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100 Years of Jewish Comedy

Join us for the new Laugh and Learn series

Monday October 5, 2026
11:00am – 12:30pm
Aceman Lounge
Free for Members // Non-members: 5.00

100 YEARS OF JEWISH HUMOR, COMEDY & SATIRE

Instructor: Ran Keren
Grab a bowl of popcorn, and sit back to watch and discuss films and comedy shows featuring the iconic Jewish comedians who helped to define our culture and our “laughscape.”

Bring your lunch and your sense of humor. We’ll provide the popcorn.

In the Aceman Lounge.
Free for members. Non-members: $5.00 at the door.

Mondays 11:00am – 12:30pm


October 5 – From Vaudeville to Cinema

We open with Jewish comedians who grew up in Vaudeville – the most popular form of entertainment at the turn of the 20th century. We discuss some of the ways the Vaudevillian tradition carried over to
the big screen. With a focus on several comic icons of early cinema.

INSTRUCTOR RAN KEREN is an agronomist turned sociologist who was drawn to the study of comedy, leading him to research political comedy and satire for his PhD dissertation. He published articles on television comedy, satire, and political cartoons, and currently teaches at Alexander College.
There are many ways to connect to Jewish culture, identity, and history; for Ran, it’s humor, as when we share a laugh, we share a world.


Other lectures in the series

  • October 19  From Radio to the Small Screen and the Birth of the Sitcom
  • November 9  Cinema Comics
  • November 23  The Small Screen
  • December 7  Stand-up Comedy
  • December 14  Political Comedy and Satire