Ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim in Hebrew, usually make headlines for refusing military service. Sometimes for other negative events, but never because they’re funny. Yet they also have a well-known Jewish sense of humor that rarely reaches the public eye.

One example of how Jews in black suits can also have fun and entertain the public is the satirical group “Bardak.” Its name means something like “mess” or “chaos,” and that is the program of the comedy group, which humorously satirizes the lives of Haredim.

Bardak was founded by Efi Skakovsky and Meni Wakshtock, who both studied in Orthodox yeshivas but eventually discovered their talent for comedy. “The style is characterized by observational humor found in everyday situations in Israeli culture. Much of their work focuses on the Haredi community, but the content also addresses broader themes related to Israeli culture, politics, and social dynamics. The approach is generally lighthearted, avoiding overt political positions and attempting to bridge cultural divides through relatable humor,” writes Sam Sokol about Bardak.

The group’s sketches are spoken in Hebrew and occasionally in Yiddish, but most are understandable without words. However, many of the jokes are more “inside jokes” that are more likely to be funny to members of the Haredi community.

In the following video, for example, a group of young men are practicing a dance for their soon-to-be-wed friend. It is Jewish custom to please the groom with dances, and in the Haredi community, there are some talented men who live only for this moment. (At my wedding, an elderly rabbi suddenly started breakdancing for me. I wasn’t amused, but worried about his health.)

Back to the clip, the young man teaches his friends the dance steps by associating each move with a religious action. For example, he says “tie tefillin (phylacteries)” for one move, “go to the mikvah on Friday” for another, and so on. It’s especially funny when he explains a move to a friend, who interprets it differently because he’s Sephardic.

The second video addresses the age-old problem of children not having to fast on fasting days. While the synagogue is full of hungry men, children sometimes sit there, munching away with relish. The sounds of food and the smell of snacks make it very difficult to concentrate on prayers. Bardak’s charismatic comedian portrays this predicament very well, but see for yourself.