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:
She has written many food-related books, including The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World and Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir. What is a Jewish connection in Padma Lakshmi’s life? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Padma Lakshmi Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey won reelection yesterday against opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan has served as prime minister, and then president of Turkey for two decades. He had been seen as a moderate ruler who promoted religious freedoms. But in recent years he has moved to the right, including
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Turkey Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Lag B’Omer was celebrated earlier this month in Jewish communities around the world. Many synagogues hosted picnics and bonfires to mark the joyous holiday that falls on the 33rd day of the otherwise mournful 49-day Omer period between Passover and Shavuot. What took place at the Lag B’Omer celebration at Beis
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman The Florida Department of Education announced that they had rejected more than 30 social studies textbooks and worked with publishers to make changes to more than 45 other textbooks. The announcement is in line with efforts by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature and Department of Education to ensure that
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Florida Textbooks Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman The Texas Senate recently passed a bill along party lines with the 17 Republicans voting in favor and the 12 Democrats opposed, which will require public schools to allow students and employees time every day to pray and to read the Bible. The Senate also passed a bill along party lines
Jewish Trivia Quiz: The Ten Commandments Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Al Jaffee died last week at the age of 102. Jaffee was one of “The Usual Gang of Idiots” who wrote and produced Mad Magazine under the leadership of editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines. Mad Magazine’s humor had a very Jewish slant, including regular use of Yiddish and faux-Yiddish
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Al Jaffee, Z”L Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman There is an annual convention in April at the Javits Center in New York which always falls around the Passover holiday. In 2013, a Jewish participant came up with the idea of holding a seder for the Jewish attendees at the convention. He chose New York’s Katz’s Deli as the site
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Convention Seder Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews worldwide are preparing for Passover, with the first seder taking place this coming Wednesday. Traditionally, Jews do a thorough cleaning of their houses, removing all chametz, or forbidden foods, particularly leavened bread. Dishes are changed, shelves are lined, and kosher-for-Passover products replace the year-round foods in the kitchen. Sadly, however,
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Passover Price Gouging Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman A recent study at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Academic College confirmed that Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men have a higher rate of what medical problem than the general population? A. Spinal problems including herniated discs and sciatica, as a result of shuckling, the rapid front to back swaying that Haredi men perform while praying, to
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Israeli actor Chaim Topol died last week at the age of 87. The actor, who professionally used only his last name because too frequently people would mispronounce his first name, Chaim, as “shame,” is most famous for playing the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Topol starred as Tevye
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Chaim Topol, Z”L Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Purim will be celebrated this week, with costumes, hamantaschen, Megillah reading, and Purim shpiels. Purim has occasionally made an appearance in popular culture, including the 1960 movie Esther and the King starring Joan Collins as Esther and The Bible Collection: Esther, a 1999 made-for-TV movie starring F. Murray Abraham as Mordecai.
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Purim on TV Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a Haredi authority in Israel on legal and ethical practice, died in March 2022 at the age of 94 in Bnei Brak. Among his rabbinic rulings was that it was forbidden to own a smartphone without first receving permission from a halahkic authority, and that the owner could
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky Auction Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman The Carter Center issued a statement that following recent hospital stays by President Jimmy Carter, the 98-year-old former president “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” Among President Carter’s greatest accomplishments was the 1978 Camp David Accords, agreements
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Jimmy Carter Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman The United States recently shot down a Chinese spy balloon which had sailed across the American continent. Since that time, there have been reports of previous Chinese spy balloons. And the United States military has now shot down three additional unidentified objects, over Alaska, Canada’s Yukon Territory, and Michigan. Of course,
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Israeli Spy Satellites Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire