Joel H. Cohen

Joel H. Cohen

Joel H. Cohen is a New York-based humorist and satirist, who especially enjoys lampooning political figures.  Occasionally, he writes a serious column.  His “Just Kidding” satires are always identified on San Diego Jewish World to avoid possibly confusing our readers.

Two Whose Memories are Blessings: Joel Cohen, Ellen Fox Lorang

One of our beloved humor columnists, Joel Cohen, has died in New York City, his children have informed me. The news came just two days after I had attended the funeral in San Diego of Ellen Fox Lorang. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Joel H. Cohen, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Kvells Keep Ringing For Steven Skybell’s Tevye in All-Yiddish ‘Fiddler’

When he first got the part in the Yiddish “Fiddler,” Skybell had studied Yiddish but he “certainly wasn’t fluent.” And at the start, only three of the 26 members of the cast spoke Yiddish. So getting ready for the show was a mammoth task, with most of the actors learning the language phonetically from tapes. [Joel H. Cohen]

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International, Joel H. Cohen, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Guilt-Edged Good Deeds

Koufax, a Jewish kid from Brooklyn, an outstanding major-league pitcher, was slated to play a leading role. Specifically, he was scheduled to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Minnesota Twins in the first game of the best-of-seven series for the World Championship.  But due to an accident (?) of fate or faith (religious observance), that was also the day on which Yom Kippur fell that year.  [Joel H. Cohen]

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Jewish History, Joel H. Cohen, Sports & Competitions, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Jewish Husbands: How Do You Rate as a Mate?

My niece, Ellen Goodman, has an intriguing theory about the components of marital bliss.  She contends, “Everyone has an internal number (1-10) that reflects his or her assertive/passive nature. Basically, it’s how that person handles the things, major and minor, that come up in life — it can be paying your bills, deciding what to watch on television, choosing what and when to eat, shopping, house repairs, etc. A person who has a “take-charge” attitude and wants everything done her or his  way- right now! — would have a high number (8–10). [Joel H. Cohen]

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Joel H. Cohen, Lifestyles, Trivia, Humor & Satire

A Potpourri of Jewish Superstitions

A few weeks back, San Diego Jewish World ran an essay about major Jewish superstitions, such as protective words and ways to avert the Evil Eye — raiterh bendel (red band), sneezing to confirm the truth of what was just said, and “pooh,pooh, pooh.” Readers were invited to submit their favorite Jewish superstitions, and several follow, ken ayin ha’ra.  [Joel H. Cohen]

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

The Red Band of Courage (or Cowardice) and Other Jewish Superstitions

By Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — Pooh, Pooh, Pooh, I’m not superstitious, ken ayin ha’ra (no evil eye). But why take chances? So, of course, I observe the secular warnings: Avoid black cats and don’t walk under ladders — and, honoring the Druids, I knock on wood so as not to invoke bad karma

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire