism are blacks. At another Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody, Georgia, roughly 20 percent of the people enrolled in the introduction to Judaism classes are black. Many synagogues and Jewish community centers throughout the country are seeing this trend.
In a recent article on the issues of conversions to Judaism, the author sites general patterns of switching of religions in society, the Internet and the breaking down of racial barriers as an explanation for the nationwide trends.
Vegetarian-Based Shabbat
We were contacted by the Jewish Vegetarians of North America recently to explain a movement in which the organization is urging synagogues and Jewish institutions to support next weekend’s annual Vegetarian Shabbat.
The group stated that a shift to plant-based diets would also best apply fundamental Jewish mandates which include:
- To take care of your health
- Treat animal compassionately
- Protect the environment
- Conserve natural resources
- Help hungry people
For more information about the connection between Judaism and vegetarianism, you can visit this website for Jewish vegetarians.
Einstein Letter Sells for Over $400,000
A letter in which Einstein challenged Jews as the chosen ones sold for $404,000 at an auction in London. Einstein has mistakenly been categorized as an atheist but those who knew him best said that he would be better categorized as a “curious agnostic”.
Unlike many of his intellectual contemporaries, Einstein was most curious about the complexities of the world in relation to an explanation of a higher power. Therefore, he was blissfully arrogant in his challenges of organized religion but he remained curious about the complexity of the world. In the end, Einstein could never turn his back on the basis of god.
