Stop us if you’ve heard this one: Three comedians and a rabbi log onto Zoom. The first comic says, “Ugh this year has been a dumpster fire and I’m supposed to be funny?” The second says, “Seriously, our hospitals are overflowing and I’m supposed to make people laugh?” And the third says, “Hey can you guys hear me? Hello? Am I on mute?”

Then the rabbi ~ because rabbis ~ tells a story. “I was scrolling through my phone, she says, wondering how I can possibly feel joy and hope in a year full of rising anti-semitism, white nationalism, COVID-19, pervasive fear and anxiety, and just all-around HEAVINESS. Suddenly, I remembered an old story about the prophet Elijah — you know, as one does. Elijah is strolling through a market and sees two jesters in the square go up to a group of people arguing. They start to interrupt with jokes and cheers — and all of a sudden the tension breaks. That work — using humor and joy to make peace — is how we can start to repair the world.”

Shabbat is our pause, our moment in the market square — 25 hours to welcome light and levity even, and especially when the world gives us weight.

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With gratitude to our comedians Jackie Tohn, Alex Edelman, Ben Gleib, and Rabbi Sharon Brous and our creative partners.

Produced by: Adam Kantor with Gesundheit Media and Eric Kuhn.
Production Coordinator: Michael Crawbuck
Production Assistants: Sammi Tapper, Rachel Schmaier, Sara Eslami Friedman