Group therapy in a blog.
Forget the American Jewish Dating Scene: Let’s Go European!
At the end of his travels through Europe, JTA’s Ben Harris (“The Wandering Jew”) has uncovered a lot of Jewish Europe. How fitting to end his European journey with a party called “the Ball,” at which attendees tell you straight out: they’re here to woo. “To woo?” “Yes, to woo.” (I actually think he was talking about not knowing “to who” he’s going to talk to, but “to woo” makes some logical sense as well.)
Warning – this clip, filmed in Brussels at the annual Ball held by the European Center for Jewish Students, may contain the following:
*Unlicensed use of Beyonce songs
*Footage of Jews dancing
*Strobe lighting
*A woman wearing one of those skinny scarves
*Shocking images of spontaneous Hebrew bus singing and rapping
*Euphemisms like “raring to go”
*A DJ trying to be supercool while in denial about his DJing at a Jewish meat market
*One couple trying to get their “Jewish continuity” on
*Jews who come from all over Europe including…Mexico
*Did we mention footage of Jews dancing?
Gosh, this is painful. These events are no more successful in Europe than they are in the states. There has to be a better way, because this is just awful. If we rely on events like these how will we continue as a people?
Thanks for the informative/thoughtful post. I really enjoy your blog. I thought I’d share this…
Good For The Jews with special guests DeLeon and comedians Morgan Murphy, Seth Herzog, and Rachel Sklar is happening at the Highline Ballroom tonight! It’s going to be a great time, hope to see you there!
December 7, 2009
Concert starts @ 8PM
Doors open @ 6PM
Tickets $15.00
Discount code: GFTJ
The hilarious music duo Good For the Jews bring their national tour to New York for a night of unorthodox music and comedy on December 7, the minus-fifth night of Hanukkah.
GOOD FOR THE JEWS:
Jewish music for people who don’t like Jewish music.
No songs about dreidels.
And no Israeli folk-dancing.
“Good For the Jews is a hilarious musical act. Don’t miss them.†National Public Radio
“Like Sarah Silverman and Jon Stewart, Good For the Jews is wickedly hilarious.†Village Voice
“Good For the Jews: a Jewish Flight of the Conchords.†Denver Westword
“Like Adam Sandler with a few additional IQ points.†The Onion
“Good For the Jews is part of the sharp new culture presented by such talents as Jon Stewart, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Sarah Silverman.†Washington Post
DeLEON makes “Spanish-Jewish indie rock†by infusing 15th hcentury folk music with the entrancing cadences of the ancient Sephardic tradition. They have toured with Gogol Bordello and recently completed a 20-city tour with Brazilian legends Os Mutantes.
MORGAN MURPHY has been a writer for the TV shows Crank Yankers and Jimmy Kimmel Live. She has performed standup comedy on Premium Blend and Last Call with Carson Daly, and is currently writing for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
SETH HERZOG has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Chappelle’s Show, and VH1’s Best Week Ever.
Almost lamer: Orrin!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/us/politics/09hanukkah.html?em
Cheers, ‘VJ’
Nebbishy, socially awkward, beat-boxing Jews of the world unite! Makes Jdate parties look like Studio54 in the 70s.
Dan, I actually thought that the European party looked quasi-fun. But as you know, I’m not a “big-party” person because I’m so old-fashioned that I like to actually hear people talking and be able to recognize them the next time I see them.
Thanks, Randy – sorry I didn’t see the comment (it went to spam and I just found it today). Hope the concert went well.
VJ, thanks – I saw that Orrin Hatch Hanukkah video, which I didn’t think was so much “lame” as it was “bizarre and random.”
Marc, I’m not sure when Jews all determined that they could beat-box. Some would blame Matisyahu, but I think it goes back farther, to the 80s, conflating the influences of The Beastie Boys and the Fat Boys. And if you’ve ever been to JDate parties, you know there are people there who think they are at Studio54 – you know, without the rampant cocaine use.