A Palestinian at Limmud LA

Limmud is one of the world’s largest gatherings of religious Jews in the world and the Limmud LA chapter is meeting this weekend and featuring the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour. We do two shows, one Saturday night and one Sunday night. And I give them credit for opening themselves up to prodding and poking by a Palestinian. They often have Jewish and Israeli humor but to open their doors to a Palestinian who “takes it to them” on stage — my comedy is getting sharper in the area of pointing a finger at Israel — is very admirable and takes courage.

The tour has been tremendous thanks to MASA-Israel Journeys and their counterparts at Hillel at the campuses we have been touring. Although the University of Chicago’s extremist Arab community and extremist Jewish community was a disgrace, many Jews and some Palestinians attended the show regardless of the unofficial boycott from the University of Chicago’s extremist pro-Arab organizers. But the other campuses were phenomenal. Last nights show at the University of Washington at St. Louis was great, sponsored by MASA-Israel Journeys, Hillel and also the Students for Palestine and Israeli for Peace (SPIFP). We had a great audience, although the lighting was off a bit. Still, to have Arab and Jewish students come up and say how inspired they are was well worth the time.

The tour has opened more bookings and more shows, mostly among the Jewish American community, which I think is GREAT. I know many Arab American groups want the show and will eventually book it, but they have the “taboo” imposed by the fanatics to put up with, but little by little we are telling Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the other religious extremists to STFU! Mainstream Arabs and Palestinians want peace. They are tired of the BS failed leadership of their activists, tired of being hammered by extremist Israelis and tired of the violence on both sides. They want it to stop and they will stand up and argue that it is ONE PRINCIPLE FOR EVERYONE, not just Palestinians and not just Israelis. Justice exists on both sides, not just one side, a I hope my tiny little contribution will help people in the audiences find it.

And a shout out goes to the University of Ohio at Columbus where the show and organizers also were great, with a good turnout of both Jews and Arabs. (And to the rest, Madison, Iowa State, the brave and courageous students at the University of Chicago, and to the students at Ann Arbor, Jewish and Arab, who attended and encouraged us to do more.)

I can’t say enough about the Hillel Chapters and MASA-Israel Journeys for all their work.

The tour ends after this weekend’s performance for the people at Limmud LA and then we’ll head off to other shows across the United States, including at Urbana, Illinois, Homewood, Illinois, Houston Texas, Washington DC, Ireland and Chicago.

Ray Hanania
www.IPComedyTour.com

Bookmark this article

•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     
•     

E-mail this article to a friend

* Required Field

Your Name: *

Your E-Mail: *

Your Remark:

Friend's Name: *

Separate multiple entries with a comma. Maximum 5 entries.

Friend's E-Mail: *

Separate multiple entries with a comma. Maximum 5 entries.

Image Verification: *

 Loading ...

Close