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:
By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Roseanne Barr’s television show Roseanne was canceled last week following a racist tweet which Roseanne posted about Valerie Jarrett, a former aide to President Barack Obama. Roseanne Barr grew up in Salt Lake City, where her family was a part of the very small Jewish community. Though there was a lot […]
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Israeli singer Netta won this year’s Eurovision contest singing the song Toy. Though the song was primarily written by Israeli composer Doron Medalie, Netta added some lyrics including a Pokémon reference (according to Medalie, “that’s more her generation than mine”). Netta has spoken about Pokémon characters and what they
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — One of the traditions of Shavuot is the all night Torah study session known as the Tikkun Leil Shavuot, meaning Rectification (or Repair) for Shavuot Night. What are the roots of this custom? A. The practice of the Tikkun Leil Shavuot was put forth by Rabbi Isaac Luria
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Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Hawaii is suffering from the destruction wreaked by the eruption of the Kilauea volcano. Israel has its own volcano, Mount Bental, which last erupted about 50,000 years ago. The volcano is now a tourist site with spectacular views of the Hula Valley, Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights,
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Actor Verne Troyer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies, died last week. In 2011, he visited Israel. Besides visiting the Western Wall, what else did Troyer do in Israel? A. Troyer, a Catholic, was in Israel to speak at the Youth Summit for Peace, sponsored by
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Actress Natalie Portman is in the headlines, having decided to forgo her receipt of the Israeli Genesis Prize, often referred to as the Jewish Nobel Prize. Portman said that she did not want her presence to imply approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to speak at
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Former FBI Director James Comey has been in the headlines almost constantly since the 2016 presidential campaign. President Donald Trump just tweeted that “Unbelievably, James Comey states that Polls, where Crooked Hillary was leading, were a factor in the handling (stupidly) of the Clinton Email probe. In other
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USABy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Mark Zuckerberg is in the news as stories emerge about the scandal in which Cambridge Analytica obtained data for political use from as many as 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge or authorization. When Mark Zuckerberg delivered the commencement address at the 2017 Harvard University graduation, what
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Ashkenazic Jews around the world traditionally serve gefilte fish at their seders. Gefilte fish is usually made by grinding fish such as carp, whitefish or pike, forming patties with matzah meal, eggs and onions, and poaching it. Which of the following are true gefilte fish stories? A. Donald
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — In RASHI, RAMBAM and HAGGADAH-LAMADINGDONG: A Quiz Haggadah of Jewish Trivia Facts & Fun, there is a question about unusual Haggadot that have been published in recent years, including Ina Gada Haggadah, Haggadah for Jews & Buddhists, and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Haggadah. Since the publication of that question,
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Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Jews have a long history in Ireland, with historical references as far back as the eleventh century. Today there are approximately 2500 Jews living in Ireland, a community which included such prominent members as Immanuel Jakobovits, former chief rabbi of Ireland and the first rabbi to sit in
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, is in the news lately regarding a payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, ostensibly to ensure her silence regarding an alleged affair with the president. Cohen has had a long-standing personal and professional relationship with Trump, previously serving as
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Humor columnist Mark D. Zimmerman, who authors the Jewish Trivia Quiz that normally appears weekly on San Diego Jewish World, is offering a free, humorous Haggadah supplement for readers to download on their electronic devices, and then print out if desired. Titled Rashi, Rambam and Haggadah-Lamadingdong, this Hagaddah
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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Mark D. ZimmermanBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York –Last week, Congress passed and President Trump signed a major tax reform bill, over the objection of Democrats who say that the bill will primarily benefit the wealthy. Many in the Jewish community weighed in on various aspects of the tax plan. Which of the following comments regarding the
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire