This document provides an overview of Jewish humor through history. It discusses how Jews have constituted a large percentage of comedians despite being a small percentage of the population. Some key aspects of Jewish humor discussed include use of self-deprecation, rapid-fire joke telling reflective of New York culture, and examining issues from multiple angles through "pilpul" learning. Many famous Jewish comedians are profiled such as the Marx Brothers, Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, and others. Links to video clips of their acts are also provided.

1. 1
JEWISH HUMOR
by Don L. F. Nilsen
and Alleen Pace Nilsen

2. 2

3. 3
Jewish Humor

4. 4

5. JEWISH HUMOR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F515PqYzfQ
5

6. 6
INTRODUCTION
In 1978, psychologist Samuel Janus conducted a study
which found that although Jews constituted only 3
percent of the U.S. population, 80 percent of the
nation’s professional comedians were Jewish.
The percentage of comedians is less today not
because there are fewer Jewish comedians, but
because in response to ethnic and gender identity
movements, many new comedians have come from
groups that were previously under-represented.

7. Woody Allen
Woody Allen: “Annie Hall”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+annie+hall+trailor&view=detail&
7

8. David Bader
8

9. Belle Barth
Belle Barth: The Customer Comes First:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+belle+barth&view=detail&mid=
9

10. Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller and
the Smothers Brothers
10

11. Jack Benny
Jack Benny and Mel Blanc on the Johnny Carson Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5LXjDTDXiY
11

12. Arthur Asa Berger
12

13. 13
ELAYNE BOOSLER
Elayne Boosler gives a new twist to an old Jewish stereotype when she
jokes:
“My brother’s gay. My parents don’t mind as long as he marries a
doctor.”
Elayne Boosler on the Letterman Show:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+elaine+boosler&&view=detail&

14. 14
THE BORSCHT BELT
• Belle Barth, Danny Kaye, and other
Jewish comedians substituted Yiddish
for English when they wanted to fool
English-speaking censors with risque
jokes.

15. Joseph Boskin
15

16. Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks and His Electronic Friend, “Buddy”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=albert+brooks+youtube&&view=detail&m
16

17. 17
MEL BROOKS
In Mel Brooks’ The Producers there is a play within the play called
“Springtime for Hitler.”
Dozens of dancers, singers, actors and pantomimists of every race and
shape audition for the role of Hitler.
The show’s opening production number culminates in the formation of a
slowly turning swastika and in the pillars at the back of the set being
lowered to a horizontal position and transformed into canons.
Mel Brooks: “Springtime for Hitler”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+springtime+for+hitler&view=de

18. Mel Brooks’s The Producers
18

19. 19
MEL BROOKS AND CARL
REINER
After seeing a bizarre interview on TV, Reiner turned to Brooks
and said,
“I understand you were actually at the scene of the Crucifixion.”
Brooks responded,
“Ooooooh, boy!” and then continued in character saying that yes,
he had known Christ.
“He was a thin lad, always wore sandals. Came into the store but
never bought anything.”

20. George Costanza
George Costanza on the Seinfeld Show:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+george+costanza+best+of&view
20

21. Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal’s Tribute to Robin Williams:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+billy+crystal&view=detail&mid=
21

22. Larry David
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM:
http://www.hbo.com/larrydavid/
22

23. Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller at the Bar:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+phyllis+diller&view=detail&mid
23

24. 24
THE GOLDBERGS
Between 1929 and 1945 there was a popular Jewish radio program named
“The Goldbergs.” The language of the show used Yiddish intonation,
proverbs and sentence patterns like, “Better a crust of bread and enjoy it
than a cake that gives you indigestion.”
The Goldbergs:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+goldbergs+youtube&view=detail&m

25. 25
HONEY-COATED BARBS
• Henry Spalding says that much Jewish
humor is in the form of honey-coated barbs
at the people and things Jews love the most.
• Jews verbally attack their loved ones and
their religion, but with the grandest sense of
affection.
• Their jokes are “a kiss with salt on the lips,
but a kiss nevertheless.”

