Judaism and Humor Featuring Wally the Wonder Weasel

8/6/2019 Judaism and Humor Featuring Wally the Wonder Weasel

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JUDAISM AND HUMORFeaturing

Wally The Wonder Weasel

ChavrutaJest !""#resented $y

T%evet &eit Midrash

Is There Humor In Judaism?


2/18

!"" !

# " " "! $%&"' " # " ! ' %&"'!(! ("' ()"$

*a++ah used ,o sa- some,hin. humorous ,o his s/ho0ars +e1ore he /ommen/ed 2hisdis/ourse3# in order ,o amuse ,hem4 a1,er ,ha, he sa, in a5e and /ommen/ed ,he 0e/,ure$

6$ 7ha, does ,his sa- a+ou, ,he 8resen/e o1 humor in re0i.ious 0i1e?9$ :or 5ha, 8ur8ose is humor +ein. used here?;$ $ I1 -ou are a moreh morah# ho5 man- @ids remem+er e=er-,hin. -ouA=e said in shiur?Ho5 man- o1 ,hem remem+er a00 o1 BamAs 8uns? Ce hones,$ 7e 5onA, Dud.e -ou$

7ha, Eind F1 Jo@e Gi.h, *a++a Ha=e Baid?ou 5i00 ha=e ,o 0oo@ a, ,he He+re5 1or ,his one

" K !"" !

L 'M ( !) #( &M"& & ' ) ) ( N & ( ?( ! (''O ) %)) % %&' ' ) ') ()!)" $') ()!)" P ( #') ( "' " P ( 4 ) ! N " ' P Q ' ( "

R # &M P " (! " ' ) ! ') ( "' " # &M ! P " (! "( ! N "' '

( ( "&?This .emara is ,a0@in. a+ou, ,he reSuiremen,s ,o /he/@ a house 1or hame,U +e1oreVesa/hCu, do 5e sa-# 5e donA, sus8e/, ,ha, a 5ease0 ma- ha=e dra..ed 20ea=en3# e,/$? Bure0-,he se/ond /0ause s,a,esN 7ha, he 0ea=es o=er he mus, 8u, a5a- in a hidden 80a/e# so ,ha,i, shou0d no, reSuire a sear/h a1,er i,? Baid W+a-e$ There is no di11i/u0,-N ,he one 2re1ers,o a sear/h3 on ,he 1our,een,h4 ,he o,her# on ,he ,hir,een,h$ 2I1 one sear/hes3 on ,he,hir,een,h# 5hen +read is 2-e,3 ,o +e 1ound in a00 houses# i, 2a 5ease03 does no, hide20ea=en34 on ,he 1our,een,h# 5hen +read is no, ,o +e 1ound in a00 houses# i, does hide 2i,3$Baid *a=aN Is ,his a 5ease0 a 8ro8he,ess?

(! O !"" ! ' #( ! #! O" #(& #(' " # ' #(') ? (&& % "& ")

7ho are ,he se=en 8ro8he,esses? Barah# Gir-am#


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O"( ' ) ' %" ( %" !) ) ( "&( ( ! ! ( ) %) ' " %( ( ( ! L! ( ! '" (&) " !) ' " ") ( N

Bo Hi0@iah ,he 8ries,# and Whi@am# and W/h+or# and Bha8han# and Wsaiah# 5en, un,oHu0dah ,he 8ro8he,ess# ,he 5i1e o1 Bha00um ,he son o1 Ti@=ah# ,he son o1 Harhas# @ee8ero1 ,he 5ardro+eRRno5 she d5e0, in Jerusa0em in ,he se/ond Suar,erRRand ,he- s8o@e 5i,h

her$6$ 7ha, s8e/i1i/ 8ro+0em is *a=a raisin. on W+a-e?9$ Ho5 /ou0d he ha=e 8hrased his Sues,ion di11eren,0-? 7ha, 5ord a88ears unusua0 here?;$ 7ha, is *a=a ma@in. re1eren/e ,o?>$ :or 5ha, 8ur8ose did *a=a ma@e ,his re1eren/e?Y$ 7h- do -ou ,hin@ he mi.h, ha=e done ,his?Z$ 7ha, @ind o1 8erson 5ou0d -ou ha=e ,o +e ,o 1ind ,his 1unn-?

