You should bring the show to Nazareth, and maybe other parts of Israel as well...........

I have to say I'm shocked at Ray's unusual touch of balance and rationale this time. Finally, the guy wrote something that, although unrealistic, symbolizes the simplified vision of coexistence we all wish to regain after all these years. I'm a realist and I understand the complexity of the Arab-Israeli conflict so I know things will never be the way they were, at least not in my lifetime. Nevertheless, it is very uplifting, if only for a moment, to ponder what Ray says: "If we can laugh together, we can live together."

They don't call it "the good old days" for nothing. Nowadays, people in general have become so sophisticated that they forgot how simpler and better life used to be...ah, I am becoming nostalgic for those days now. Even though simplistic but not really out of touch, Ray has a good point. If people would laugh more (even at themselves), they would not think of the bad stuff, like hate or murder or whatever. They would be too busy having a good time and as simple as it sounds, there is nothing wrong with that...or maybe I am the one who is not "normal" but it's ok. I am happy.

It does not work!

bowels explode! the only thing that Arabs and Jews can laugh about is how both people are used and abused by their governments and leaders so that they can get richer and fatter and more powerful. Both peoples are suckers real fools for taking their governments crap and abuse. So we shall read about you for another 30 years lol on you all.

SORRY, BUT I FAIL TO SEE THAT ARABS ARE PREPARED TO LAUGH TOGETHER WITH JEWS. I quote you below: " Aaron Freeman, is joining me as we partner with three Israeli comedians.They include Shachar Chason, who will be the emcee of the shows. It will also include Yisrael Campbell – who my Palestinian friends simply refer to as “Entity Campbell" because they have a hard time pronouncing his name." So, your Arab buddies are not joining you in your laughs - tough luck, Ray. They are too busy making bomb belts and shooting Qassam rockets. They refuse to pronounce the name "Israel" of Mr.Campbell. DO YOU REALLY FIND IT VERY FUNNY? Chicago connection But the inspiration to put this together came from Charley Warady, who hosts Israelisms , a podcast previously featured on YnetNews.com that is taped every Friday with his wife, Carol, in Jerusalem

Well said. Sometimes we take ourselves much too seriously. Other times we seem to take others too seriously. Perhaps the endorphins obtained from laughter are the right prescription - even if not from "Pill Hill". People die everywhere, and often so needlessly. It seems certain that life, those of us who remain, demands that we live, love and laugh. And, of course, honour those who have left and can no longer join us. If we choose to live without laughter we are already dead. "The tragedy of a mans life is not his death, it is what dies within him while he lives." Perhaps laughter is a sort of "honour". Personally, I'll pass on the hummus.

I absolutely agree that "If we can laugh together, we can live together." I think that we have to put an end to this nightmare and create now, immediately, one democratic state with equal rights for all on all Palestine/israel, regardless of their religion. What stupid people dividing a small country with walls, checkpoints, disriminations for the only reason that the other side does not share this or that religion. Worship God as you like. Who cares! But don't forget to be human. And again: "If we can laugh together, we can live together."

Hope you come to Canada orthe States some time... public opinion here is noted in Jerusalem, I bet. Cheers.

just check what rocks comedy clubs in Egypt. (click on #1349) http://www.memritv.org/default.asp

You're so right Ray about humour and laughter. I remember attending a couple of Power of Laughter and Play conferences in Toronto years ago. One of the quotes I heard there was from Victor Borge: "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." www.laughteryoga.co.uk/1st.wav

Your take on the Arab/Israeli conflict is all together too simplistic. The reasons for the so-called walls and the checkpoints isn't because "the other side does not share this or that religion," especially since the majority of Israelis aren't religious. The reason is because one side (the Palestinians) would like to blow the other side (the Israelis) to kingdom come...and the Israelis aren't about to commit mass suicide in order to accomodate them. And as far as your high flown suggestion of having one democratic state, what makes you think the Palestinians are even interested in running a democratic state? After all, look who they chose to run their government when they were given the opportunity to have free elections.

Will Michael Steiner be joining your tour as well?

Ray, majority of muslims dont know how to laugh at themselves and take any joke at them as peronal insults. If you dont believe me than go do a stand up comedy routine in Gazza and make a joke about mohammad, or any other muslim leader. You would be hung up on the rafters straight away. They can only laugh and be happy when Israelis or Americans die, like during 9/11. The reason why us jews have survived for thousands of years while constantly under attack is precisely because we can laught at ourselves. What you are trying to do might work in Israel or America but wont work in any arabic country.

are not living with me because of the jewish aparthied laws that we are living with , iam an israeli citizen ( unfortionatly ) who is married to a palestinian woman , and my wife cannot come and live with , and i refuse to leave my homeland where i , my father , grandfather , and many many more where born , simply i will not laugh with an israeli until israelis recognise my rites and my childrens . till then they can laugh without me , but at the same time iam opptomistic , and i do beleive this will happen in my life time , and i will be able to laugh with my wife and children ..........

So, lets hook up the idea and get it working!!! cmon ray, dont be coy ;)

Give us a break Ray. Loser. Why is it other Arab American comedians won't work with you? "Too Jew" is what I heard. Maybe being on this web site is another reason. You deny your people. Maysoon Zayid is a REAL Palestinian who cares for her people. She's not a traitor.

the al-sadr, a reckless lad, charmed the teets of a HOLY COW. he charmed the teets of that poor old cow and her teets are dry as straw NOW. The bush and putin, with insight grand, took that bovine's teets in hand, they took that bovine's teets in hand and squeezed her 'til her eyeballs ran. now snakes be fiddles so we might play our prescient tunes the livelong day and charm a bovine's teets to drums so we might pound our milk to rum.

"Say.....is that a bomb on that bus?" The Pali comedian looks, squinting his eyes and responds," Yep....that's definitely a bomb." The Jewish comedian asks, "What's the bomb supposed to do?" The Palestinian comedian ponders the question a second and responds, "Its supposed to kill all you funny Jews....you smuck!"

make me cry ,and cry with me ,,, but not the one make me lauh and laugh at me .i listened to her before 50 years .. but i did not know what she had meane .untill i read this article ..sometimes the tears help more tha n the fun ..my tears not your fun ray

maybe by the end of the year there will be shiites with a sunni disposition.

when Cohin's son died, Cohin decided to declare the mourning in a local news paper. The newspaper official, asked him to complete the to be published line ; "Cohins mourns his son's death", as it will already cost him the same. Cohin found it a good idea and completed the line ...."and fixes hand-watches"