26. 26
HUMILITY AND PRIDE
• Dolf Zillman says that Jewish humor
exhibits two antithetical statures:
disparagement and superiority.
• This antithesis can be seen in the
following joke:
• The Israeli Knesset is lamenting all of
the challenges that Israel faces.

27. 27
• One member of the Knesset suggests that
Israel go to war against the United States.
• Other members say, “What?” “Such a war
wouldn’t last 10 minutes.”
• “I know. I know. But then we would be a
conquered country and the Americans would
send us aid. They would build roads and
hospitals and send food and agricultural
experts.”
• “But,” said another member of the Knesset,
“What if we win?”

28. 28
JEWISH STEREOTYPES
• Jewish stereotypes include the shrewd
businessman, the overbearing mother, the Jewish
American Princess, and the persecuted Jew.
• Arthur Naiman illustrates the stereotype of the
overbearing Jewish mother with a story about a
psychiatrist who tells a Jewish mother that her son
has an Oedipus complex.
• The mother responds, “Oedipus, schmoedipus, just
so long as he loves his mother.”

29. Jewish Jokes
Jewish Jokes:
http://www.awordinyoureye.com/
29

30. Danny Kaye
Danny Kay as a Professor of Music:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=danny+kaye+novelty+songs&view=detai
30

31. 31
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+jerry+lewis+humor&view=detai

32. Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the David Letterman Show--“Sexy Legs”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+julia+louis+dreyfus&view=deta
32

33. 33
MARGINALIZATION
• Because Jews have a history of marginalization they view life
from “the edge.”
• Therefore, Jews have come up with fresh and funny
observations.
• Because of their marginalization they have also been attracted
to professions that are not in the mainstream; the theater,
popular music, vaudeville, and entertainment are also
marginalized.

34. 34
• Earlier immigrant groups such as the
Irish worked in burlesque and early
radio and films, but Jews were more
successful and made room for each
other.
• In many cases, show business became
a family affair.

35. 35
• Thus comedian Albert Brooks grew up in
Hollywood as the son of the famous radio
comedian Harry Einstein (better known as
Parkyarkarkus) and was a successful
stand-up comedian by the time he was 21.
• Actor and producer Rob Reiner is the son
of writer and producer Carl Reiner.
• Marlo Thomas is the daughter of Danny
Thomas, who although not Jewish told
many Yiddish stories.

36. 36
THE MARX BROTHERS
The Marx Brothers were named Chico, Harpo, Gummo, Zeppo,
and Groucho.
Harpo had a number of demented faces and magical sight gags.
Groucho had his zany singing and dancing and his punchy one-
liners.
Zeppo played the straight man to Groucho.
Chico had his amusing piano playing, his outrageous Italian
accent, and his bad puns.

37. 37
The Marx Brothers as Immigrants
As immigrants come to the United States there are various
stages that they go through to become “Americanized.”
Harpo is not able to speak English. He is in the first stage.
Chico’s English is very poor, and he is always confused by
English. He is in the second stage.
Gummo’s English is like general American. He has no accent.
Groucho uses the English of Brooklyn. Not only has he become
Americanized, he has also become “Brooklynized.”

38. The Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers “Animal Crackers”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+marx+brothers&&view=detail&
38

39. 39
MULTILINGUALISM
• For generations, Jews have been
multilingual, speaking Yiddish at home,
Hebrew at the synagogue, and the
language of the surrounding
community at work.

40. Silas Neal
40

41. 41
NEW YORKNESS
• Joseph Boskin says that “Jews have
wrought a distinctively hard-driving,
spontaneous humor of concrete
immediacy, one that bursts with
retaliation.”
• Its sarcastic rejoinders, rapid-fire jokes,
and happy quips reflect the rhythms
and pace of the city itself.

42. Elliott Oring
42

43. 43
PILPUL
• In Jewish culture boys begin at age 4 to
learn how to examine issues from all
angles, to speculate and find
contradictions, to shift back and forth
between abstract and concrete
thoughts, to ask all possible questions,
to clarify various points, and to find
subtle and simple answers to highly
complex problems.

