The Kosher Hams is a Jewish comedy/theater group that is part of Nevei Kodesh, the Jewish Renewal Community of Boulder, Colorado. They have been writing and performing provocative, satirical and humorous plays since their inception in early 1994.

The Hams consist of psychotherapists, editors, and other professionals who love to be creative and funny in their spare time. They believe that humor is an essential aspect of Judaism, and that nothing is too sacred to poke fun at (especially on Purim).

Their performances include wacky and hilarious versions of the Queen Esther story (performed on Purim), Bible stories  acted in a way that makes the ancient stories come alive, insightful teachings for Yom Kippur clothed in humor, tributes to the incredible life of Reb Zalman, performances written for the annual gathering of Jewish Renewal rabbis, and lots of making fun of all matters spiritual, Jewish, Jewish Renewal, rabbinic, and holy (mostly done with respect).

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, has encouraged the Kosher Hams at every turn, as has Rabbi Zalman-Schachter-Shalomi, the leader of the Jewish Renewal movement and one of their biggest fans.

The Kosher Hams are greatly loved by their community and all who see them, young, old, and in-between. They continue to perform several times each year in Boulder.

Here is a partial list of their performances, from 1994 to the present:

PURIM PLAYS
Westside Megillah
The Book of Esther: The Sequel
The Past Life Adventures of Princess Di
Café Lashon Hara
The Rabbis of Renewal Erotica Calendar
Queen Monica Meets King Bill
The Purim Leprechauns
The Hams Go Hollywood
The Dating Game
The True Story of Esther, Ahashverus (Bush) and Haman (Cheney)

PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY
The Feminist Herstory of Hanukah
Secrets and Lies/As the Four Worlds Turn
The Screwtape Letters meets Yom Kippur
MEDLEY: New Task Force #9, JRCB (YMCA), Put Ten Grand in the Hand,
Breaking Up is Hard to Do, etc.

OHALAH RABBINIC CONFERENCE
The Search for the Perfect Rabbi
It's A Farkachte Life
Trading Places
Back to the Future
The Reduced Torah
American Rebbe

TORAH PORTIONS
Moses and the Spies
Kid Korach
Jacob and Esau
Jonah

IN HONOR OF RABBI ZALMAN SCHACHTER-SHALOMI
The Z-Files
The Reb Zalman Legacy Museum

For more information about the Kosher Hams, contact Donna Zerner, zdonna@comcast.net