Monday at Noon EDT Jewish Culture 101 will offer “Funny Ladies,” a FREE online look at the Jewish women who have helped shape the American comedy landscape of the last century. With an especially close look at (including hilarious clips of) Fanny Brice, Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner, and Sarah Silverman, we’ll ask how Jewish a joke has to be to be a “Jewish joke”; and consider whether being female restricted these women’s humor - or liberated it. Sign up: bitly.com/BenkofFunny
I’m pleased to announce a new eight-week Judaism 101 course set for Wednesdays at Noon EDT, starting October 7. This overview explores Jewish history, life cycle, calendar, Israel, values, Hebrew, theology, Bible, and the Jewish home. All are welcome: Jews with no background; Jews with minimal or moderate Jewish educations; and non-Jews. Limited to 40 participants, $95 early bird rate through Sept. 1 (save $30). Register: bitly.com/Benkof101
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here: bitly.com/BenkofChannel. You’ll find dozens of American Jewish culture videos, including a countdown of Broadway’s 10 best Jewish shows; and this one-minute slideshow of Roy Lichtenstein’s great comic book paintings.
I’m booking Zoom talks for individual organizations, and eventually in-person classes. Here’s a demonstration of my in-person teaching and this one-minute intro shows how Jewish Culture 101 works.
My entire schedule, with links, is below. All classes are at Noon EDT:
Monday, August 24 Funny Women
Thursday, August 27 Women Photographers
Monday, August 31 Humorists
Thursday, September 3 Philip Roth’s “Defender of the Faith”
Monday, September 7 Schoolhouse Rock-y (the songs of Lynn Ahrens)
Thursday, September 10 Philip Roth’s “Eli, the Fanatic”
Monday, September 14 The Holocaust and American Jewish Culture
Thursday, September 17 Debbie Friedman 101
Monday, September 21 Arthur Miller 101
Thursday, September 24 Philip Roth’s “The Conversion of the Jews”
Monday, September 28 NO CLASS (YOM KIPPUR)
Wednesday, October 7 Judaism 101 course begins