The Blue Card Is Providing Life-Saving Support For Holocaust Survivors

Impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

As extreme weather continues to impact regions across the country, the non-for-profit The Blue Card has been actively reaching out to Holocaust survivors to ensure their safety.

The devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton has created urgent needs for survivors, particularly in Asheville, Tampa Bay, and southern Georgia, where there is a critical demand for food, medical supplies, transportation and caregiver support. The majority of the nation’s Holocaust survivors live alone and fall well below the federal poverty line, and these hurricanes have worsened their already difficult conditions, leaving them desperate for essential resources.

The Blue Card’s Natural Disasters and Severe Weather Fund is providing life-saving support, including emergency transportation and vital medical care, to those affected by these disasters. In addition to these efforts, The Blue Card is working with local volunteers and synagogues to mobilize additional support for survivors in need.

As a national organization, The Blue Card is uniquely positioned to provide immediate assistance. Survivors like Eda, who lives alone in Black Mountain, NC, with no family nearby, faced the hardship of losing power for two weeks. With the support of The Blue Card, she received emergency aid to replenish her groceries and household supplies, providing her with the essentials she needed to get through this challenging time.

However, many more survivors remain in urgent need of similar assistance. Contributions to this fund are critical to ensuring Holocaust survivors receive the help they need during these challenging times.

Executive Director Masha Pearl notes, “The Blue Card is asking the public to let the organization know of any Holocaust survivors in the path of these hurricanes who may need assistance, so the organization can provide the support they require during these difficult times. As we respond to the growing impacts of these disasters, your support is needed more than ever.”

Click here to donate to the Fund.

Established in the U.S. in 1939, The Blue Card’s sole mission is to help Holocaust survivors in need nationwide by providing direct financial assistance and medical assistance, as well as the tools for mental and emotional well-being. Ranging in age from 79 to 105, the majority of the nation’s Holocaust survivors live alone and fall well below the federal poverty line. The Blue Card ensures survivors can live out their remaining years with dignity and respect and live at home.

Press Contact:

Diane Blackman

Founding Partner, BRPR

W: 212.249.5125

dblackman@brpublicrelations

Horseshoe Beach, Florida - photo: Getty Images/BBC News/Getty Images

Announcing the 22nd Annual Kavod v'Nichum Chevra Kadisha Conference

A CONFERENCE ABOUT JEWISH END OF LIFE RITUALS OFFERS CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY IN A CHALLENGING TIME

[Maplewood, NJ] — Kavod v’Nichum, a nonprofit organization that empowers, educates, and trains Chevra Kadisha, announces their upcoming 22nd Annual Kavod v’Nichum Chevra Kadisha Conference. Over the last few years, and especially in light of the tragic events of October 7th, Jews around the world have sought meaningful ways to engage with their Jewish communities. This has led to increased volunteer participation in Chevrei Kadisha across North America and a growing interest in learning more about these 'sacred societies.' As we approach the one-year anniversary of October 7th, the 22nd Annual Kavod v’Nichum Chevra Kadisha Conference offers a unique space for Jewish connection and meaning. We invite the community to come together from a place of love and care during what has been, for many, a time of division and pain.

On September 15th and 16th, the Kavod v’Nichum Conference will unite approximately 300 participants from across the U.S. and Canada for an immersive online experience dedicated to Jewish end-of-life care and sacred communal practices. This two-day event will feature renowned keynote speakers Rabbi Elliot Dorff and Rabbi Shai Held. Tickets are still available for anyone who wants to attend.

Since its founding 24 years ago, Kavod v’Nichum has been dedicated to expanding the presence of Chevra Kadisha within pluralistic Jewish communities across North America. The organization fills a critical gap by redefining and modernizing the role of Chevra Kadisha—the sacred communities that come together at the end of life to care for the deceased and comfort the living. By focusing on volunteer engagement and peer-led rituals, Kavod v’Nichum ensures that the sacred rituals and duties are not only upheld but also made more meaningful and relevant for today’s diverse Jewish populations. This approach enriches the cultural and spiritual fabric of the Jewish community, providing intentional care and opportunities for participation, which enhance connection and belonging.

“Year over year, we are experiencing growth all across Kavod v’Nichum programs, including our annual conference. This reflects the increased awareness and participation across Chevrei Kadisha in North America. As these powerful end-of-life frameworks become more well-known and accessible, we’re seeing more individuals offering care and support to their neighbors and Jewish communities when it’s most needed,” said Sarit Wishnevski, Executive Director of Kavod v’Nichum.

The conference will bring together a diverse group of participants—including Chevra Kadisha volunteers, clergy, end-of-life doulas/midwives, Jewish communal professionals, students, funeral home professionals, chaplains, and those curious about Jewish end-of-life rituals— to explore the profound intersections of tradition, community, and modern Jewish practice. With over 20 workshops and sessions, this year’s conference offers an in-depth exploration of Jewish end-of-life practices, community engagement, and volunteer training, providing a unique opportunity to connect with others, engage in meaningful discussions, and be inspired to carry forward the essential work of Chevra Kadisha. The conference’s two-day agenda with a list of speakers and sessions can be found here.

Sponsorships are available for companies and organizations who wish to support this essential gathering. Sponsors will gain visibility among a dedicated audience engaged in Jewish end-of-life care and rituals. Various sponsorship levels are available, starting at $360, offering opportunities to connect with participants and contribute to the ongoing success of the conference.

Current sponsors include Dignity Memorial Jewish Funerals, My Jewish Learning, Shomer Collective, AriYael, The Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Jewish Sacred Aging, The Jews of Color Mishpacha Project, The Last Ecstatic Days Movie, Mission Driven Consulting, National Bikur Cholim Conference, The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, and Sinai Memorial Chapel. To register for the conference, please visit: https://kavodvnichum.org/conference/

About Kavod v’Nichum: Kavod v'Nichum is a nonprofit organization that empowers, educates, and trains Chevra Kadisha – sacred communities that come together at the end of life to care for the deceased and comfort the living through Jewish rituals and traditions.

Kavod v’Nichum envisions a world in which Chevra Kadisha is a vibrant part of every Jewish community, deepening the connections to the rituals and practices of Jewish end-of-life. When Chevra Kadisha is woven into the fabric of the Jewish community, there is a richer understanding of death and dying, and meaningful opportunities to comfort, support, and honor one another. For more information, visit https://kavodvnichum.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Sarit Wishnevski, Executive Director Email: sarit@kavodvnichum.org

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

"Rabbi Irving Greenberg's Magnum Opus - The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism"

[PHILADEPHIA, PA August 1, 2024] – The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) is honored to announce the publication of Rabbi Irving Greenberg’s magnum opus, The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism, winner of the Natan Fund's Natan Prize, 2024.

The Triumph of Life is a narrative of the relationship between God and humanity as expressed in the Jewish journey through modernity, the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, and the birth of Judaism’s next era.

Greenberg describes Judaism’s utopian vision of a world, created by a God who loves life, who invites humans to live on the side of life and enables the forces of life to triumph over death. The Bible proclaims our mission of tikkun olam, repairing the world, such that every human image of God is sustained in the fullness of our dignity. To achieve this ideal, Judaism offers the method of covenant, a partnership between God and humanity across generations in which human beings grow ever more responsible for world repair.

Rabbi Avi Weiss, founder of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Maharat, describes The Triumph of Life as “a theological masterpiece: a deeply inspiring religious treatise and a revolutionary work of religious and ethical thought that will undoubtedly be studied in seminaries of all faiths, universities, and adult study groups for generations to come.”

