Islington’s only synagogue is raising funds to purchase a permanent Torah scroll through two special entertainment shows this weekend in central London. The shows, one on Sunday afternoon, the other on Sunday evening, will feature a variety of performers, including classical musicians, magicians and stand-up comics, with proceeds and raffle ticket sales going to the Torah scroll fund. One of the main acts will be redoubtable comic Sol Bernstein, the “oldest living Jewish comedian”, who is sure to offend and delight audiences equally.
When asked what topics are his go-to for comedy, Sol told the : “Sex is very important to me. Then family, very loosely politics, but basically rude stuff. And flirting with women in the audience,” he said, “which usually comes off well when they think you’re really 88 years old.
” Unlike his character Sol, who has been in comedy for some “70 years”, Steve, the comic’s real name, “woke up one day” in his mid 40s and realised he wanted to take a stab at a career in comedy. And unlike Sol, who was born in Belarus, Steve was born and raised in Stamford Hill. Even if the meaning of the occasional Yiddish word is missed, the vast majority of Sol’s jokes are palatable for a wider, non-Jewish audience, with the comedian being a regular on the comedy club scene in London.
Sunday’s performance for Chabad Islington, however, will allow Sol to feature some of his “insider” Jewish jokes. He says he has not run into problems p.
