‘Israel 75 Live’ coming to Congregation B’nai Jacob
Tickets, sponsorship opportunities for March 3-4 events available
Congregation B’nai Jacob will host American-Israeli comedian Joel Chasnoff on March 3 and March 4 to celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday.
The programs will include comedy and conversation about all things Israel, based on Chasnoff new book, “Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land.”
“We are excited to host Joel, a comedian by trade, for Israel’s 75th birthday celebration live at Congregation B’nai Jacob — fun, food, comedy and conversation about Israeli history, daily life, and culture, in honor of the country’s historic 75th birthday,” Congregation B’nai Jacob President Mark Snow said.
Chasnoff created Israel 75 as a way to connect people to Israel during this year of the country’s historic 75th birthday as an independent nation. The content is in large part based on his new book, cowritten with fellow comedian Benji Lovitt.
“There’s so much more to Israel than what we see in the news,” said Chasnoff, a Chicago native whose other books include the comedic memoir “The 188th Crybaby Brigade.”
“With Israel turning 75, I wanted to give communities a deeper, more nuanced understanding of what it’s like to actually live in this magical and often chaotic country.”
“I want to engage audiences and make them laugh,” Chasnoff says. “But I also want to give communities the chance to talk about Israel openly and honestly, in a safe space.”
In their book, “Israel 201,” Chasnoff and Lovitt pull back the curtain to unveil a more complete and comprehensive portrait of the country that extends beyond the typical Israel narrative.
Topics include everything from Yom Kippur bike sales and shomer-Shabbos car insurance policies, to Arab Israeli stand-up comedy, the Olympic team’s preoccupation with “barefoot sports,” and the connection between subterranean tectonic plates and home prices in Tel Aviv.
“The narrative we present in Israel 201 is honest, nuanced, and written with love,” Chasnoff said. “The premise is simple: The more people know about Israel, warts and all, the more connected to the country they’ll feel.”
For more information, to support and register for this event, go to www.congbj.org/israel75, email admin@congbj.org or call (610) 933-5550.
About Joel Chasnoff
Joel Chasnoff is a standup comedian and author of three previous books, including the comedic memoir “The 188th Crybaby Brigade” about his experience as a Lone Soldier in IDF. A Chicago native, he now lives in Ra’anana, Israel.
About Congregation B’nai Jacob
Congregation B’nai Jacob is located at Starr and Manavon streets in Phoenixville and includes families from Chester and Montgomery counties. For more than 110 years, Congregation B’nai Jacob has welcomed and connected diverse individuals into a warm and inclusive congregation. Congregation B’nai Jacob is a vibrant synagogue dedicated to sustaining a strong Jewish community, and fulfilling our members’ spiritual, social and educational needs; encouraging the principles of Conservative Judaism, and championing social action. Our religious school extends from K through 7th grade and makes a special effort to accommodate children with different learning styles and diverse family and cultural backgrounds.