In this book, Greenberg calls on us to redirect humanity’s unprecedented power in modernity to overcome poverty, oppression, inequality, sickness, and war. The work of covenant requires an ethic of power—one that advances life collaboratively and at a human pace—so that the Jewish people and all humanity can bring the world toward the triumph of life.

“The Triumph of Life is exhilarating. A culmination of a lifetime of theological reflection from the visionary thinker Rabbi Irving Greenberg, it offers us a stunning portrait of the Jewish tradition as a grand drama in which God and the Jewish people dream together of a perfect world and work painstakingly to bring it about. Read this book and you will never see the Jewish tradition the same way again,” said Rabbi Shai Held, president and dean at The Hadar Institute and author of The Heart of Torah.

Publishers Weekly praised the book, noting that “Judaism may be based in the notion of a divinehuman partnership, but people must now take the lead in forging a more perfect world, according to this ambitious treatise from Rabbi [Yitz] Greenberg… Greenberg’s reminder to ‘start where you are’ in creating a freer, more just society is wise, even if his vision for an ideal world sometimes seems out of reach. Readers will be inspired.” 

For more information, please visit jps.org.

About The Jewish Publication Society:

Since 1888, The Jewish Publication Society has been the preeminent not-for-profit publisher of books at the heart of Jewish life in the English-speaking world. The mission of JPS is to promote accessible scholarship, presenting the very best of Jewish learning in an intellectually rigorous and engaging way to a broad public. As a non-partisan, non-denominational organization, JPS brings voices from across the Jewish tradition, past and present, into conversations at the heart of contemporary life, ensuring that Jewish sources continue to speak in an ever-changing world. JPS is proud to partner with the University of Nebraska Press, which produces and distributes JPS books.

Contact:

Deena Schoenfeld

JPS Director of Communications and Marketing

dschoenfeld@jps.org

(215) 832-0601

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Saying No to Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America

[PHILADEPHIA, PA May 1, 2024] – The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) is honored to announce the publication of Saying No to Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America by Norman H. Finkelstein, an award-winning author of 21 non-fiction histories and biographies who taught Jewish history at Hebrew College for more than three decades before passing away in January 2024.

Saying No to Hate grounds readers in the history of antisemitism in America by emphasizing the legal, political, educational, communal, and other strategies American Jews have used through the centuries to address high-profile threats.

In this timely volume, Finkelstein—whose previous books include two National Jewish Book Award winners, also published by JPS –shows how antisemitism has long functioned in America in systemic, structural, and interpersonal ways, from missionaries, the KKK, and American Nazis to employment discrimination, social media attacks, and QAnon. He explains how historic antisemitic events such as General Ulysses S. Grant’s General Order No. 11 (1862); the Massena, New York, blood libel (1928); and the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue (2018) galvanized the Jewish community. Finkelstein shines light on Jews, such as Louis Brandeis and Admiral Hyman Rickover, who succeeded despite discrimination, and on individuals and organizations that have tackled legal and security affairs, from the passage of Maryland’s Jew Bill (1826) to groups helping Jewish institutions better protect themselves from active shooter threats.

“While the alarming increase in antisemitism in the U.S. is cause for concern, storyteller Norman Finkelstein shows us this is just the latest iteration of prejudice Jews have fought on these shores for hundreds of years,” said Rabbi Charles E. Savenor, Executive Director of Civic Spirit. “Saying No to Hate should be required in every high school and college. More than a book, this is a tool for strengthening our society.”

Far from a victim narrative, Saying No to Hate is as much about Jewish resilience and ingenuity as it is about hatred. Engaging high school students and adults with personal narratives, it prepares each of us to recognize, understand, and confront injustice and hatred today, in the Jewish community and beyond.

“Especially during a time when so many of us find ourselves confronting truly frightening levels of antisemitism, hatred, and polarization,” wrote Dr. Elias Sacks, Director of JPS, “we are proud to publish a book that exemplifies the moral passion, deep knowledge, and profound integrity that Norman H. Finkelstein brought to everything that he wrote. May his memory be for a blessing.”

Rabbi Laura Bellows, a curriculum designer and facilitator of teen and adult learning programs, added that “learning to recognize how antisemitism functions in America in systemic, structural, and interpersonal ways—which Norman Finkelstein teaches masterfully, in tandem with robust stories of Jewish resilience and courage—will help both adolescents and adults address instances of injustice and hatred today, in the Jewish community and beyond.”

In a recent review, Publishers Weekly praised the book, noting that “two-time National Jewish Book Award winner Finkelstein…draws on exhaustive research for an account that’s comprehensive, accessible, and nuanced.”

For more information, please visit jps.org.

About The Jewish Publication Society:

Since 1888, The Jewish Publication Society has been the preeminent not-for-profit publisher of books at the heart of Jewish life in the English-speaking world. The mission of JPS is to promote accessible scholarship, presenting the very best of Jewish learning in an intellectually rigorous and engaging way to a broad public. As a non-partisan, non-denominational organization, JPS brings voices from across the Jewish tradition, past and present, into conversations at the heart of contemporary life, ensuring that Jewish sources continue to speak in an ever-changing world. JPS is proud to partner with the University of Nebraska Press, which produces and distributes JPS books.

Contact:

Deena Schoenfeld

JPS Director of Communications and Marketing

dschoenfeld@jps.org

(215) 832-0601

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Delegation of Israeli Rabbis from Shalom Hartman Institute Extend Beacon of Hope to North American Jewish Communities Amidst Adversity

In the midst of shared challenges facing Israel and Jewish communities across North America, a distinguished delegation of rabbis from the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel is set to embark on a journey of solidarity and hope.

These rabbis have been steadfast pillars of support, providing spiritual, pastoral, and psychosocial assistance to hundreds of individuals affected by the recent Israel-Hamas war, including evacuees, wounded soldiers, and families of hostages.

Their visit to North American Jewish communities exemplifies a commitment to strengthening ties between Israeli and North American Jewry and underscores their dedication to learning about North American Jewish life and communities.

The delegation will take part in a three-day educational seminar on North American Judaism and Jewish Peoplehood at the Shalom Hartman Institute from March 12^th – March 14^th in New York. In addition, they will be teaching at synagogues across denominations throughout North America. Participating synagogues include Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl’s Central Synagogue in New York City and Rabbi David Wokenfeld’s Ohev Shalom in Washington DC among many more.  

Pluralistic Israeli rabbis in the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Israeli Rabbis Network (Rabbanut Yisraelit)are bringing about a spiritual rejuvenation in the Israeli public sphere by inspiring Israelis to engage meaningfully with Jewish life in the 21st century.  

Since October 7, rabbis in Israel and North America are playing a pivotal role in comforting, teaching, and supporting their congregants as they experience pain, grief, and fear. This visit is part of the ongoing efforts of the Institute to equip rabbis with the resources and ideas to guide their communities through this crisis. 

For media inquiries and to learn more about this event and the pluralistic Hartman-ordained rabbis contact: maital.friedman@shalomhartman.org  

Learn more about the work of the Israeli Rabbis Network and its vision for Empowering Rabbis - Shalom Hartman Institute 

The Shalom Hartman Institute is a leading center of Jewish thought and education, serving Israel and North America. The Institute is committed to developing ideas for Jewish communities to address the most pressing issues of the day, ensuring that Judaism is a compelling force for good in the 21st century. 

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman's Pioneering Work, Who Are the Jews—And Who Can We Become? Receives Prestigious National Jewish Book Award

New York, NY – January 26, 2024 - Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute and host of the highly acclaimed top Judaism podcast, "For Heaven’s Sake," has been named a National Jewish Book Award Finalist for his exceptional work, Who Are the Jews—And Who Can We Become?.

As the Israel-Hamas war enters its 4th month, moral, ethical, and philosophical questions continue to dominate the discourse. Hartman, a distinguished scholar and thought leader, recently described as “the soundtrack of the American Jewish experience of this war,” engages in a profound exploration of challenges facing the Jewish community today.,

His examination of the critical question — How can we, as Jews, shape a cohesive collective identity in the face of increasing denominational divisions? — makes Who Are the Jews? an indispensable contribution to the ongoing discourse on the Jewish future.

The Shalom Hartman Institute, under Rabbi Hartman's visionary leadership, continues to be a trailblazer in Jewish thought and education in Israel and North America. The Institute's commitment to innovative ideas ensures that Rabbi Hartman's vision becomes a catalyst for positive change, offering a compelling narrative for the Jewish community in the 21st century.

About Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman: Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman is a visionary leader, distinguished scholar, and host of the top Judaism podcast, "For Heaven’s Sake." His latest work, "Who Are the Jews—And Who Can We Become?" has been recognized as a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, solidifying Rabbi Hartman's position as a trailblazer shaping the future of Jewish thought.

The Shalom Hartman Institute is a leading center of Jewish thought and education, serving Israel and North America. The Institute is committed to developing ideas for Jewish communities to address the most pressing issues of the day, ensuring that Judaism is a compelling force for good in the 21st century.

Who Are the Jews―And Who Can We Become? - Shalom Hartman Institute

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

The overall impact of communication versus no communication

The survey found that the more communication employees received, the better they felt about their employer and the company culture. The impact was the strongest when an internal statement was coupled with a manager reaching out to communicate directly with employees.

In fact, three outcomes that top leaders strive to foster among their teams – confidence in leadership, a strong culture, and engagement – increased four to six times when employers communicated about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and managers followed up with employees.

Highlights of the findings from those who strongly agree their company communicated effectively include:  

• Employees who said their company did not make a statement reported the following:
• • 10 percent confidence in company leadership
  • 10 percent alignment with the company culture
  • 10 percent overall engagement
• In contrast, when employees demonstrated best practices in issue communication - with both a company statement and manager outreach - key results increased four to six times for employees:
• • 59 percent had higher confidence in company leadership
  • 54 percent felt better aligned with the company culture
  • 45 percent said overall engagement increased
• Some form of communication was also far better than no communication. When employees received either manager outreach or an internal company statement, the result was the following, respectively:
• • 32 and 30 percent had higher confidence in company leadership
  • 32 and 29 percent felt better aligned with the company culture
  • 37 and 23 percent said their overall engagement increased

The 31st Annual
Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™

Jewish Comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant

Info: www.koshercomedy.com

Press Room (hi res photos): www.koshercomedy.com/press-room

For Immediate Release

Media contact: Lisa Geduldig
Lisag@igc.org
Cell: 415-205-6515
Do Not Publish

The 31st Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™
Jewish Comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant

In-Person in San Francisco (AND livestreamed)!

With Wendy Liebman, Rich Aronovitch, Talia Reese, Lisa Geduldig, and her 92-year young mother Arline Geduldig (by video by Florida)

Saturday, December 23 thru Monday, December 25, 2023

Two shows a day:

5pm Dinner Show (5-6pm Dinner / 6-7:30pm Show)
Live-stream: 6pm PST (7pm MST / 8pm CST / 9pm EST)
8:30pm Cocktail Show
Live-stream: 8:30pm PST (9:30pm MST / 10:30pm CST / 11:30pm EST)

Imperial Palace Restaurant, 818 Washington St., San Francisco’s Chinatown

Info: www.KosherComedy.com
Tickets: $30 - $100  • www.CityBoxOffice.com/KungPao

Partial Proceeds Benefit: Hebrew Free Loan AND Chinatown YMCA Food Pantry

San Francisco, CA… Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ is celebrating its 31st Annual Jewish-Comedy-on-Christmas-in-a-Chinese-Restaurant extravaganza on December 23-25, 2023. This San Francisco institution returns to San Francisco’s Chinatown this year to its new home, the Imperial Palace Restaurant, just steps away from the new Chinatown-Rose Pak MUNI Station. (New Asia Restaurant, where Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ had taken place since 1997, its 5th year, closed during the pandemic and converted into a supermarket. The shows were live-streamed in 2020 and 2021 and took place in a synagogue as well as virtually last year for its 30th Anniversary.)

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ returns to its pre-pandemic format over the course of 3 days, with 2 shows a day in a Chinese restaurant banquet room with family-style dining at tables of 10 (appropriately named Barbra Streisand, Jackie Mason, Joan Rivers, Kvetch…) with Lazy Susans. All 6 shows will take place in-person AND virtually (on YouTube Live) again this year, thus catering to the national and international online audiences developed since 2020 as well as to those who prefer to watch from home.

Spanning three days (and three decades), this year’s shows feature Wendy Liebman (Carson, Letterman, Leno, Fallon, Kimmel, Hollywood Squares, America's Got Talent), Rich Aronovitch (The Tonight Show, The Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay), Talia Reese (The Wendy Williams Show; Orthodox comedian; former bankruptcy lawyer), Lisa Geduldig (Kung Pao host), and Arline Geduldig (Lisa’s 92 year young mom, by video from Florida).

History:

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy was created in 1993 by accident by San Francisco comedian, Lisa Geduldig, who was booked to perform at a women’s comedy night in South Hadley, Massachusetts at the Peking Garden Club, what she naturally thought would be a comedy club. But upon her arrival, she discovered that the venue was actually a Chinese Restaurant. After telling Jewish jokes at a Chinese restaurant, a conversation the next day between Lisa and her old summer camp friend, Tobi Sovak, about its irony led to the creation of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy: Jewish Comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant — a take off on the tradition of Jews going to a Chinese Restaurant and a movie on Christmas. And the rest is history. Kung Pao, which answers the age-old question “What are Jews supposed to do on Christmas?” has garnered both national press and a national following. Now in its 31st year, Kung Pao was the country’s first Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese restaurant show and is one of San Francisco’s longest running comedy shows.

Many of the great household name Jewish comedians have graced the Kung Pao stage. Henny Youngman performed his last show there in 1997 at 91 years old. Shelley Berman has headlined, as has David Brenner, as have many others in the Who’s Who of Jewish Comedians including Elayne Boosler, Carol Leifer, Wendy Liebman, Cathy Ladman, Judy Gold, Jeff Ross, and Gary Gulman. www.koshercomedy.com/past-comedians.

Kung Pao had been operating in San Francisco’s Chinatown every December since its inception in 1993 until the pandemic hit in 2020. The show managed to continue virtually despite Armageddon. Kung Pao began on December 24, 1993 with one show at the Four Seas Restaurant, and then was held for the next three years at Hunan Restaurant. With 91-year old Henny Youngman booked to headline in 1997, Kung Pao moved to New Asia Restaurant as Hunan was up a flight of stairs with no elevator. Many audience members have attended this San Francisco institution for 20+ years while others have attended every year since 1993.

Kung Pao has been featured in the NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune… The virtual show was a Pick in the New York Times, The Forward, and Jewish newspapers in cities including Atlanta, Tampa and St. Louis, in addition to the SF Bay Area press.

Feeding the soul as well as the stomach. – New York Times

A San Francisco institution. – San Francisco Examiner

The Dinner Show Menu will feature our signature dish, Kung Pao Chicken, along with 5 other dishes. The Cocktail Show menu consists of a light fare of egg rolls, pot stickers, and dim sum. In-person attendees will receive a custom-made Yiddish proverb fortune cookie with their dinner. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco Chinatown’s has made Kung Pao’s fortune cookies since 1962 and Kung Pao’s since 1994). The Yiddish proverbs include the infamous “With one tuchus, you can’t dance at 2 weddings.” (You can’t be in two places at once.)

