Dave’s Gone By Skit: RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #199 (12/13/2025): Eurovision

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Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection #199 (12/13/2025): EUROVISION

This Rabbinical Reflection first aired Dec. 13, 2025 on the Dave’s Gone By video podcast. 

Rabbi Sol’s Rabbinical Reflections are heard on the long-running Dave’s Gone By radio/video podcast program (davesgoneby.com) and then archived as text and audio on the Rebbe’s blog, Shalomdammit.com, where a transcript of this Reflection may be read. 

Rabbi Sol is also the creator of the stage show, “Shalom Dammit! An Evening with Rabbi Sol Solomon,” which played in NYC in Nov. 2011 and Aug. 2012.

© 2025 TotalTheater Productions. All Rights Reserved.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com 

 More on Rabbi Sol: shalomdammit.com

TRANSCRIPT:

Shalom Dammit! This is Rabbi Sol Solomon with a Rabbinical Reflection for mid-December 2025.

Ooh, I feel like bursting into song…a song of hate! It’s dedicated to the four countries that are boycotting Eurovision 2026. 

The Eurovision Song Contest, in case you didn’t know — and if you’re American, it’s like soccer: you know, but you don’t really give a shit — Eurovision holds an annual competition. Countries across the world submit their dumbest, most homogenized tunes for the honor of winning a glass microphone. The contest started in 1956, and it’s a global phenomenon, launching the careers of ABBA, Celine Dion, and Lulu, who won Eurovision 1969 with a song called “Boom Bang-a-Bang,” which should give you some idea of the profundity of this contest. 

Still, who doesn’t love a catchy song? And, like the Olympics, Eurovision is supposed to be an international alliance, free of politics and posturing. And I am Marie of Romania.  

Actually, Romania’s not the problem. They’re participating in Eurovision 2026, as are Finland, Albania, Serbia, Malta, Portugal, France, Italy—a host of Eastern and Western European countries with lousy songs to share. Four nations, however, have withdrawn from the competition. Why? They are boycotting because Israel has been allowed to take part. See, they feel that Israel’s revenge for October 7th has been a terrible genocide and, therefore, heaven forfend that they share the stage with Israeli Jews.

So many times I have explained that Hamas is the real cause of Palestinian suffering—not Bibi, not Trumpy, not the IDF. When you lie down with terrorists, you wake up dead. Which is an oxymoron, so I dedicate it to the maxi-morons of these useless countries: Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, and Ireland. In fact, the head of the Irish Eurovision Fan Club told The New York Times, and I quote: “I can’t see us returning as long as Israel is involved.” Unquote. Now, granted, being Irish he was probably drunk. But that’s no excuse. 

Remember when the Irish and the Jews got along? In the 1960s, Dublin even had an Orthodox Jewish mayor who had worked with the IRA. But in recent years, the IRA aligned with the PLO, so FUCK them. And that goes for Irish music, too. Van Morrison’s an asshole, Riverdance gives me headaches, and Enya puts me to sleep faster than a 30 milligram Ambien.

As for the Netherlands, their public-broadcasting arm explained that having Israel in Eurovision is quote, “not compatible with the responsibility we bear.” The Dutch, responsible? These are the people who told the Nazis, “Hey, that girl you’re looking for? She’s up in the attic.” 

Another country taking a “moral” anti-Israel stand is Slovenia. Since breaking from Yugoslavia in 1991, Slovenia has given the world so many things, like . . . like . . . more Slovenians. I’d also make an alcoholism joke, but I already used it on the Irish.

That leaves Spain. A curious people. An inquisitive people. In fact, their inquisition murdered, tortured, or forced into conversion tens of thousands of Jews. Remember, too, that for sport, Spaniards lasso an innocent bull, infuriate it, and then stab it in various places until it collapses. ¡Qué diversión! 

So this loathsome foursome—the Dutch, the Slovs, the micks and the spics—they all think that by pulling their presence and sponsorship from Eurovision, the world will join them in dumping on Zionism. Well, the joke’s on them, because the world already hates Jews anyway. If these boycotting countries had any guts, they’d write an anti-Semitic song and do that on the broadcast. Something like: 

Jews are stingy, Jews are dingy

Bing-Dang Ding-Dang Ring-a-Ding-Dong!

Why hide your Jew hatred behind liberal lies about Palestinian oppression? Let all the poison out: 

Nobody likes those big-nosed Kikes

Boogie-Oogie Boom-Boom Ring-a-Ding-Dong!

The final irony that I would like to point out is that one country threatened to exit Eurovision if they didn’t admit Israel. Again, I quote: “It’s a scandal this is even being discussed. Israel has a place there.” That quote comes from Friedrich Merz, chancellor of Germany. Well, gee, Fred. Schtup the past: all is forgiven! And I am Marie of Romania. 

Actually, I’m not, I’m Rabbi Sol Solomon, Temple Sons of Bitches in Great Neck, New York. Boom Bang-a-Bang.

(c)2025 TotalTheater. All rights reserved.

Dave’s Gone By #935 (3/16/2024): GARIN-TEED

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Here is the 935th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook Saturday morning, March 16, 2024.

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with cabaret’s Michael Garin, Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Sawpit), Greeley Times, Dave’s Big Dictionary (querulous).

Guest: cabaret pianist Michael Garin

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce:

Michael Garin

Dave’s Gone By Interview (5/27/2023): MARY FAHL & Rabbi Sol Solomon

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Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with musician MARY FAHL

Topics include: Can’t Get it Out of My Head, October Project, Dark Side of the Moon

Segment aired May 27, 2023 as part of the 896th episode of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio/video podcast program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2023 TotalTheater Productions.                                                   

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com 

More about Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com. 

Dave’s Gone By #854 (6/18/2022): LIVE AED

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Here is the 854th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook, Saturday morning, June 28, 2022. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Guests: Actress Aedin Moloney; theater critics David Sheward and Leslie (Hoban) Blake.
Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with actress Aedin Moloney; Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Today/Yesterday Trivia Quiz (June 18 w/ Aedin Moloney, David Sheward, Leslie (Hoban) Blake); Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Battlement Mesa); Inside Broadway (post-Tonys).

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (Washington Post, Hinckley)
00:41:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
01:19:30 INSIDE BROADWAY (post-Tonys)
01:31:30 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Aedin Moloney
02:02:00 TODAY/YESTERDAY Trivia Quiz (June 18 w/ Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Aedin Moloney, David Sheward)
03:15:00 Friends of the Daverhood
03:21:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Battlement Mesa)
03:24:00 DAVE GOES OUT

Aedin Moloney
David Sheward
Leslie (Hoban) Blake
Rabbi Sol Solomon
Battlement Mesa, CO

Dave’s Gone By Interview (6/18/2022): AEDIN MOLONEY & Rabbi Sol Solomon

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Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with actress AEDIN MOLONEY

Topics include: Yes Reflections on Molly Bloom, James Joyce, theater, Paddy Moloney, Chieftains

Segment aired June 18, 2022 as part of the 854th episode of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio/video podcast program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations.  For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2022 TotalTheater Productions.                                                   

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com 

More about Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com. 

Dave’s Gone By Skit: RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #175 (3/17/2022): James Joyce

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RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #175 (3/17/2022): James Joyce

(©2022 David Lefkowitz. Aired March 19, 2022 on Dave’s Gone By.) 

Shalom Dammit! This is Rabbi Sol Solomon with a Rabbinical Reflection for St. Patrick’s Day, 2022.

As the saying goes, everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! Italians, Hispanics, African-Americans are Irish. Well, Black Irish. Jews, too, identify with our Celtic brethren, because we suffered oppression, we love literature, and just as the Irish swallow their ale, Jews wallow in our ailments. 

I can think of no better way to celebrate Irishness than sharing poetry by James Joyce, who is, notwithstanding Agatha Christie and George R.R. Martin, the most important writer to have two first names. Here’s a little verse from 1904 called “Silently She’s Combing.”

Silently she’s combing, combing her long hair
Silently and graciously with many a pretty air.
The sun is in the willow leaves and on the dappled grass
and still she’s combing her long hair that goes down past her ass.

No, I’m kidding — it’s “before the looking glass.”

I pray you, cease to comb out, comb out your long hair.
All you’re doing is getting lice everywhere.

No, kidding again. I’ll spare you the rest of the poem; it’s just a guy worried that his girl is a skank.

Let’s try another verse, this one with a Jewish cadence: “All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters.”

All day I hear the noise of waters
making moan.
Sad as the seabird is when, going forth alone
He hears the winds cry to the water’s monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds —

See? This is why Jews move to Florida. 

I hear the noise of many waters far below.
All day, all night, I hear them flowing to and fro.

Basically, the guy needs a space heater and some Prozac. But James Joyce is clearly using nature to reflect the psychology of his characters. Much as Yiddish-Irish poet Shmuel O’Malleystein did when he wrote, “Toilet’s backed up again. Ruining the floors. Guess we go back to pooping outdoors.” 

Let me close my scholarly examination of James Joyce with this passage from Finnegan’s Wake, which I think is the key to his work, if not all literature:

The spoil of hesitants. The spell of hesitency. His atake — is it ashe, tittery-taw tattery-tail, Hasitense hump-on-a-dimply, heyhey-heyhey a winceywencky.

I couldn’t have put it better myself.

This has been a Rabbinical Reflection from Rabbi Sol Solomon, Temple Sons of Bitches in Great Neck, New York. Slainte’ (slant-cha) and L’Chaim!

© 2022 Totalheater

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Dave’s Gone By #769 (10/24/2020): KIR YOUR ENTHUSIASM

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Here is the 769th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook Saturday morning, Oct. 24, 2020. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Guest: musician Larry Kirwan, Dave’s wife Joyce

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Black 47 musician Larry Kirwan; Inside Broadway; Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Divide); Today/Yesterday (Oct. 24); Dave’s Big Dictionary (police state)

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (big watch, malt syrup & ring jells, candidates)
00:59:00 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Larry Kirwan
02:03:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
02:37:00 INSIDE BROADWAY
02:53:30 Friends of the Daverhood
03:00:00 TODAY/YESTERDAY (Oct. 24 trivia quiz)
03:39:30 DAVE’S BIG DICTIONARY (state police)
03:55:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Divide)
03:58:00 DAVE GOES OUT

Larry Kirwan
Divide, CO
Ring Jell Hell!
Rabbi Sol Solomon

Dave’s Gone By Interview (10/17/2020): KEVIN JAMES DOYLE & Rabbi Sol Solomon

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Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with comedian KEVIN JAMES DOYLE

Topics include: The 30 Year Old Virgin, stand-up comedy, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, COVID-19, Mike Birbiglia, Sex & the City, The Bradshaw Boys, New York City. 

Segment aired Oct. 17, 2020 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio/podcast program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations.  For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2020 TotalTheater Productions.                                                   

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

More about Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com

Dave’s Gone By Song (3/17/2018): KISS ME, I’M IRISH

A song for the Irishman in all of us.

Note: contains profanity and adult themes.

Song airs March 17, 2018, as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full show with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2018 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com
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Dave’s Gone By #549 (3/12/2016): HAIL TO THE CHIEFTAIN

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Here is the 549th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, March 12, 2016. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with musician Paddy Moloney (The Chieftains). Plus: Inside Broadway, Greeley Crimes & Old Times, Saturday Segue (In the News), Bob Dylan – Sooner & Later (Irish Up).
Host: Dave Lefkowitz

Guest: Paddy Moloney, Dave’s wife Joyce.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (spring break, fat shack, kmart, TV dog, Irish dancing & Irish towns)
00:35:30 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
01:13:00 DUMB QUESTIONS
01:27:30 Sponsors
01:34:00 SATURDAY SEGUE – In the News
02:06:00 INSIDE BROADWAY
02:33:00 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Paddy Moloney
03:32:00 DAVE GOES FURTHER IN w/ Joyce – tap dancing
03:38:00 Friends
03:50:30 BOB DYLAN – Sooner & Later (Irish Up)
04:13:00 Weather
04:15:00 DAVE GOES OUT

March 12, 2016 Playlist: “Saving Grace” (01:22:30; The Cranberries). “Seems So Long Ago, Nancy” (01:35:00; Leonard Cohen). “Because” (01:38:30; The Beatles). “Lucky Man” (01:41:30; Emerson, Lake & Palmer). “The Hat My Father Wore Upon St. Patrick’s Day” (01:46:00; Gene Kelly). “Nurds” (02:30:30; The Roches). “Happy to Meet” (02:33:30), “Loyals March” (02:38:30), “Love Theme (from `Barry Lyndon’)” (02:50:00), “The Walls of Liscarroll” (03:01:00), “Celtic Ray” (03:08:30) & “Shenandoah” (03:27:30; Van Morrison & The Chieftains). “El Chivo” (03:23:30; The Chieftains, Los Cenzontles & Ry Cooder). “Tuesday” (03:40:30; The Schlosser-Kammer Project). “All Over You” (03:52:00), “Million Dollar Bash (Take 1)” (03:59:30) & “Wild Mountain Thyme” ({live 1969}; 04:02:30; Bob Dylan). “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” (03:55:30; Shawn Colvin). “Hard Times Come Again No More” (04:16:30; The Chieftains & Paolo Nutini).

Paddy Moloney