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Ti1eres isroe0 W0 Ha Gishna# *a= israe0 ]i8s/hu,U 6` 9R6 Zb

c hi0dish V0a-in. N This is a 8ara+0e 1or 0au.h,er and humor# ,ha, a0so ,his# a 0i,,0e +i, is1ine# ,o .0adden ,he sou0# +u, on0- 5i,h 8eo80e o1 .rea, s,a,ure# +e/ause in ,heir [email protected]# ,here is .rea, 5isdom^$Cu, re.u0ar /hi0dish 80a-# 5hi/h is 0au.h,er and humor5i,hou, a ,ra/e o1 5isdom or @no50ed.e# ,he sou0 is no, .0addened +-# and 5i00 on0- miu8 ,he in,e00e/,$

6$ 7hen does ,he Ti1eres isroe0 sa- humor is a .ood ,hin.? 7hen is i, +ad?9$ 7ha, does he add ,o our unders,andin. o1 ,he 8ur8oses o1 humor?

K (K !"" !

$ $ ) ' ('(K ( #(' ( " !K" R % ( Of' ) $( ( !K" R %" %& %"' ) K ' ( & !K" R "' ) $(&( ( (!K" R " %" ! ) "' )

7hen *a++an o/hanan +en ga@@ai died# ,he s80endor o1 5isdom /eased$ 7hen *a++anam0i e0 ,he X0der died# ,he honor o1 Torah /eased# as did 8uri,- and a+s,inen/e$ 7hen

*a++i ishma e0 +en Va=i died# ,he s80endor o1 ,he 8ries,hood /eased$ 7hen *a++i2 ehuda HaRnasi3 died# humi0i,- and 1ear o1 sin /eased$

" K (K !"" ! & #( & & ! N &! "' ( ! ' $ K ' ( & (!K" R "' )

*a= ose1 said ,o ,he tanna ,he 8erson 5ho re/i,es Gishnai/ sour/es N f


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There 5as an ar.umen, as ,o 5ho shou0d +e ,he *osh eshi=a# *a++ah or *a= ose1*a++ah +e/ame *osh eshi=a 1or 99 -ears# and *a= ose1 +e/ame *osh eshi=a a1,erhim$ Cu, 1or a00 ,he -ears ,ha, *a++ah 5as *osh eshi=a# *a= ose1 did no, e=en order a

+ar+er ,o his house and a/, in a 5a- ,ha, 5ou0d im80- he deser=ed ,o +e *osh eshi=a

7ha, do 5e see a+ou, *a= ose1 1rom ,his s,or-?

HeAame@


6/18

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\FT F: THX BWGX WTX F* $ BWI< HX TF THXGN \F* IB THX \WgI*ITX I\THX BWGX WTX F* $

" !"" ! " " ! ') f '" N ( ( '( #% ! &" ' ( & ") ! N ) ( "' (!

"f '" N ( ( '( # !(" )( ( & ") ! N && "' (! Q' ! _M ( & ") ! N(" ' (! Q (! (! % %) 2 !3 ! O ) "

%) ( ( & ") ! N" (! Q 'M( O&" ')( f '" N ( ( '( # '(" ! f ) # ' 2 !3 ! (f ) N ( ( '( #%' " ' ( ( !

" ! Of '" N ( ( '( #(' ) M" )' ( & ") ! N) "' (! Q%) ( '" N ( ( '( # " K &! _M ( & ") ! N &"' (! QO ( L "" ) ' !) ( ") ' %O & ") ! N& "'! ' "' !f Q ' ! ! &

! " %" ) ' !) ( ") ' %O N!f $ ( & '( ") #( ") (! ! ( Q"K

" K " & (! (! #! " ( ") ( ! (! O #"K " %"Q$To ,his *$ Fshaia demurredN 7h- no, in/0ude 2in ,he 0is,3 a0so one 5ho so5s in a rou.h=a00e-A# ,he reSuisi,e 1ore5arnin. +ein. /on,ained in ,he 5ords# 7hi/h sha00 nei,her +e

80ou.hed nor so5n? *$ Hanania demurredN 7h- no, in/0ude a0so i1 he erased 25i,h 80ou.h3 ,he


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%! !"" !

M ( & ( # M( # !" N ! Q( ( # M( ? ( # M( ( ! ( !"! ! #'K ! ( ! #'K ( ? ( #( ! & & ( M # ' &) " ( ? ( # !