In July 2020, a few months into the pandemic, Lisa Geduldig, introduced her audiences to online comedy shows with the monthly Lockdown Comedy every third Thursday of the month (and ending on the monthly basis in November 2023 after 3-1/2 years) on Zoom hosted from her mother’s retirement community in Florida where Lisa accidentally found herself marooned for 17 months after going to visit for two weeks that March, just before the pandemic hit. (Lisa has been “commuting” between Florida and San Francisco for the past two years.) Lisa’s 92-year old budding comedian mother, Arline, has been a special guest on Lockdown Comedy and Kung Pao, performing stand up on the show. The duo has received accolades and press: The LA Times ran How A California Comic Launched A Virtual Stand-Up Show and Discovered A New Star: Mom; the San Francisco Examiner ran the article, Kung Pao Kosher Creator Introduces “Lockdown Comedy”: Lisa Geduldig and Her Mom Stream Standup, with Guests, from Florida, and in September, the San Francisco Chronicle did a feature S.F.’s Lisa Geduldig Happily Sharing Comedy Spotlight with A Fresh Talent, Her 90-Year-Old Mother.

COMEDIANS’ BIOS:

Wendy Liebman took a class called "How to be a Stand-up Comedian" at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in 1985. Since then, she has performed on Carson, Letterman, Leno, Fallon, Kimmel, Ferguson, and Hollywood Squares, and in clubs across America. Wendy has done specials for HBO, Comedy Central and Showtime, and was a Semi-Finalist on NBC’s America's Got Talent, Season 9.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two rescued Jindo dogs, produces “Locally Grown Comedy” at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank — a monthly show featuring her favorite stand ups, and plays Jonathan Katz’s therapist on his podcast And We’re Back…  Check out her DVD Wendy Liebman: Taller on TV on Amazon. www.WendyLiebman.com.

Rich Aronovitch, known for appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, The Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, and HBO's Bomani Jones, is a regular at New York City's Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club. He gained social media fame for his dances, which led to features on NBC's Access Daily and a Tiesto music video, performing with Limp Bizkit at Madison Square Garden, and for the New York Islanders. Recently, he featured on TNT's March Madness Sweet Sixteen Pre-Game Promo and The Food Network’s Worst Cooks In America Season 25 Viral Sensations. www.RichIsFunny.com.

Talia Reese ditched the exciting world of bankruptcy law to pursue a more stable path as a stand up comedian, which thrilled her parents to no end. Luckily, her career move has worked out. She been featured on The Wendy Williams Show and Sirius XM and regularly performs at the hottest comedy clubs and events in the US and Canada, and recently performed in Israel. The Orthodox comedian’s jokes have appeared in major news publications and are mentioned frequently on Page Six. The Times of Israel says Talia’s “a rising comedy star who has a polish, panache, and a gift of jab reminiscent of her childhood hero, Joan Rivers.” Her parents were most proud when Talia’s comedy show was called a “Hot Ticket” by the NY Post. www.TaliaReese.com.

Arline Geduldig (joining by video from Florida), 92 year young mother of Kung Pao producer, Lisa Geduldig, is a Florida-based budding comedian who took to the (virtual) stage for the first time in July 2020 on her daughter’s monthly Zoom comedy show, Lockdown Comedy; she has been charming audiences on the monthly show ever since. Arline grew up in Brooklyn, raised her kids on Long Island, and retired to Florida, as is Jewish law. She offers her keen observations on aging, hearing aids, and hot young firemen and reminisces about her first kiss. Arline has always been funny, and it was time for her to share her natural humor with her daughter’s audiences. 

