Should have seen that dancing rabbi
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- September
- 14
Did you catch any of the Chabad Telethon yesterday?
I was between football games when I came across the annual telethon, at least a portion of which was hosted by Larry King. It was on Channel 9, I think.
I’ve seen bits and pieces of the telethon before, which the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic sect uses to raise money for a variety of social programs. The interesting thing is that they are able to attract lots of big name talent to the cause.
I always get a kick out of seeing people like King introducing acts and working the phones with black-hatted, long-beared Chabad rabbis (who always seem so energetic and excited).
According to Chabad: “Past participants include Bob Dylan, Martin Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, Dennis Franz, Anthony Hopkins, Howie Mandel, Jimmy Kimmel, Matisyahu, Edward James Olmos, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bernie Mac, and Mike Piazza. The casts of numerous television shows, including ‘Friends’ and ‘Everyone Loves Raymond,’ have also made appearances.”
Yesterday, they had a dancing rabbi who danced for six straight hours while he answered questions about all the good work that Chabad does. Rabbi Yossi Cunin told JewishJournal.com that he trained with a celebrity trainer who is said to be responsible for LL Cool J’s physique.
Cunin said he was trying to demonstrate “joy in the extreme.”
Watch him train:
This entry was posted
on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
That sounds pretty funny…I’m going to look for it on YouTube right now!
I landed on the telethon as a clutch of fellows whirled and danced. I felt like I was in a time warp: It reminded me of the Ed Sullivan Show, with the straight-faced announcer, the Borscht-belt comedian and the gleeful dancers.