I am all for the use of Jews and Jewish holidays for humorous promotional purposes. This year I attempted this with my Rosh haShanah greeting.
Sometimes I even think it’s cool when Judaism, or a particular Jew, is used for commercial purposes - as Matisyahu is in the Kenneth Cole commercial.
In both of these cases Judaism is used as a way of communicating something important - like taking life and art seriously or the ability to laugh at ourselves once in a while.
I like Rush. I respect the fact that they’ve consistently made some really good music for many years. But I think VH1’s Rush special billed as “Rush haShanah” was completely off the mark.
If I made the Rosh - Rush pun in a shiur (class) I was giving I would be accused of not only having gone to the Rabbinical School of Incredibly Bad Puns for my Smicha (Rabbinic Degree) but of having flunked out.
There’s NOTHING clever about a pun that uses two words that sound alike but have nothing to do with each other. Example of a good pun: When you dream in colour, it’s a pigment of your imagination. Pigment which sounds like figment is clever because it relates to the subject of the statement. Rush has nothing whatsoever to do with the hebrew word Rosh (meaning head).
Was there some point to this that I’m oblivious to? Some redeeming factor? If I suggested that 7-11 should have a Slurpy sale called “Slush haShanah” - would anyone actually think it was a good marketing idea? Apparently Rolling Stone Magazine whose article referred to this as an “awesomely clever pun” would. This mischaracterization was no doubt what caused Mr. Mike Fink to comment (on the afore-linked article) that “rock and roll is not the only way the Jew destroyed Western civilization”. (No, Mr. Fink, it is NOT the only way - but it IS the most fun way don’t you fink?)
I know what you’re thinking right now. You are thinking two things. 1. “Dude, you ARE missing the point - the special aired ON Rosh haShanah; the date is the connection that makes the pun work.” and 2. “Lighten up - it was just a silly marketing ploy. It’s not like a case of wife or death (an expression sometimes used to punnily define a shotgun wedding).”
OK, you’re right, I’m taking a deep breath, smiling and relaxing and assuming the “final nun” position from Aleph-Bet Yoga. I suppose it could be cool to have a Ween show on Halloween called “Hallowed Ween” or a special performance on Broadway called “Rent on Lent” but neither of those Holidays claim to be the day when the entire world; Jews Christians, Muslims, non-believers and even Zoroastrians are all standing in Judgement before The Creator - something which I suspect may not have come across to viewers of the VH1 special…
So listen Mr./Mrs. VH1 marketing person whoever you might be; Zeit mir moichel (please forgive me) but let’s leave Rosh HaShanah puns to us Rabbis shall we? Your idea lacked geometry as it was pointless. You missed the true meaning of Rosh HaShana; it was just too pasteurized. You know what? I think you should consider switching careers and maybe writing a gossip column for a newspaper - a job more befitting someone with your great sense of rumor.
The Simon Weisenthal Center has announced an alternative energy menorah, which will be sent to all 50 governors and mayors of major cities. “The menorah features a crystal design with candleholders inscribed with the laser-cut symbols for biofuel, electric car, wind power, clean coal, nuclear, natural gas, solar power and hydro power.” The reason is, says the center, if the Maccabees fought for freedom from foreign occupiers, America is now struggling for freedom from foreign oil despots.
Which tickles my funny bone more: That the Simon Weisenthal Center thinks treehugging is central to the fight to preserve the Jews? (Jews specifically, they mean, not just Jews among all other creatures that need a healthy environment.) Or that it thinks it can accomplish this with a piece of glass? Or that existing Jewish environmental advocacy groups, say COEJL, have been more or less ineffective outside the Jewish community?
Or that they think you’ll want to buy it for $162 online here?
No, no, i mean, waking up to her efforts to spread the word on The Great Schlep, in her own inimitable (depending on who you are, hillarious/offensive/a little bit of both) style. For those of you who don’t know, The Great Schlep is an effort to get young Jews to go to Florida and talk to their grandparents about voting for Obama. The Great Schlep is a little similar to Operation Bubbe of 2004, put together by our friend Mik Moore, and is another great effort of Jewish Council for Education and Research, the folks also bringing us Jewsvote a great way to reach your Jewish friends and relatives about the real deal on Barack Obama from a Jewish perspective.
