Jewish Humor Different Authors Present

Jewish Humor

Different authors present remarkably similar views on the questions, "what is Jewish Humor?" And "what is a Jewish Joke?" Some, like Abrami and others who focus on Freud's analysis of Jewish humor, note that self-hatred and masochism are the key characteristics of Jewish humor. Others, like Spalding, present a view of Jewish humor that is steeped in Biblical traditions and themes. Some focus more on Eastern European Jewish cultures to reveal the historical and cultural roots of jokes. Yet others synthesize the wealth and complexity of Jewish history and tradition to provide a holistic answer to the question, "What is Jewish Humor?"

What is Jewish humor? What is a Jewish joke? The answer to both questions begins with the theme of self-reflection and self-satire. The "funny you don't look Jewish" theme, for example, addresses many layers of the Jewish experience including diaspora and diversity within the Jewish community. The concept of "looking Jewish" is contrasted with the stigma of "looking Jewish" and ultimate is sublimated into pride related to being Jewish through the power of humor. While some authors like Abrami discuss the self-reflexive nature of Jewish humor in psychoanalytic terms, others do so in more existential or sociological terms.

All authors writing about Jewish humor refer to the timelessness of Jewish jokes as defining characteristics. The jokes may morph to reflect prevailing historical and cultural realities without sacrificing their core meanings, which related back to the experience of being Jewish. For example, in What's the Joke? A Study of Jewish Humour Through the Ages, Chaim Bermant answers the question "What is Jewish Humor?" In a straightforward manner by stating that Jewish humor reflects the lives of Jewish people. A Jewish joke is one that resonates with Jewish people throughout the diaspora because of the recognition of common cultural bonds. Often those bonds are forged through the emotional connection of pain.

A Jewish joke can create insider humor and in-group bonds. In Life is Like a Glass of Tea: Studies of Classic Jewish Jokes Richard Raskin traces the origin of several Jewish jokes to their Biblical roots. A Jewish joke is, as Raskin suggests, one that transcends time. The Jewish joke may even transcend cultural context because the family of Jews spread around the world can use humor as a thread of connection. However, Jewish jokes do not stagnate. They evolve in order to reflect the lives and culture of the people who understand them.