'K & ( ?

7ha, is ,he 0a5 i1 a 5ease0 inser,s i,s head in,o a 8re.nan, anima0As 5om+# ,a@es ,he 1e,usin,o i,s mou,h and 8u00s i, ou, o1 ,he 5om+ and ,hen ,he 5ease0 reinser,s i,s head in,o ,he5om+ o1 ano,her anima0 and s8i,s ou, ,he 1e,us# 5ho ,hen emer.es na,ura00- 2and is no5

,he 1irs,R+orn3? 7ha, is ,he 0a5 i1 ,he 5om+s o1 ,5o anima0s +e/ome a,,a/hed and ,he1e,us 0ea=es one 5om+ and en,ers ,he o,her 5om+# and ,hen emer.es 1rom ,he 0a,,er

5om+ 2is i, a 1irs,R+orn or no,3? Ca+-0onian Ta0mud# hu00in `ba

6$ He-# 0oo@Q I,As ,ha, darn 5ease0 a.ainQ9$ 0ear0- ,his 8ar,i/u0ar s/enario is ridi/u0ous$ Cu, 5h- mi.h, dis/ussin. ,his /ase +e=a0ua+0e? Thin@ o1 /on,em8orar- issues$ Is ,here a simi0ar /ase ,o ,his? Is ,ha, /ase so 1arR1e,/hed?

Cu, 5ere ,hese mean, ,o +e 1unn-? O ( & !"" !

? ( %) ( " (" !" ( ! ! () " ( (" ' f'! N ' ' ( ' "' ( & "! ( ! f' (' ! N"' ' ( ( "' ' ( ? ' ! $( " ' ! R (& & !

L O ! L O ! ' '! ( ' "' "( % N" '" "' ' Q & "

*a++i irmi-ah as@ed *a++i geraN W//ordin. ,o *a++i Geir# 5ho sa-s ,ha, i1 a 5omana+or,s a 1e,us ,ha, 0oo@s 0i@e an anima0 i, is /onsidered a =a0id a+or,ion 2and ,he 5oman

+e/omes ri,ua00- un/0ean Dus, as i1 she had a+or,ed a human3# 5ha, is ,he 0a5 i1 ,he 1a,herre/ei=es 1or ,he canima0 +orn 1rom a 5oman a ,o@en o1 +e,ro,ha0$ Is ,he 8erson/onsidered married ,o ,he canima0? $$$ To such an extent did Rabbi Yirmiyah try tomake Rabbi Zera laugh, but he would not laugh.

6$


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as@edN I1 one 1oo, o1 ,he 8i.eon is 5i,hin ,he 1i1,- /u+i,s and one 1oo, is ou,side# ,o 5homdoes i, +e0on.?$$$I, 5as 1or ,his ,ha, ,he- @i/@ed *a++i irmi-ah ou, o1 ,he Ceis Gedrash

6$ Wre ,here su/h ,hin.s as s,u8id Sues,ions? 7here does ,he emara seem ,o +e sidin.on ,he issue?

9$ 7as p6 a s,u8id Sues,ion? 7h- or 5h- no,?;$ 7as p9 a s,u8id Sues,ion?ou .e, ,he 8oin,$

THX


9/18

!) M( ! ! K ) ') %)" ) ( %O( #("'( )( %M!( ) ( ' %K )" &M!" # ' ( ( ( & %M!( % R ( O ! O) & ! _' !

' M" ! '' "!() ( ! (( '' (( % ! O " ' ! ( ! ) ' " () ! _' ! ! ( ! &M!( " # ) " ) ) ( %") ( ! ( ' ) && )

' ( && ! ' (( %M!( & ! #"!( &"( %' & ! &&( )! & ! $!!

