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Comedy reviews (and other comments):
(from published remarks, news
reports, comments & letters) (Ray’s show avoids f-words and other swear words, focusing on his experiencesgrowing up Arab in America and his unusual Palestinian-Jewish marriage. With some few exceptions, the show is very non-political.) Dixie Klemish, Coordinator As
an Aspect Foundation coordinator, I recently brought a group of 36 exchange
students and their host families to Chicago. The highlight of our trip was a
tour of Arab Chicagoland with Ray Hanania. Ray
entertained and educated us for several hours. His way of weaving together
lessons on the history of Arabs in the United States and Arab culture in
general with a hilarious comedy routine is amazing. His jokes are really
funny, but more importantly, they get people really engaged and thinking
about serious issues that affect people of all races and religions throughout
the world. Ray
really connected with the teenage students as well as the adults in our
group. Many commented on how funny and awesome Ray is in his presentation.
Everyone appreciated the chance to see a neighborhood settled by people of
Arab descent and more importantly to learn about the issues that affect Arab
Americans. Ray has a unique way of trying to bridge the gaps that remain between
people of different cultural backgrounds. I
would recommend Ray Hanania and his tour of Arab Chicagoland to everyone
wanting to spend a few hours laughing and learning about cultural issues
important to the whole world. Anton Fakhouri, president
Rabbi Michael Lerner
Mouhanad Hammami, MD
Mary Rose Oakar "Ray's humor is very funny. He makes us laugh as he explores the humorous aspects of our lives as Arabs in America. He says I am his biggest fan. He's one of my favorite comedians. ... A very talented and funny person. His humor is exceptional." Neal AbuNab
Imran Hossain
Karina Lifschitz
Nadeen AbuJaber
Imad Hamad "a
marvelous performance …"
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi "Ray
Hanania's standup comedy and humor is hilarious and badly needed. He is very
funny and I just couldn't stop laughing. We need more of his comedy. We need
more of his laughter. The best I have heard." Mike Leonard "Ray Hanania had a convention of newspaper columnists belly-laughing and gasping for air. We are a critical bunch. But Ray slaloms between smart and irreverent humor like a champion skier. He trots out some of the typical stereotypes that Westerners have about Palestinians and the Arab world and parodies them in such a way that he's hilarious, and at the same time the audience ultimately leaves more sensitized to these very prejudices. He's far more than an ethnic humorist, however. He's a thoughtful commentator and wry observer of things both large and small."
Rula Bibi, Coalition for Peace & Justice "During
the first Palestinian film festival that was held in Dallas, Texas on Sept.
6, 2003, we had invited Ray for a standup comedian show. Ray gracefully
agreed to also emcee the entertainment dinner as well. We have nothing but
good things to say about our interaction with Ray. He is a humble,
cooperative and gentle person. On top of all that, he is also very
funny. His show really added a great highlight to our evening. The hall was
filled with laughter and cheers. His jokes were not only very humorous, but
also very intellectual and witty. We would definitely invite him to one of
our next, upcoming festivals." Rabbi David Steinberg "Politically
speaking, Hanania is just the sort of moderate, peace-loving,
terrorism-hating, Arab voice that needs to be heard more rather than less.
[His views] beautifully expresses the hopes for peace to which we have all so
diligently tried to cling in the face of setback after setback." Jim Slusher "When
columnists -- such as Mona Charen and Charles Krauthammer -- write about the
MidEast, almost none of them write from the Arab point of view. … He makes
you think. And his newspaper background is very evident. … We're gratified to
see he's really engaging readers." Joel Henning "How
refreshing to hear him. … my experience at Schaumburg's Comedy Spot suggests
that Mr. Hanania's first helping of material can make a mostly young,
ethnically diverse American audience laugh just days after the anniversary of
9/11, in between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur." Michael Feldman "He's
called the Palestinian Jackie Mason ... Ray Hanania. He's down there in
Chicago. By all means, check him out. ... He's a very funny individual." Jyll Rosenfeld, Manager/Wife "It's not exactly like he's just an Arab-American - this guy's a Palestinian. Jackie does not feel comfortable having a Palestinian open for him. Right now it's a very sensitive thing. It's just not a good idea." The Progressive Magazine
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002 "I
just have to tell you that as a big NPR listener, I've heard quite a bit of
you lately (on with Michael Feldman and tonight on WBUR)...and I think you're
hilarious! Your comedy is wonderful, and I hope you come to Massachusetts
sometime. It was a great show on "On Point" tonight, and you were a
highlight.
David Lewis "[Hanania] is kind of like a Palestinian Woody Allen with a Chicago accent …" Stella Foster "very funny and entertaining …" Chicago Newspaper Guild Journalism Awards "Ray
Hanania of the Chicago Sun-Times today won a Chicago Newspaper Guild 1986
Stick-O-Type award in column writing for displaying a special voice in
columns that were humorous and insightful." "Ray Hanania of the Chicago Southtown Economist tonight won a Chicago Newspaper Guild 1984 Stick-O-Type Award for Best Column for his deft analyses that deflate the overblown and irritate the mighty." (Three-time winner, Society of Professional Journalists,
Chicago Headline Club Lisagor Award/Column Writing, 1985/2003/2006.) Paul Newman "I know you guys are above embarrassment, but you will label yourselves as first-class working assholes when you see CRUISE shoot pool in THE COLOR OF MONEY. Whenever the occasion arises to cite examples of media inaccuracy, I will make a point of mentioning you by name." |
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LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION From TIKKUN RABBI MICHAEL LERNER: "Skillfully blending humor with social commentary, Hanania both educated and entertained in a way that ruffled no feathers, yet opened doors of understanding that were still reverberating days after his presentation. Creating a space for such a diverse audience to feel safe with each other is a monumental task, and Hanania did it with ease and finesse that were deeply appreciated—while charming the audience and keeping them rolling in laughter. To see rabbis, Catholic priests, Muslim imams, Buddhist meditators, and many secular people all jumping to their feet in deep appreciation of Hanania, and of each other, was very moving." -- Rabbi Michael Lerner, July 25, 2005
MORE COMMENTS: "As
today's world is rushing forward with an understanding of world affairs
through mere soundbites, I've found the Israeli Palestinian Comedy team a
potent factor in getting people to laugh to a greater understanding of real
issues on the ground." "HILARIOUS" "The
show was entertaining and thought provoking ... based on the feedback we
received, our audience was captivated." "The
Israeli-Palestinian comedy tour is hysterically funny, playing to packed
audiences for the last week in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv." "The
show last night was unbelievable. It was outrageous," "The
Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour proves the power of humor: the performers
helped members of the audience shed inhibitions and poke fun at
themselves. People came out thinking and talking about the legitimacy
of other people's points of view, whether as Orthodox Jews, Palestinians,
Olim, Converts. Did you change people's minds? Maybe. But
you certainly opened their eyes." "The
comedy tour ... packs a potentially explosive comic punch." "a
side splitting lineup" "The
performance ... had the audience laughing nonstop for nearly two hours" "The
audience, mostly English-speaking Israelis, laughed hard at the jokes, which
sometimes tested political and religious limits." "Greeted
by applause and then uproarious laughter, the first ever Israeli-Palestinian
comedy show took the city by bellyaching storm."
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