Lisa Geduldig is a San Francisco-based comedian and the creator, producer, and MC of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ — Jewish Comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant. Before the pandemic, Lisa had been running Comedy Returns to El Rio, a monthly decade-long comedy show at El Rio in San Francisco where her comedy career began 30+ years ago. Since July 2020, she has been producing Lockdown Comedy every 3rd Thursday of the month on Zoom from the underwear drawer in the guest room at her mother’s retirement community home in Florida, where she accidentally got marooned (in Florida, not in the underwear drawer) for 17 months during the pandemic (and became a fan of the Early Bird special). She has been commuting between Florida and San Francisco for the past two years. Lisa appeared in a Canadian documentary, Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas, which aired on Canadian and European TV in December 2017. She is also a freelance arts publicist in both English and Spanish. SFPublicist.com.

BENEFICIARIES: 

Over the past 30 years, Kung Pao has raised 10’s of 1000’s of dollars and awareness for countless organizations. In keeping with the Jewish tradition of tzedakah (charity, in Hebrew - tied in with a sense of duty and social responsibility), each year Kung Pao donates partial proceeds to organizations and causes in which we believe.

THIS YEAR’S BENEFICIARIES

Hebrew Free Loan is a nonprofit that provides interest-free loans to help Jewish individuals in Northern California overcome financial challenges or pursue life dreams. In addition, it offer loans to those in Northern California who meet one of the following criteria, regardless of religious background: Student from a lower income home who is referred by a partner agency; employee of a Jewish organization; business partner or immediate family member of a Jewish individual. As loans are repaid, funds are recycled to make new loans. The organization has proven the success of this model with a repayment rate over 99%. www.hflasf.org/apply/loans-we-offer.

Chinatown YMCA Food Pantry: The Chinatown YMCA serves 245 households from the Chinatown area every week through the support of staff and volunteers. The food pantries directly address food insecurity in our community where there is a rising concern. Many of those who reside in our neighborhood experience significant obstacles due to language barriers, knowledge of social services as well as uncertainty of the receipt of these supports will affect their immigration status. With the added complication of the corona virus and an increase of people experiencing uncertainty in income, housing, and health, providing food will address at least one major concern. The food provided by the food pantries support the overall well-being of the individuals receiving it. Enrollment is not based on income, immigration status, or employment. www.ymcasf.org/chinatown-ymca-food-pantry.

Some Random Kung Pao Kosher Comedy Facts:

• Henny Youngman, The King of One-Liners, headlined in 1997, performing at what ended up being his last show; the 91 year old comedian died two months later in February 1998.

• A chapter in the book, A Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to be Jewish focuses on Kung Pao.

• One couple, after 25 years, got married at the show by a rabbi they met at their table.

• One year someone brought a rooster named Vern as an emotional support animal. Really.

Calendar Listing:

WHAT:
The 31st Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™
Jewish Comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant

With Wendy Liebman, Rich Aronovitch, Talia Reese, Lisa Geduldig, and her 92-year young mother Arline Geduldig (by video by Florida)

WHEN:
Saturday, December 23, Sunday, December 24, and Monday, December 25

2 shows a day:
In-person Dinner Show: Dinner: 5pm.
(Show: 6-7:30pm)

Show (in-person and Livestream): 6pm PST /7pm MST / 8pm CST / 9pm EST

Cocktail Show
In-person and Livestream: 8:30pm PST (9:30pm MST / 10:30pm CST / 11:30pm EST)

WHERE:
In-person:
Imperial Palace Restaurant
818 Washington St. (between Grant & Stockton)
Chinatown
San Francisco, CA 94108

AND
Virtually (on YouTube Live)

TICKETS:
$30-$100  

6pm or 8:30pm Livestream: $30-$75 (pay what you want)
5pm Dinner Show: $90-$100
8:30pm Cocktail Show: $65-$75

www.CityBoxOffice.com/KungPao

INFO:
www.KosherComedy.com

PARTIAL PROCEEDS BENEFIT:
Hebrew Free Loan Association AND Chinatown YMCA Food Pantry