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Jojo Khalastra (Hebrew: ז'וז'ו חלסטרה) was an Israeli satiric character played by Zvika Hadar in 1994–1995.[1]
| Jojo Khalastra | |
|---|---|
| Ha-Comedy Store character | |
 Zvika Hadar, who portrayed the character. | |
| First appearance | Ha-Comedy Store |
| Portrayed by | Zvika Hadar |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Jojo Abuksis |
| Gender | Male |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Nationality | Israeli |
Initially the character was called Jojo Abuksis and made its TV debut in 1993 on Dudu Topaz's show.[2]
Jojo Khalastra appeared on The Comedy Store, a show on Israel Television's Channel Two, as the iconic Mizrahi ars, a Hebrew slang term derived from Arabic[3] referring to a stereotyped male character who wears flashy jewelry and clothing. Khalastra in his current form debuted in 1994 and soon became the show's signature character. With his leopard-skin shirt and a trademark hairdo,[4] Khalastra was known for his malapropisms and humorous yet insightful take on social affairs in Israel.[5]
From his name and accent, it is clear that Jojo represents a stereotypical Mizrahi Jew. "Khalastra" is an invented word that the character uses to describe his hot-blooded response to perceived slights.[6]
The role of Jojo Khalastra turned Hadar into a cultural icon among young Israelis and the show was deemed a runaway success.[7]
Hadar would find greater success with his own sitcom Shemesh, which referenced Jojo on several occasions, this was intentional as many of the same people involved with The Comedy Store helped make Shemesh.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Peleg, Yaron (2008). "From Black to White: Changing Images of Mizrahim in Israeli Cinema" (PDF).
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)[permanent dead link] - ^ הופעת הבכורה של צביקה הדר וז'וז'ו חלסטרה (1993), retrieved 2023-07-09
- ^ Israeli Hebrew slang guide
- ^ Sports channel's all-night twin bill, Jerusalem Post
- ^ Born in Beersheba, Jerusalem Post
- ^ A Club of Their Own: Jewish Humorists and the Contemporary World, edited by Eli Lederhendler, Gabriel N. Finder
- ^ Born in Beersheba, Jerusalem Post