APRIL 6 • 2023 | 37
F
rom Sarah to Seinfeld:
4,000 Years of Jewish
Humor” is the tagline
for a very special event being
held at Troy’s Congregation
Shir Tikvah this month.
Shir Tikvah is hosting
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg’s
Comedy Show, an evening
of laughs, food, fun and a
silent auction fundraiser on
Saturday, April 22, at 7 p.m.
Rabbi Arnie will be
delivering his stand-up
comedy routine, which
he’s also performed at
Congregation Beth
Shalom in Traverse City
and recently at Oakland
University.
Rabbi Arnie retired
as spiritual leader of
Congregation Shir Tikvah in
June 2016 after 28 years with
the congregation. He now
serves as rabbi emeritus.
“I thought he should be
performing it
at Shir Tikvah
as well, since
we’re his home,”
said Joyce May,
the chair of
Shir Tikvah’s
membership
committee, who organized
the evening.
The discussion began
in late summer 2022, they
came up with a date, the i’s
were dotted and the t’s were
crossed.
What sets this event
apart from any other is it’s
a rabbi doing comedy, not
necessarily your typical
stand-up comedian, May
said.
Even when he’s not doing
his comedy routine, May
says Rabbi Arnie has a great
sense of humor.
“He’s extremely spiritual,
kind and compassionate and
all those wonderful things.
But he’s also very funny; just
while having dinner with
him, he can say something
clever and witty,” May said.
“It’s not really a quirky
sense of humor, but he
sometimes will kind of
catch you off guard. He’ll
say something seriously and
you look over at him and
he’s got a little twinkle in his
eye, and you’ll realize he’s
kibitzing.”
Rabbi Arnie’s full stand-up
routine is expected to last an
hour and 15 minutes. There
will be a wine reception
when people arrive as well as
a silent auction with prizes
and an oneg with lots of
food. Proceeds from ticket
sales and the silent auction
will go to the shul.
The congregation is very
excited for this event, May
said.
“It’s been a rough several
years with COVID. As we
come out of it, people just
need an evening of laughter,”
May said. “That’s what we
hope for, that people will
come, they’ll schmooze,
they’ll see old friends and
the laughter will lighten the
mood. My goal is for people
to leave happy.”
Shir Tikvah is providing
an option for a virtual
viewing through Zoom as
well as in-person.
Purchase your tickets ($36)
at www.shirtikvah.org/event/
rabbiarniecomedynight.html.
Call the shul at (248) 649-
4418 for further questions.
“It’s going to be a great
evening and lots of fun,” May
said. “We’d like to share it
with as many people in the
community as we can.”
A Rabbi Walks
Into a Comedy
Show
Congregation Shir Tikvah is hosting
a night of comedy with its
longtime spiritual leader,
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg.
Joyce May
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
Rabbi Arnie
Sleutelberg