Humorist Mark D. Zimmerman writes a weekly Jewish trivia column, offering multiple choice answers to challenge and enlighten the reader. Click on the link to see if you’ve guessed correctly.
Zimmerman is the author of a series of Jewish trivia books, under the title RASHI, RAMBAM and RAMALAMADINGDONG: A Quizbook of Jewish Trivia Facts & Fun. The quizzes are designed to challenge, educate, entertain, and make you laugh. Are Tzitzit disease-carrying Mediterranean flies? Are Israeli cherries harvested during the Jubilee year? Is Gefilte Phish one of Ben and Jerry’s best-selling Israeli ice cream flavors?
Raised on the Three Stooges, The Addams Family, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and most importantly, the Marx Brothers, Zimmerman combines his comedic sensibilities with his background in Jewish Communal Service and synagogue and day school volunteer work to create Jewish trivia guaranteed to stimulate and amuse.
His books, available on Amazon, include:
Nikki Haley recently said in an interview, “I hope that everyone will remember what a good friend I was to Israel and know that I would never let up on that.” Nikki Haley has received praise from many Israelis, including which of the following? {Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Nikki Haley Read More »
Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USABy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Tommy Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers comedy team, passed away last week. The Smothers Brothers combined music, humor, and their playful sibling rivalry (Tommy’s trademark retort to Dick was “Mom always liked you best”) to entertain, while also emphasizing political satire and liberal politics as part
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tommy Smothers, R.I.P. Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Rudy Giuliani was recently found liable for defamation after making false claims against two Georgia election workers, following the defeat of Donald Trump in the last presidential election. Last week Giuliani was ordered to pay retribution of $148 million to the victims, which led him to declare bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Giuliani continues
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Rudy Giuliani Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Norman Lear died last week at the age of 101. Lear was a writer and producer who created dozens of television sitcoms, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time, among others. He received numerous awards for his work, including 6 Emmys,
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Norman Lear, Z”L Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Henry Kissinger died last week at the age of 100. Born in 1923 in Germany, Kissinger and his family fled the country in 1938 to escape increasing antisemitism, including beatings he suffered by Hitler Youth gang members. He went to college in New York, studying accounting, until he was drafted into
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Henry Kissinger, Z”L Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Javier Milei was just elected president of Argentina. Milei, an economist, author, politician, former tantric sex coach, and self-described “anarcho-capitalist,” is a right-wing libertarian and populist who supports freedom of choice on issues such as drugs, guns, prostitution, and LGBTQ issues, while opposing abortion. He believes that global warming is a
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Javier Milei Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman President John F. Kennedy was assassinated 60 years ago this week in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was the son of Joseph Kennedy, Sr., a wealthy businessman and philanthropist. Joseph Kennedy was a known antisemite who, while he was serving as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1938, told the
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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Dr. Ruth was just named New York State’s Ambassador to Loneliness, with a charge to help New Yorkers cope with the loneliness epidemic. Dr. Ruth, the Holocaust survivor who gained fame as a sex therapist, says that she began focusing on this issue when she was isolated during the COVID lockdown,
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Dr. Ruth Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Actor Matthew Perry died tragically at the age of 54. Perry was best known for playing Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends. Bing was not one of the Jewish characters on the show–among the six friends, Ross, Monica and Rachel were Jewish. Which Friends episode featured Chandler Bing with a Jewish
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Matthew Perry RIP Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Actor Richard Roundtree died last week at the age of 81. He was best known for his portrayal of detective John Shaft in the movie Shaft as well as two sequels, Shaft’s Big Score! and Shaft in Africa, after which he played the same character in seven made-for-TV movies. The Shaft
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Shaft/Richard Roundtree RIP Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman During Jerry Seinfeld’s recent stand-up performance in Boston, he answered an audience member’s question about the final episode of the Seinfeld television show by saying “Something is going to happen that has to do with that ending. It hasn’t happened yet,” implying that he and co-creator Larry David are working on
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Seinfeld Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Senator Dianne Feinstein died at the age of 90, just hours after casting a vote on the floor of the United States Senate, where she served since 1992 as California’s first female senator. Among the issues that Senator Feinstein promoted were HIV/AIDS funding, women’s reproductive health needs, gun control, and support
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Dianne Feinstein, Z”L Read More »
California, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman In many Orthodox communities, the intermediary days of Sukkot (chol hamoed) are occasions for family activities, community-wide trips, outdoor events, and more, as schools are closed. Synagogue trips to amusement parks and other family activity sites are common. For example, Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, and
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Swimming on Sukkot Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Since 2019, Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square has been the location of public Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services, sponsored by Rosh Yehudi, a non profit organization. The services have attracted upwards of 2000 attendees, from Haredi Jews wearing kippot and tallitot, to secular Israelis in shorts and with bared heads, to
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Yom Kippur in Dizengoff Square Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire