By Mark D. Zimmerman Sheldon Harnick, lyricist of Fiddler on the Roof, Fiorello!, and other Broadway shows, died last week at the age of 99. Harnick and composer Jerry Bock wrote many songs for Fiddler on the Roof which did not end up in the final version of the show, including We’ve Never Missed a […]
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
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]
Guilt-Edged Good Deeds Read More »
Jewish History, Joel H. Cohen, Sports & Competitions, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
This editor just learned today that “maven” is derived from the Yiddish word “meyvn” (one who understands). Perhaps I’m not a Yiddish-language expert, after all. But for those who appreciate the San Diego Jewish World series of Jewish-interest license plates, this one’s for you.
By Mark D. Zimmerman Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times in 1971, died last week at the age of 92. Ellsberg’s parents were of Russian Jewish descent, but they had embraced Christian Science and raised him in that tradition. However, he noted that “My parents always
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Daniel Ellsberg, z”l Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Elona Baron (as told to Laurie Baron) SAN DIEGO — I recently received an email from someone whose existence has been speculated about for years: Donald Trump’s Pitbull. I know everyone thinks that Trump never owned a dog largely because he is incapable of caring for anything beyond his own political survival. While it
Hounding the Headlines: Confessions of Donald Trump’s Pitbull Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Pat Robertson, the controversial Baptist minister who preached a conservative brand of political Christianity, died last week at the age of 93. Robertson was the founder of the Christian Coalition and he helmed The 700 Club television broadcast, promoting his vision of America as a Christian nation. Robertson was a strong
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
(Melody: Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead) By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Jack Smith indicted him. Donald Trump, excuses slim. Trump’s not above the law. Charged him for his crimes. Took files lied many times. Hid them from the FBI. Trump’s not above the law. He’s going where the guilty dread. No White House,
Trump’s Not Above the Law Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
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 Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — The slogan for Ron DeSantis’ recently announced campaign is “Make America Florida” inviting a copyright infringement lawsuit from Donald Trump who issued an executive order in his mind to make it illegal for other politicians to start their campaign slogans with “Make America.” What would the United States look like
Satire: ‘Make America Florida’ aka Let Hurricane DeSantis Wreak Havoc on the Nation Read More »
Lawrence Baron, 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
Here is a Jewish-interest license plate that puzzled Harry Jacobson-Beyer of Louisville, Kentucky, and frankly puzzles us too. A shiva is the seven-day mourning period following the burial of a loved one. If that is what “shiva” on this license plate refers to, then we offer the owner of the car bearing this license plate our condolences. We are used to license plates being more celebratory in nature, but people grieve in their own ways. If on the other hand, the car owner sought to convey some other message, well, he or she is likely to notice now and then some confused Jewish drivers in the rear-view mirror.
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Musk is a scent used in perfumes, but the odor emanating from Elon Musk’s interviews and tweets reeks. He describes himself as a “free speech absolutist” except when an authoritarian leader like Erdogan requests that he censor Twitter in Turkey. Since acquiring Twitter, he has welcomed the return of
Satire: The Reincarnation of Henry Ford Read More »
Lawrence Baron, 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