Language NSFW, but definitely worth watching (especially if you think Sarah Silverman is funny) and definitely worth sending to your friends who like Obama but aren’t sure they can convince their Bubbe and Zeyde. Or your friends who like Sarah Silverman but still aren’t sure about Obama. Couldn’t hurt.
This Biblical baseball game, compiled by late religious studies scholar Hyman S. Baras, was kind of cute, thought I’d share:
(Source.)
And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men…arise and play before us” (II Samuel 2:14)
…[and] all the people rose up… (Exodus 33:8)
And Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; and Sheva was scribe… (II Samuel 20:24-25)
And they said unto Jephthah, “Come and be our [Captain]” (Judges 11:6)
…and he measured two lines… (II Samuel 8:2)
And he set the bases… (I Kings 7:39)
And they stood every man in his place round about the camp (Judges 7:21)
…behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher… (Genesis 24:45)
Ehud…the Benjamite, a man left-handed … (Judges 3:15)
…the children of Israel …said “Who shall go up for us first…?” (Judges 20:18)
…seek out a man who is a skillful player… (I Samuel 16:16)
…Judah [shall go up] first… (Judges 20:18)
[And] Judah took… (Judges 1:18)
Three times… (Exodus 23:14)
…and…it was good. (Genesis 1:10)
…and Abram went down… (Genesis 12:10)
…out at the base… (Leviticus 4:18)
And Moses…smote… (Exodus 7:20)
…and… [it] became foul… (Exodus 7:21) More »
The Israeli Palestinian Comedy Tour is out again making the rounds, and Israel's Channel 2 just finished its first season of a sitcom about Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, Avoda Aravit. Heading the list, however, in terms of both finances and audiences, is Adam Sandler's You Don't Mess with the Zohan: the first comedy about the Arab-Israeli conflict to get a major release since Monty Python's Life of Brian in 1979.
The call for more humor in this area is much appreciated. For those of you looking for a quick fix, my personal recommendation (beyond what Friedman mentioned in the ZEEK piece) would be a dose Eli Valley’s cartoons, also over with our buddies at Jewcy.
My name is Rob Kutner. I’m a writer for “The Daily Show,” as well as the creator of annual NYC Purim spiel “The Shushan Channel,” and the co-writer of a little piece of fun-with-stereotypes you may or may not have seen called “Jewno.”
But most recently, I’ve authored a book entitled APOCALYPSE HOW, a tongue-in-cheek “survival” guide that goes through topical chapters n Food, Clothing, Shelter, Social Life, Dating, Politics, Career, Recreation, and Finance — to show you how the world to come will be much better than the current one.
However, since the book’s publication, I’ve received numerous complaints from Jews (I know, can you believe it???) that the book does not sufficiently address specifically Jewish end-time issues.
So, I want to assure you that the next edition will contain an entire “Olam ha-Bagraphy,” including such critical tachliss as:
-Food — Ten low-fat, delicious, and totally blecch-friendly recipes for Levyatan (ever tried it smoked with a nice shmear?)
-Relocation — Finding a comfortable place to stay in Israel when all the world’s Jews have returned there (Hint: How do you feel about the Negev?)
-Home Makeover — Design advice for Beit HaMikdash 3 (Ex: Who makes the best dolphin skin, and where you can buy it wholesale)
-Personnel — Telling the real Mashiach from impostors (Spoiler alert: It is Schneerson after all - should have donated to the telethon!)
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BUT, I cannot release this updated version until ALL COPIES of the current run are sold out. So it’s up to you guys. Â Go towww.apocalypsehowthebook.com
and buy one now! Hint: Makes a great Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift — and much funnier than a savings bond.
I believe this is the first, and probably last time I will ever write this next phrase: DailyKos has a really funny post up that is both John McCain and Caves of Qumran themed.
In light of kos’ display of Barack Obama’s birth certificate, John McCain’s campaign has released a rare glimpse of the Republican candidate’s own birth certificate.
Thought lost for the ages, the document was found in a clay jar, in an abandoned cave, on the outskirts of Sedona, by a shepherd boy in 1947. The desert climate and the dry atmosphere in the caves kept the parchment remarkably well preserved.
Unfortunately, the language on the document is in Essene, a language which has been dead for about 1,900 years. So, much like a lot of Senator McCain’s modern-day speeches, press releases, and interviews, nobody can really comprehend what it says.
Well done OWCH. Both the Essenes and John McCain come from the desert, have strongly held eschatological beliefs, and have versions of the “straight talk express”. The big difference, of course, is that the Essenes were ascetic and avoided marriage. McCain likes marriage. In fact he was married to his first wife Carol when he went to war. She got disfigured in a terrible car accident and he soon divorced her and married a loaded beer heiress named Cindy source. I wonder what Josephus has to say about that.
An internet posting that references Middle-Eastern violence and politics draws over 110 comments, not a single one (yet) is racist / ranty / threatening / sociopathic.
Is it possible that someone out there still has a sense of humor?
I think the organized Jewish community needs another lesson from the LOLcats…
Best responses to date..
“Arracat no wants peace talks. he wants a piece of tuna instead”
“Iz kitteh a terrerrist? Oar a freedum fyter?” “depends on Ur purrspective”
“Kitteh is chairmans of teh PLO (PissedOff Lolcat Organization)”
“Yassir Arracat shuuda gambled on Camp David. Then, he mite hab had teh hole libing room, instead ov juss a fuglee sofa. Bebeh steps, kitteh, bebeh steps.”
“I can has ‘67 borders and rite ov return?” “no but U can haz sofa from 67, sayz likud cat to arracat” “I doan want teh rite to return to teh ‘67 sofa.”
I’m a little behind on my fun blog reads, due to travel and Shabbat and Pesach, but if you haven’t yet seen this conversation, it’s great.
An interview with Ann VanderMeet (bat/bar mitzvah teacher; editor of of Weird Tales, co-editor of New Weirdand Steampunk) on which imaginary or fantastical animals would be kosher.
ET - A: “…..?†EM: “It had cloven hooves.†A: “It’s a humanoid.†EM: “It looked like a pile of dung. It seemed to chew cud. Would any alien be automatically un-kosher?†A: “I guess it really depends on the alien–like a plant?†EM: “An alien that comes down to Earth.†A: “No, because they wouldn’t be considered an animal.†EM: “What if they looked just like a cow, but with a brain?†A: “Cows have brains.†EM: “Arggh!†A: “But cows don’t travel to other planets using their brains.†EM: “My point exactly!†A: “Anything intelligent is not kosher.â€
Mermaid - A: “No, for the obvious reasons.†EM: “What if you marry one? Is that kosher? Will a rabbi marry you?†A: “Kosher is a term about eating, not about sex.†EM: “I’m not talking about sex–I’m talking about marriage!†A: “If the mermaid is Jewish, the rabbi will probably marry you. But only if you’re Jewish too. But you’ll definitely have to find the right rabbi…â€
Mongolian Death Worm - A: “No, because you cannot eat anything that crawls on its belly.†EM: “Does that mean an injured kosher animal that is crawling along isn’t kosher any more?†A: “Yes, because you can’t eat an animal that’s been injured or is sick.†EM: “It’s a wonder you haven’t all starved to death.â€
The full list can be found here. There’s also a great deal of comments/discussion over at Boing Boing.
I’m in the mountains now; I’ll see if I can find a sasquatch to snack on…
A short video clip from this past weekend’s first-ever Limmud Southeast:
A little self-promotion: This is part of the “Moses in a Megachurch” speech about a Jewish journalist who spent a year immersed in Christianity. For the complete speech, please see http://myjesusyear.com/limmud2008.mov — And to pre-order your copy of the book, please visit http://myjesusyear.com.
I was going to post about the earthquakin’ queers, but Rooftopper Rav beat me to it. What I would like to point out, however, is the juxtaposition of two articles currently on the Haaretz home page:
The Simon Weisenthal Center has announced an 