( ' (The se/ond de,erren,# ho5e=er# 0au.h,er and 0e=i,-# is =erse=ere$ He 5ho is immersed in i, is as one 5hois immersed in a .rea, o/ean# 1rom 5hi/h i, is e ,reme0- di11i/u0, ,o es/a8e$ :or 0au.h,er a11e/,s a 8erson shear, in su/h a manner ,ha, sense and reason no 0on.er 8re=ai0 in him# so ,ha, he +e/omes 0i@e a drun@ard ora sim80e,on# 5hom# +e/ause ,he- /anno, a//e8, dire/,ion# i, is im8ossi+0e ,o ad=ise or dire/,$ Ws 5as said

+- Ein. Bo0omon# ma- Vea/e +e u8on him X//0esias,es 9N9 # fW+ou, 0au.h,er I ha=e said# qI, is si00-# anda+ou, ha88iness# q7ha, does i, do?f Wnd our Ba.es o1 +0essed memor- ha=e said W=o,h ;$6; # f]au.h,erand 0i.h,headedness mo,i=a,e a man ,o5ards i00i/i, re0a,ions$f :or e=en ,hou.h e=er- reasonin. indi=idua0re/o.niUes ,he .ra=i,- o1 ,his @ind o1 sin and his hear, is a1raid ,o a88roa/h i, +e/ause o1 ,he =i=idness o1,he im8ression ,ha, has s,am8ed i,se01 in,o his mind# o1 ,he ,ru0- ,erri+0e na,ure o1 ,he o11ense and ,hese=eri,- o1 i,s 8unishmen,# s,i00 0au.h,er and 0i.h,headedness dra5 him on 0i,,0e +- 0i,,0e and 0ead him /0oserand /0oser ,o ,he s,a.e 5here 1ear 0ea=es him 0i,,0e +- 0i,,0e# de.ree +- de.ree# un,i0 1ina00- he rea/hes ,he

sin i,se01 and /ommi,s i,$ 7h- is ,his so? Jus, as ,he essen/e o1 7a,/h1u0ness in=o0=es a880-in. one s hear,,o ,hin.s# so ,he essen/e o1 0au.h,er is ,he ,urnin. a5a- o1 one s hear, 1rom Dus,# a,,en,i=e ,hin@in.# so ,ha,,hou.h,s o1 1earin. od do no, en,er one s hear, a, a00$

onsider ,he .rea, se=eri,- and des,ru/,i=e 8o5er o1 0e=i,-$ ]i@e a shie0d smeared 5i,h oi0# 5hi/h 5ards o11arro5s and /auses ,hem ,o 1a00 ,o ,he .round# no, 8ermi,,in. ,hem ,o rea/h ,he +earer s +od-# is 0e=i,- in ,he1a/e o1 re8roo1 and re+u@e$ :or 5i,h one +i, o1 0e=i,- and 5i,h a 0i,,0e 0au.h,er a 8erson /an /as, 1romhimse01 ,he .rea, maDori,- o1 ,he [email protected] and im8ressions ,ha, a man s hear, s,imu0a,es and e11e/,s5i,hin i,se01 u8on his seein. or hearin. ,hin.s 5hi/h arouse him ,o an a//oun,in. and an e amina,ion o1 hisdeeds$ The 1or/e o1 0e=i,- 10in.s e=er-,hin. ,o ,he .round so ,ha, no im8ression 5ha,soe=er is made u8onHim$ This is due no, ,o ,he 5ea@ness o1 ,he 1or/es 80a-in. u8on him# nor ,o an- 0a/@ o1 unders,andin. onhis 8ar,# +u, ,o ,he 8o5er o1 0e=i,-# 5hi/h o+0i,era,es a00 1a/e,s o1 mora0 e=a0ua,ion and 1ear o1 od$

6$ 7ha, does ,he Gesi00as esharim sa- ,he 8ro+0ems are 5i,h humor?9$ 7ha, does humor do ,ha, ma@es ,he Gesi00as esharim =ie5 i, so ne.a,i=e0-?;$ 7ha, +ou, ,he ,-8es o1 humor 5e ,a0@ed a+ou, +e1ore? 7ha, 5ou0d ,he Gesi00asesharim sa- a+ou, ,hose? 7ha,As ,he di11eren/e +e,5een 5ha, is +ein. des/ri+ed hereand 5ha, 5as +ein. des/ri+ed +e1ore?;$ The Gesi00as esharim des/ri+es humor is a =er- 8o5er1u0 1or/e$ an ,his 1or/e +eused 1or .ood?

:or more on ,he ne.a,i=e uses o1 humor# see ,he o,her /ha+ura 5e 8re8ared# cThe Jo@erN

W Hash@a1i/ Wna0-sis $


10/18

THX FF< BI


11/18

I, seems 1air ,o assume ,ha, mo/@in. e=i0 in .enera0 is 8ermi,,ed$ Bo 5h- did ,he Ba.es sin.0e ou,ido0a,r- ,o demons,ra,e ,he 8ermissi+i0i,- o1 a /er,ain /a,e.or- o1 mo/@in.?$$$$7ha, is /i=i0iUa,ionAs .rea,es, 1o00- and 0ie? 7i,hou, dou+, ,he ans5er is ,he 5orshi8 o1 ido0s and1a0se .ods$ There is no,hin. o1 .rea,er im8or,an/e ,han 5ha, 5e 5orshi8# and ,here is no .rea,er0ie ,han ,he 1a0se .od$ The resu0, is ,ha, ,he 8erson 5ho 5orshi8s 1a0se .ods has as/ri+ed ,hehi.hes, im8or,an/e ,o ,ha, 5hi/h deser=es ,he .rea,es, deni.ra,ion$ The 5orshi8 o1 1a0se .ods isno,hin. o,her ,han a 8er=ersion o1 im8or,an/e and s8iri,ua0 =a0ues$ The ido0 5orshi8er raises ,hemos, nonsensi/a0 0ie ,o ,he 0e=e0 o1 ,he .rea,es, im8or,an/e$ He has 0os, ,he a+i0i,- ,o dis,in.uish

+e,5een rea0i,- and i00usion$ The 5orshi8 o1 ido0s deri=es 1rom ,he human a+i0i,- ,o raise ani00usion ,ha, meri,s derision ,o ,he 0e=e0 o1 si.ni /an/e and im8or,an/e$This 5i00 e 80ain 5h- ,he Ba.es /hose ,he ridi/u0e o1 1a0se .ods as ,he +es, e am80e o1

8ermissi+0e s/o1 n.$ 7e are en/oura.ed ,o s/o11 a, e=i0$ The e=i0 5e /a00 ,he 5orshi8 o1 1a0se.ods R a=odah Uarah is a/,ua00- ,he 5orshi8 o1 1or/es or ,hin.s ,ha, are remo=ed 1rom ,he5or0d o1 ,ru,h$ In o,her 5ords# ,he- ha=e no +asis in rea0i,-4 ,he- are +ui0, on i00usion$ I, is,here1ore na,ura0 1or ,he ,rue ser=an, o1 Rd ,o dire/, his 8o5er o1 s/o1 n. a, ,he .rea,es, 0ie# ,he5orshi8 o1 1a0se .ods$

6$ 7ha, does *a= Hu,ner ,a@e 1or .ran,ed?9$ 7h- is i, o@a- 1or a re0i.ious 8erson ,o mo/@ e=i0?;$ 7h-# a//ordin. ,o *a= Hu,ner# is i, 1i,,in. ,ha, ,he 8aradi.m o1 5ha, a Je5 shou0dmo/@ is W=odah garah? Thin@ a+ou, ho5 he des/ri+es W=oda gara here# and /om8are i,,o ho5 ,he Gesi00as esharim des/ri+es 5ha, humor does

A different approach is formulated by rofessor !ohn ". #enson$ %&ur basichuman problem is that we ha'e a strange, uncontrollable desire to worshipidols.(e feel an inner need to trust something utterly, and we prefer


12/18

something close at hand like wealth, another person or our nation. )o weblind oursel'es to the transient nature of all that exists in this world...(e arecaught in a circle of deceit. *ow, it is this circle of self+deception that humorattacks... eople who put on airs, who think they are bigger than they reallyare, deser'e the shrieks of laughter that naturally arise from earth and

hea'en%.+Ra' ri -ohen, Ca0a@ RR od s ]au.h,erN Ga@in. :un o1 Ca0aam#http$ www.nishmat.net article.php/id01223heading04

6$ Ho5 does Vro1essor Censon de1ine cido0a,r- ?9$ 7h- 5ou0d i, +e 8ermi,,ed ,o mo/@ ,he ido0s Censon s8ea@s o1# a//ordin. ,o *a=Hu,ner?

F


13/18

6$ 7ho is od 0au.hin. a,?9$ 7ha, mi.h, /ause od ,o 0au.h? 7h- 5ou0d ,hin.s +e 1unn- ,o od?;$ 7ha, does ,his sho5 us a+ou, od?

