Jews and humour is, for most people, a natural and felicitous
collocation. In spite of, or perhaps because of, a history of
crises and living on the edge, Jews have often created or resorted
to humour. But what is "humour"? And what makes certain types,
instances, or performances of humour "Jewish"? These are among the
myriad queries addressed by the fourteen authors whose essays are
collected in this volume. And, thankfully, their observations,
always apt and often witty, are expressed with a lightness of style
and a depth of analysis that are appropriate to the many topics
they cover. The chronological range of these essays is vast: from
the Hebrew Bible to the 2000s, with many stops in between for
Talmudic texts, medieval parodies, eighteenth century joke books,
and twentieth century popular entertainment. The subject matter is
equally impressive.In addition to rounding up many of the "usual
suspects," such as Woody Allen, the Marx Brothers, and Gilda
Radner, these authors also scout out some unlikely comic resources,
like the author of the biblical book of Exodus, the rabbinic writer
of Genesis Rabbah, and the party records star Belle Barth. Without
forcing any of these characters into a pre-constructed mould, the
scholars who contributed to this collection allow readers both to
discern the common features that make up "Jewish humour" and to
delight in the individualism and eccentricities of the many figures
whose lives and accomplishments are narrated here. Because these
essays are written in a clear, jargon-free style, they will appeal
to everyone-even those who don't usually crack a smile!</ p>
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