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American-Israeli comedians Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt engage communities with conversation and laughs about all things Israel, based on their new book, Israel 201 (Gefen Publishing House Ltd., www.gefenpublishing.com). Falmouth Jewish Congregation, 7 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth | Sunday, October 15 at 7pm A Comedy Fundraiser for Falmouth Jewish Congregation Open to the public Tickets: FJC Members $25 | General Admission $30 | Sponsor $50 | Benefactor $100 Purchase tickets at www.falmouthjewish.org Book sales by Eight Cousins Bookshop How did Jerusalem’s stray cat problem spur religious debate? What’s it like to be an openly gay combat soldier in the IDF? And what’s so funny about moving to Israel and trying to build a life there, anyway? On Sunday, October 15, on behalf of the Jewish Book Council, comedians Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt visit Falmouth Jewish Congregation in East Falmouth to promote their hit book “Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land.” “There’s so much more to Israel than what we see in the news,” says Chasnoff, a Chicago native. “With Israel turning seventy-five, Benji and I wanted to give communities a deeper, more nuanced understanding of what it’s like to actually live in this special and often crazy country.” “We want to engage audiences and make them laugh,” says Lovitt, a native of Dallas. “But we also want to give communities the chance to talk about Israel openly and honestly, in a safe space.” In their book Israel 201, Chasnoff and Lovitt pull back the curtain to unveil a comprehensive portrait of the country that extends beyond the typical Israel narrative. In the words of former prime minister Ehud Barak, whose effusive blurb appears on the back cover of Israel 201: “This wonderful book will show you the Israel you didn’t know you didn’t know.” Topics include everything from pre–Yom Kippur bike sales and shomer-Shabbos car insurance policies to Arab Israeli stand-up comedy, the Olympic team’s preoccupation with “barefoot sports,” and the connection between subterranean tectonic plates and home prices in Tel Aviv. “The narrative we present in Israel 201 is honest, nuanced, and written with love,” Chasnoff says. “The premise is simple: the more people know about Israel, warts and all, the more connected to the country they’ll feel.” Israel: 201 has received advanced praise from notable names in the Jewish world, including Mayim Bialik, Yossi Klein Halevi, Ehud Barak, and David Broza. About the Authors Joel Chasnoff is a stand-up comedian and author of three previous books, including the comedic memoir The 188th Crybaby Brigade, about his experience as a lone soldier in the IDF. Benji Lovitt is a comedian and writer who has been featured in USA Today and Time magazine. Videos, author bios, and more at www.Israel201.com and Gefen Publishing House Ltd., www.gefenpublishing.com