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fWs 0on. as [riah s 8ro8he/- had no, +een 1u01i00ed# I 1eared ,ha, ge/hariah s 8ro8he/-ma- no, +e 1u01i00ed ei,her$ Cu, no5 ,ha, [riah s 8ro8he/- has +een 1u01i00ed# i, is /er,ain,ha, ge/hariah s 8ro8he/- 5i00 +e 1u01i00ed$f


14/18

7i,h ,hese 5ords ,he- re80ied ,o himN fW@i=a# -ou ha=e /onso0ed usQ W@i=a# -ou ha=e/onso0ed usQf

" !"" !

'(! O() % $ ( O" ' M( '(! O() % # !) ' ! %! ( " ) ( & N! ' $ M f' % " %( ! ( # ) ( ) " M) ! ) ' # "( ' ( '" " N " " ) #! ' ? " ( & N(! ' ? M (

( ) N" # M & L ! N%(! ' ?( "& ! " !( ! ) ) "' ( ?( ' !M ( ' %& ( #( '" %" (' %( ( ( ' & & ! ( !) "&" ( ' !) "& " ( (! # ! Q&) ) " ( ' %) ' ) " ( '

( ' N" ( ' " 2# O3 )' ( ) % M !!O" % ! O ( N" ( ' " #( '' ( R ( ' !) "& ( & !) # !) ' " '" & & ")

( ' !) "&) " R ( ' !) "& ( &) ) #( ' !) "& !)& & # " Q& & # " N! ' ( ( %)!" $ $

W.ain i, ha88ened ,ha, *a++an am0ie0# *a++i X0aUar +en WUaria# *a++iJoshua and *a++i W@i=a 5en, u8 ,o Jerusa0em$ 7hen ,he- rea/hed G,$ B/o8us# ,he- ,ore,heir .armen,s$ 7hen ,he- rea/hed ,he Tem80e Goun,# ,he- sa5 a 1o emer.in. 1rom ,he

80a/e o1 ,he Ho0- o1 Ho0ies$ The o,hers s,ar,ed 5ee8in.4 *a++i W@i=a 0au.hed$

Baid ,he- ,o himN f7h- are -ou 0au.hin.?f

Baid he ,o ,hemN f7h- are -ou 5ee8in.?f

Baid ,he- ,o himN fW 80a/e 2so ho0-3 ,ha, i, is said o1 i,# ,he s,ran.er ,ha, a88roa/hes i,sha00 die# and no5 1o es ,ra=erse i,# and 5e shou0dn , 5ee8?f

Baid he ,o ,hemN fTha, is 5h- I 0au.h$ :or i, is 5ri,,en# I sha00 ha=e +ear 5i,ness 1or Ge1ai,h1u0 5i,nessesRR[riah ,he Vries, and ge/hariah ,he son o1 Je+ere/hiah$ 9 \o5 5ha, is,he /onne/,ion +e,5een [riah and ge/hariah? [riah 5as 2in ,he ,ime o13 ,he :irs,Tem80e# and ge/hariah 5as 2in ,he ,ime o13 ,he Be/ond Tem80eQ Cu,,he Torah ma@es ga/hariah s 8ro8he/- de8enden, u8on [riah s 8ro8he/-$ 7i,h [riah# i,is 5ri,,enN There1ore# +e/ause o1 -ou# gion sha00 +e 80o5ed as a 1ie0d4 2Jerusa0em sha00

+e/ome hea8s# and ,he Tem80e Goun, 0i@e ,he hi.h 80a/es o1 a 1ores,$3 ; 7i,h ga/hariahi, is 5ri,,en# F0d men and 5omen sha00 -e, si, in ,he s,ree,s o1 Jerusa0em$ >

fWs 0on. as [riah s 8ro8he/- had no, +een 1u01i00ed# I 1eared ,ha, ge/hariah s 8ro8he/-ma- no, +e 1u01i00ed ei,her$ Cu, no5 ,ha, [riah s 8ro8he/- has +een 1u01i00ed# i, is /er,ain,ha, ge/hariah s 8ro8he/- 5i00 +e 1u01i00ed$f

7i,h ,hese 5ords ,he- re80ied ,o himN fW@i=a# -ou ha=e /onso0ed usQ W@i=a# -ou ha=e/onso0ed usQf


15/18

6$ 7h- did *A W@i=a 0au.h? Ho5 5as he a+0e ,o# e=en in ,he mos, de8ressin. o1/ir/ums,an/es?9$ 7ha, does ha=in. a sense o1 humor sho5 a+ou, a 8erson?;$ 7h- mi.h, a sense o1 humor +e su/h a 8ar,i/u0ar0- Je5ish ,rai,?

