Humorist Mark D. Zimmerman writes a weekly Jewish trivia column, offering multiple choice answers to challenge and enlighten the reader. Click on the link to see if you’ve guessed correctly.
Zimmerman is the author of a series of Jewish trivia books, under the title RASHI, RAMBAM and RAMALAMADINGDONG: A Quizbook of Jewish Trivia Facts & Fun. The quizzes are designed to challenge, educate, entertain, and make you laugh. Are Tzitzit disease-carrying Mediterranean flies? Are Israeli cherries harvested during the Jubilee year? Is Gefilte Phish one of Ben and Jerry’s best-selling Israeli ice cream flavors?
Raised on the Three Stooges, The Addams Family, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and most importantly, the Marx Brothers, Zimmerman combines his comedic sensibilities with his background in Jewish Communal Service and synagogue and day school volunteer work to create Jewish trivia guaranteed to stimulate and amuse.
His books, available on Amazon, include:
He echoed another antisemitic trope in invoking the name of Holocaust survivor George Soros, the billionaire supporter of liberal causes who many on the far right hold up as a Jewish puppet master trying to destroy the “Christian social order.” How did Vance invoke George Soros’s name in this way? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: J.D. Vance Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
He was born Milton Teagle Simmons to a Jewish mother, Shirley May “Sadie” Satin Simmons, but he was not raised Jewish, and he eventually became what he called an “extreme Catholic.” Why did Shirley’s Russian Jewish family disown her? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Richard Simmons, z”l Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
British soldiers and civil servants established three competing golf organizations at the time which offered tournaments and frequently held competitions with each other. One was named the Jerusalem Golf Club and the second was the Palestine Police Golf Society. What was the name of the third group? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Golf Read More »
Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Friedman also wrote numerous detective novels, ran unsuccessfully for office in Texas, and wrote a column in the Texas Monthly magazine for many years. What was once written about Kinky Friedman in the Texas Monthly? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Kinky Friedman, z”l Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
What was the context of a headline in a newspaper that read in part “Shylocks of Oklahoma City” ? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Oklahoma Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
While Mays did not pay Shemano for his services, what is one way that Mays returned the favor for Shemano’s work? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Willie Mays Read More »
California, Mark D. Zimmerman, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
The current Jewish population is approximately 25,000, and the city features the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, which opened in 2008. What is another bit of Milwaukee Jewish history? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Milwaukee Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
A Jewish man named Hernando Alonso holds what distinction in Mexico? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Mexico Read More »
International, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors
What did Pope Francis do that led Rabbi Noam Marans, Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations at the American Jewish Committee, to comment that the Pope “gets it in his kishkes”? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Pope Francis Read More »
International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
He stated, “Greed is all right, by the way. I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself.” What else is true about Ivan Boesky? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Ivan Boesky Read More »
Business & Finance, Mark D. Zimmerman, Shanda File, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
While Goldwyn did not embrace Judaism, he did ultimately become president of the United Jewish Welfare Fund and was a strong supporter of Israel. Among the honors he received were the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. What else is true of Samuel Goldwyn? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Samuel Goldwyn Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
There has been a parallel song contest in Europe for more than 20 years where young Jewish students compete, singing pop songs adapted to Jewish content, or in some cases original Jewish songs. The competition was first created by Rotem Abecassis, an Israeli shaliach in Sweden, to bring together chapters of World Bnei Akiva (a religious Zionist youth movement). This year’s contest took place in Hanover, Germany in March, and was won by Halev Stuttgart Youth Center. What is the name of this annual Jewish song competition? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Question: Eurovision Read More »
International, Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
President Woodrow Wilson, who was in office during the time of the Suffragist movement, was not initially a supporter of the cause. What did President Wilson say after meeting with Maud Nathan about the Suffragist issue? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Suffragists Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Recently, a Rabbi facing a shortage of living water devised what plan to assure sufficient water for the local mikveh? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Question: Mikveh Waters Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire