Tablet Magazine looks back at National Lampoon, reprinting in full The Joys of Yiddish, a famous parody written by National Lampoon‘s first editor Gerry Sussman. Sussman helpfully began the instructions:

“The important thing to remember in learning Yiddish, is that many words have a “ch” or “cheh” sound in them. It is similar to the Scottish and German “ch,” only thicker, heavier and juicier. If you are having trouble pronouncing the “ch,” simply put your index and middle fingers as far down in your throat as you can, as if you were inducing a vomit. Bring up a little sound. You are now doing the Yiddish “ch.”

Read the whole piece at Tablet.  More of Sussman’s work, as well as many others work from the magazine, has been has been published in a new book by prolific National Lampoon contributor Rick Meyerowitz, Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Writers and Artists Who Made the National Lampoon Insanely Great.

On November 11 at the 92nd Street Y, Meyerowitz will join other well known alumni of National Lampoon, such as Danny Abelson, part of the first writing team, Sean Kelly, the poet laureate of the Lampoon, Arnold Roth, star cartoonist, and Michael Reiss, former Lampoon editor who has been head writer for The Simpsons since it first aired. Tickets can be purchased here.

Upcoming Arts & Entertainments Talks coming up at 92Y: Sarah Jessica Parker in Conversation with Leonard Lopate (Oct 26; leave your questions here!); Gloria Vanderbilt with Wendy Goodman (Nov 21); Steve Martin with Deborah Solomon (Nov 29); Lynda Barry and Maira Kalman: Words and Pictures (Dec 2); and Chautauqua in Residence at 92Y: E. L. Doctorow, Jim Lehrer and Marsha Newman with Roger Rosenblatt (Dec 5).

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