Fne o1 ,he mos, in/redi+0e as8e/,s o1 ,he Bhoah 5as ,he a+i0i,- o1 Je5s ,hemse0=es ,o usehumor as a sur=i=a0 ,oo0 in 1a/e o1 ,he mos, indes/ri+a+0e e=i0 o1 a00 re/orded his,or-$ The0au.h,er 5as +i,,er# +u, i, .a=e ,he 0ie ,o ,he \aUisA /0aim ,ha, ,he- /ou0d des,ro- ,heJe5ish s8iri,$ Je5ish +odies# ,he- /ou0d des,ro-4 +u, no, ,he Je5ish sou0$ In Wus/h5i,U,he =arious s5am8 0i@e 8a,hs ,ha, ser=ed as ,horou.h1ares a00 had namesN oerin. B,rasse#oe++e0s W00ee$ 7hene=er Je5ish 8risoners rea/hed ,he 0o/a0e @no5n as Hi,0er80a,U# ,he-5ou0d res8ond# cWmen# 8unnin. on ,he 1a/, ,ha, cHi,0er V0a/e in erman a0so meanscHi,0er# dro8 deadQ in iddish$ The inma,es o1 ,he /am8s 5ou0d a0so ,e00 a s,or- a+ou,,he B$B$ o11i/er 5ho .a=e a 5oman one /han/e ,o sa=e her /hi0d 1rom dea,h$ cI ha=e a.0ass e-e# ,he \aUi ,o0d ,he dis,rau.h, mo,her# cFne ,ha, is so 8er1e/,0- ma,/hed 5i,h m-na,ura0 e-e as ,o +e =ir,ua00- indis,in.uisha+0e$ I1 -ou /an ,e00 me 5hi/h is ,he .0ass one# I

5i00 s8are -our /hi0d$ The 5oman 0oo@ed a, ,he o11i/erAs 1a/e and immedia,e0- iden,i1ied,he manAs 0e1, e-e as ,he 1a0se one$ The B$B$ o11i/er 5as ,a@en a+a/@$ c ou are ri.h,# +u,ho5 did -ou @no5? The 5omanAs ans5erN our 0e1, e-e is so1,er and more/om8assiona,e$R*a++i Jona,han ]u+0iner# cThe Ban/i,- F1 ]au.h,erh,,8N ra++i0u+0iner$1i0es$5ord8ress$/om 9b66 b6 ,heRsan/,i,-Ro1R0au.h,erRadarRY`ZZ$8d1

I, 5as Ve,er Cer.er# ,he Wmeri/an so/io0o.is,# 5ho 8u, i, +es, 5hen he s8o@e o1 ,he senseo1 humor as one o1 ,he fsi.na0s o1 ,rans/enden/ef ,ha, +rea@ ,hrou.h in,o ,he humansi,ua,ion and remind us o1 some,hin. +e-ond$ 7e are 8ar, o1 na,ure# +u, ,here is adimension o1 human /ons/iousness ,ha, 0ies +e-ond na,ure$ 7e are 8h-si/a0 +ein.s# +u,

,here are as8e/,s o1 ,he human s8iri, ,ha, /anno, +e redu/ed ,o 8h-si/s R and ,he a+i0i,- ,ounders,and a Do@e is one o1 ,hem$ ou0d a /om8u,er ha=e a sense o1 humor? Vro+a+0- no,$The reason# I 5ou0d .uess# is ,ha, humor has ,o do 5i,h our a+i0i,- ,o see ,hin.sdi11eren,0-# ,o es/a8e 1rom ,he /a.e o1 ,ra.ed-# ,o a11irm ,he 1reedom o1 ,he mind$ 7ha,5e /an 0au.h a,# 5e /an rise a+o=e$ Verha8s ,ha, is 5h- Je5s# a0on. 5i,h o,her .rou8s5ho ha=e su11ered mu/h and su11ered 0on.# ha=e de=e0o8ed a sense o1 humor as ,heirde1ense a.ains, des8air$- *a++i Jona,han Ba/@s# cW ood Bense o1 Humour is Bim80-


