S26-22 Third Annual How to Laugh in Yiddish
Class | Registration opens 3/2/2026 9:00 AM EST
A recent study of Jews found that 42% of American Jews consider having a good sense of humor to be an essential part of what it means to be Jewish. In this hour-long session,Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus will take us on a journey through the world of Yiddish humor as exemplified by dozens of classic Yiddish jokes.Prepare to laugh,learn,and gain a deeper understanding of the underlying spirit of one of Jewish cultures most beloved aspects. NOTE: Knowledge of Yiddish is not necessary to understand the humor. All jokes will be translated. And they are all NEW; none were told at last year’s event.
Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus
Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus, son of Holocaust survivors, was raised in an Orthodox environment in Brooklyn, New York. A graduate of Brooklyn College with a degree in philosophy, he earned a Master of Education degree from NYU and was ordained in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1972. Rabbi Wainhaus served congregations in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and in Manhattan prior to becoming the spiritual leader of Congregation Or Shalom in Orange in 1981. Rabbi Wainhaus has immersed himself in the Jewish and secular life of the community and is highly regarded as a spiritual leader, educator, and lecturer on a wide range of religious and secular issues. His involvement in interfaith activities throughout Greater New Haven has earned him the respect and admiration of Jews and non-Jews alike.