That time Bernie Sanders played a rabbi in a movie

[Uncle Joe]

(CNN)Politician, writer, musician. And actor.

The Bernie Sanders back catalog might be the most eclectic in this or any other modern presidential race. Today, thanks to the web sleuths on a massive reddit page dedicated to the candidate, we get to see Sanders in the role of Rabbi Manny Shevitz (get it?) from the 1999 film, "My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception."

The Sanders campaign confirmed to CNN that it really is Sanders featured in the clip, but you'd be forgiven for thinking this is Larry David in another extended gag.

Speaking to those assembled for the wedding, Sanders' rabbi character gets sidetracked as the befuddled guests look on. He complains about the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn -- where the real Sanders was born -- and then starts in on the ills of free agency in baseball, channeling David and Jerry Seinfeld when he asks, "Two million dollars here, they spend $12 million there. What's so free about that free agency?"

Watch the clip here:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/03/politics/bernie-sanders-movie-rabbi/index.html

Here is a youtube video of the scene.

[dogman]

1. Channeling Sarah Palin at the end?

Funny!

[Skinner]

2. And here he is in some movie called "Sweet Hearts Dance"

[Uncle Joe]

3. Fascinating, thanks for the addition, Skinner.

Peace to you.

[elias49]

4. IDK. Could be Larry David

In any case...

[MineralMan]

5. Who knew he could act?

Wonderful. Thanks for posting this. He could be a stand up comic after he retires.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Even in this comedic role, Bernie's character addresses wealth and how it adversely affects sports.

[MineralMan]

7. Yup. That seems to be a regular part of his "schtick."

Again, thanks for the post!

[Uncle Joe]

8. It was my pleasure.

Peace to you, MineralMan.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Here's a little more background from Gawker.

Yesterday, Gawker reported on a clip of Bernie Sanders playing Rabbi Manny Shevitz (lol) in the 1999 comedy My X-Girlfriend’s Wedding Reception. “We knew Bernie,” the film’s director, Martin Guigui, told us this morning. “He was kind of a fixture in Burlington—a pretty personable mayor, walking the streets.”

Guigui grew up in Vermont when Sanders was the mayor of Burlington. His father, Efrain Guigui, was the director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. “Bernie and my dad—he used to come see my dad perform,” Guigui said.

(snip)

Guigui wrote the part of the rabbi for Sanders, and brought the script to him in his office. (By this point, he was a congressman.) “I told him the idea, read the lines that I’d written. He thought it was fun and funny.” Guigui remembers Sanders as being very gracious, and a natural on camera. “He only needed one take. He nailed it.”

“Bernie to us, in Vermont, was the guy who would always do the right thing. The way he speaks is benevolent, almost sermon-like,” Guigui said. “Bernie lays out—let’s call them truisms. That’s what rabbis do. They just want you to have a good, stress-free life, from womb to tomb. He’s a guy who’s gonna lead us to the promised land—like any good rabbi would.”


http://gawker.com/the-rabbinical-bernie-sanders-1756869188

[Laffy Kat]

10. He's actually very good!

That was funny. Such a mensch.

[elljay]

11. This is so Jewish Brooklyn!

Could be anyone in my family or in our neighborhood (originally in Brooklyn, then Long Island). I would support Bernie based on his policies even if he came from some other city or culture, but having him come from my background gives me just that extra bit of comfort and knowledge that he is authentic.