16/18

Judaism has a05a-s +een an in=i,a,ionRon0- a11air# a re5ard ,ha, s unse,,0in.0- simi0ar ,o a 8unishmen,$ ]i@e 5hen ,he s/hoo0,ea/her 8i/@s ,he .ood @id ,o he08 /0ean ,he erasersa1,er /0ass# Judaism is some,hin. o1 a +urden$ Wnd ,ha, a//oun,s 1or a need 1or humor asmu/h as an-,hin. e0se$

Je5s .o +- man- namesN f hi0dren o1 Israe0#f fGem+ers o1 ,he Tri+e#f fX e/u,i=eVrodu/er$f Cu, 8erha8s ,he mos, des/ri8,i=e is f hosen Veo80e$f hosen$ Be, a8ar, +-

od$ Tha, means 5e don , .o 0oo@in. 1or /on=er,s$ Indeed# i1 a .en,i0e /omes ,o a ra++i

see@in. /on=ersion# ,he ra++i is ,o re1use ,he /andida,e ,hree ,imes +e1ore e=en dis/ussin.

,he 8ossi+i0i,- o1 /on=er,in.$ Three ,imes$


17/18

,he sou8$ The 5ai,er inSuires as ,o ,he 8ro+0em$ The Je5 doesn , ans5er# +u, a.ain as@s

,he 5ai,er ,o ,as,e ,he sou8$ The 5ai,er ad=ises ,ha, he s no, in ,he ha+i, o1 ,as,in. 8a,rons

1ood# +u, ,he Je5 8ersis,s$ The 5ai,er as@s i1 ,he sou8 s ,oo /o0d# ,oo ho, or /on,ains RR

hea=en 1or+id RR a 10-$ Xa/h ,ime ,he Je5 mere0- re8ea,s his reSues, 1or ,he 5ai,er ,o ,as,e

,he sou8$ [0,ima,e0-# ,he 5ai,er re0en,s# i1 on0- ,o +rin. some /0osure ,o 5ha, has +e/ome

Sui,e an e8isode$ He 0oo@s a00 around ,he ,a+0e# and ,hen as@s# f7here s ,he s8oon?f To

5hi/h ,he Je5 re80ies 5i,h a smi0e# fWRha$f

This is m- 1a=ori,e Je5ish Do@e# e=en ,hou.h I m sure ,he on0- ,hin. mos, ,a@e a5a- 1rom

i, is ,ha, Je5s are insu11era+0e 8ains in ,he rear $ Cu, ,ha, s on0- ,he o+=ious 8un/h 0ine$

This o0d man 5an,ed ,o ,ea/h a 0esson and no, in a hau.h,-# de.radin. manner# +u,

,hrou.h humor$ 7i,hou, 8u,,in. ,he 5ai,er do5n# he said# f[nders,and 5ha, i, s 0i@e ,o +e

a hun.r- man 5i,h a +o50 o1 sou8 and no s8oon$f es# he 5an,ed a s8oon# +u, he a0so

5an,ed ,o ma@e ,he 5ai,er remem+er$ This o0d Je5 5an,s ,o ma@e sure ,ha, someone e0se

.e,s ,heir s8oon ,omorro5$

Verha8s more im8or,an,# ,hou.h# is ,ha, +- ,a@in. ,he ,ime and ener.- ,o do ,hin.s ,he

hard 5a-# he /on1irms his 1ai,h in humani,-$ He reDe/,s /-ni/ism$ 7ho 5ou0d 5as,e ,ha,

@ind o1 ener.- un0ess ,he- +e0ie=ed ,he- 5ere addressin. someone 5ho 5an,ed ,o +e

,au.h,? Tha, @ind o1 humor# mi ed 5i,h ener.- and 1ai,h# is a ,in- 8ar, o1 ,i@@un o0am$

Wnd e=en ,hou.h i, s no, in ,he Do@e +e/ause i, s no, 1unn- I 0i@e ,o +e0ie=e ,he o0d Je5

0e1, ,he 5ai,er a .ood ,i8$ F1 /ourse# he did$ The Je5 0i@es ,he 5ai,er$


18/18

,ha,# ,oo? He 0i=es in ,his 5or0d$ He @no5s he has +een se, a8ar,$ Cu, he does i, an-5a-$

He ma@es a Do@e @no5in. ,ha, some 5i00 =ie5 him mere0- as ,he Do@e$

Judaism and Humor Featuring Wally the Wonder Weasel

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