JCRS event rooted in comedy
With a nod to the Jewish comics, comedians and writers of the past, the Jewish Childrens Regional Service (JCRS) looked to the future on Saturday night as it presented the Jewish Roots of Comedy major event at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans.
From left Wendy Goldberg, JCRS executive director Ned Goldberg and comedians Wendy Liebman and Avi Liberman. (Photo by Alan Smason)
The oldest existing Jewish children’s social service organization in the United States, JCRS paid homage to the important Jewish influence of stand-up comedians, film and TV personalities with a special film on Jewish comedians, video slide-show displays and photos of personalities atop each table. To get into the festive mood, audience members were encouraged to use whoopee cushions, sport fake cigars and wear special “Groucho” nose and glasses throughout the evening.
Stand-up comics Avi Liberman and Wendy Liebman entertained the crowd by availing them with humorous one-liners and quips, some risqué, but all intended to be funny.
Honorees Ralph and Shirley Seelig at JCRS Jewish Roots of Comedy event. (Photo by Alan Smason)
On the serious side JCRS executive director Ned Goldberg and president Bruce Miller made presentations to honorees Shirley and Ralph Seelig and Lisa and Mark Heller for their volunteer work with JCRS. The Seeligs were singled out for their work with JCRS since 2000 as members of the board and in other volunteer positions. Most notable was their establishment of the Shirley and Ralph Seelig Education Fund that provides scholarships to low-income Jewish college students.
Likewise, the Hellers were acknowledged for their three decades worth of volunteer experience in the Jewish community and the New Orleans community at large. Mark Heller was noted as a former president of Temple Sinai, while Lisa was acknowledged as JCRS president from 2007-2009 following 20 years as an officer, committee chair and board member.
Also honored were Lisa and Mark Heller. (Photo by Alan Smason)
Rabbi Ethan Linden of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation introduced the Seeligs, who are longtime members of his synagogue. Linden also authored a treatise on Jewish comedy and the important contribution of Jewish comedians. The gallery of stars whose pictures accompanied the article included Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Jackie Mason, Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfeld, Lenny Bruce, Henny Youngman, the Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers, Neil Simon, Larry David, Harry Shearer, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers, Madeline Kahn, Woody Allen, Peter Sellers, Bette Midler and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The program also included two examples of personalities who were former residents of the Jewish Children’s Home in New Orleans: Louis Berkie and
“Maxie” Izkowitz. Berkie, who lived in the home with his sister Libbie from 1917 to 1928, became a fixture in San Antonio as a purveyor of magic tricks, novelties and gags and wooden nickles with hilarious sayings for more than 50 years. Izkowitz (born Max Galinsky) lived in the home from 1915-1917 before returning to live with his mother in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Izkowitz was a noted loan and pawn shop owner in Little Rock (“put it in hock in Little Rock”), who became famous for his continual “going out of business” sales.
