I wasn't raised in a Jewish household or sub/culture (I'm a ger), but I've heard rumblings about so-called "Jewish humor." One of the books I'm reading for my conversion even mentions getting used to this whole new sense of humor upon joining the Jewish people. Does this (Jewish humor) exist? How would you describe it? What are some good literary or other examples?

Message edited by its author, Jul 29, 2007, 9:49pm.

You can start with this Wikipedia article.

When I think of Jewish humor, I think of Jewish comedians who were all the rage on TV back in the 1950's and 1960's. My parents used to watch such comedians as Alan King, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, George Burns, Sid Caeser, Joan Rivers, Jackie Mason, and others.

Jewish humor, to me, has always been directed at Jews so they can laugh at themselves, but it is not really comfortable to hear a non-Jew tell a Jewish joke for the reason that these jokes can be derogatory both to Jews and non-Jews. These days, it's also not exactly politically correct to tell ethnic jokes simply because they tend to degrade others.

P.S. If you don't understand the Wikipedia jokes, please don't hesitate to ask me about them.

Message edited by its author, Jul 29, 2007, 10:52pm.

I'm quite skeptical of "Jews have to be X" statements, where X is some mental state or disposition... especially given that most of these statements tend to be extremely US-centric (at least on English-language boards!).

I don't really think Jewish humor is an essential part of conversion... or if there is something that's "THE" Jewish humor. Hungarian Jewish humor is much different from American Jewish humor, and both are different from Israeli humor, etc. So don't worry!

(BTW in Hungary everyone tells Jewish jokes, and these are usually not offensive; Hungarian humor overlaps with Hungarian Jewish humor to a considerable degree. I've heard some of the best Jewish jokes from complete Gentiles. There *are* offensive jokes about Jews, though - I've been told those too ;) -, but these are fewer in number.)

I'd suggest reading Harry Golden , For 2cents plain, Jackie Mason, and some of the Yiddish short story writers like Sholom Aleichem.I think what is known about Jewish Humor in the US comes from the Ashkenazi immigration, where there was a large group of yiddish speakers here, a thriving yiddish theatre, and a cohesive jewish community.
Also there was an area in the Catskills called the "Borscht Belt" where Jewish families came for the summer and holidays. Many Jewish comedians got their start there.
Woody Allen is an example of a Jewish humorist - what is called in Yiddish a "nebbish"- someone slightly incapable and gauche. (Of course I think he is a genius, and not incapable at all, but he plays characters like that. There is also a book called "How to be a Jewish Mother" that makes fun of the smothering quality of some Jewish matriarchs.
Of course this doesn't cover Sephardi humor, or Israeli humor, or Latin American Jewish Humor- Wherever Jews are, there is Jewish humor, and it's not uniform by any means. But it is recognizable, in my opinion. It would certainly be a lot of fun to look into, but you don't have to know anything about it to become a practicing jew. You just might miss some jokes.

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You just might miss some jokes.

Smileandnod, don't put up with "missing" the jokes. Just ask, and we'll try as best we can to explain them to you. You'll need to know for soon you'll be one of the tribe!

I always got a big kick out of the Big Book of Jewish Humor and Jewish as a second language when I was growing up. But don't forget Yiddish with George and Laura, which I'm sure will achieve classic status.

Another great book, which includes some jokes, is The Joys of Yiddish by Leo Rosten.

For Israeli humour (50's and 60's) look at the early books of the late Ephriam Kishon Touchstones are not working on this one!

Message edited by its author, Aug 1, 2007, 10:11am.

You misspelled it: Ephraim Kishon - this one works.

PS he was a Hungarian-Israeli ;)

rebecca is right-on-the joys of yiddishis a must and a classic i am always referring to.

jews and goys both get it.

Thanks, prezzey! Kishon's books have some stories that make me laugh out loud.

For a historical perspective on Jewish humor, I recommend reading the Torah and Tanakh with an eye for comedy. They're ripe with it. A book called "The Bible and the Comic Vision" is an excellent guide as is Harold Bloom's book, "The Book of J."

Try some collections of Woody Allen stories, most originally published in the New Yorker, mostly from early in his long career.

There is a recent book on Yiddish language and culture that is both funny and informative--can't remember the details--will try to post later.

And I'm also a big fan of the Big Book of Jewish Humor, both of whose then-young authors went on to notable careers. The Joys of Yiddish is, of course, the classic (also the HYMAN KAPLAN books by the same author, Leo Rosten.)

Michael Wex, Born to Kvetch, is the book referred to just above.

one must not forget to include Issac Beshevis Singer as a great humorist.

I just finished Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander - a sort of update of Portnoy's Complaint and it was very funny.

P.S. re Foreskin's lament: I posted my review and found that some of the other LibraryThing reviews offered their own expressions of "Jewish humor" that were worth checking out!