(Courtesy of Fleetwood Synagogue) For its third annual comedy night, Fleetwood Synagogue went back to the man who started it all, British comedian Ashley Blaker.

Blaker wowed a packed house on Saturday night as the shul’s main sanctuary was transformed into a comedy club not unlike what you’d see in Greenwich Village. A full bar, pub snacks and candlelit tables set the atmosphere for a memorable evening in the shul’s first in-person social event since the pandemic began.

Blaker impressively wrote his own 10 commandments as a means of explaining some quirks of Judaism to a Muslim friend, going on about Jewish holiday programs, Jewish and Israeli flying habits and the tradition of overeating. All of which was appropriate given the buffet of snacks and beverages available for audience enjoyment.

A tradition that began a few years ago, when a group of community members heard Blaker was stateside and decided to host a comedy night, served as a triumphant return to Saturday night in-person programming in the shul. Pre-pandemic, Fleetwood Synagogue hosted comedians, scholars and academics as part of its community-wide events. The community is looking forward to bringing back more programming, planning Purim festivities, community Shabbat luncheons and a shul dinner.

Blaker’s jokes about living in a close-knit Jewish neighborhood in London were particularly relevant for the audience: Fleetwood is a growing Modern Orthodox community in Southern Westchester, just north of New York City. Located walking distance from the Metro-North train just 30 minutes to midtown, Fleetwood is an affordable neighborhood equidistant from kosher food and amenities in Riverdale and New Rochelle. For more information on Fleetwood, email [email protected].