44. 44
• This way of thinking, in which endless
argumentation, sometimes for its own sake,
that could lead anywhere is called “pilpul”
and it is highly valued.
• Besides being good practice for Talmudic
scholars, pilpul correlates with the intellectual
processes of creating successful humor,
including the practice of answering a question
with a question, piling one question after
another or asking rhetorical questions:
• “What do I look like? A dictionary?”

45. 45
THE PURIM
• During the annual Purim, there is rejoicing over the
hanging of the wicked Haman on the gallows he had
prepared for the execution of Persian Jews.
• To this day, Jewish children are given hand-held
greggars or noise makers to drown out the name of
Haman as the story of Esther is recited.

46. Victor Raskin
46

47. Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks: “The 2000-Year-Old Man”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+carl+reiner+standup&&view=de
47

48. Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner on the “Archie Bunker Show”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+all+in+the+family+rob+reiner&v
48

49. Michael Richards (Cosmo Kramer)
Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer on “The Seinfeld Show”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+jerry+seinfeld+kramer&view=d
49

50. Don Rickles
Don Rickles Roasts Frank Sinatra:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+don+rickles&view=detail&mid=
50

51. Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers Standup:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+joan+rivers&view=detail&mid=
51

52. Leo Rosten
52

53. Philip Roth
53

54. Joyce Saltman
Joyce is one of the star performers for ISHS (International Society for
Humor Studies), and AATH (Association for Applied and Therapeutic
Humor):
Joyce Saltman: Winner of the 2015 AATH Lifetime Achievement Award:
http://www.aath.org/lifetime-awards
54

55. Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler and the “Hanakka Song.”
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Adam+Sandler+Original+Hanukkah+Son
55

56. Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld Standup:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+jerry+seinfeld&view=detail&mi
56

57. Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers and Jack Benny on the “Dick Cavett Show”:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+phil+silvers&view=detail&mid=
57

58. 58
The Soup Nazi
The Seinfeld show teases all things Jewish.
Seinfeld says, “My parents didn’t want to move to Florida, but they turned
sixty, and that’s the law.”
Seinfeld says to George, “George, cheapness isn’t a 6th sense.”
On the Seinfeld Show there is a strict, hot-tempered owner of a soup
kitchen who uses the phrase, “No soup for you!” He is referred to as
“The Soup Nazi.”
The Soup Nazi:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+the+soup+nazi&view=detail&m

59. Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand: “Smile”:
https://www.bing.com/search?
q=barbra+steisand+smile&form=PRUSEN&pc=SL5L&mkt=en-
us&httpsmsn=1&refig=6523188fa5824879b7c4961274395fb3&sp=-
1&pq=barbra+steisand+smile&sc=2-
21&qs=n&sk=&cvid=6523188fa5824879b7c4961274395fb3
59

60. The Three Stooges: Manny, Moe and Jack
The Three Stooges:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=youtube+the+three+stooges&view=detail&mid=4E765D183D48F098FF3
24E765D183D48F098FF32&FORM=VIRE
60

61. Kristina Swarner
61

62. Tradition
TRADITION (FROM FIDDLER ON THE ROOF):
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=fiddler+on+the+roof+tradition+youtube&view=detail&mid=73A82056
422ECE4E06AF73A82056422ECE4E06AF&FORM=VIRE
62

63. Sophie Tucker
Sophie Tucker: “The Last of the Red-Hot Mamas”
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=youtube+sophie+tucker&&view=detail&mid=2C49C8B354F32BDC68F52
C49C8B354F32BDC68F5&rvsmid=DDE368327D79C24AF8BEDDE368327D
79C24AF8BE&fsscr=0&FORM=VDFSRV
63

64. 64
HENNY YOUNGMAN
Henny Youngman had a rat-a-tat style of humor that reflects the
frustrations of urban life:
“Fellow walks up to me and says, ‘You see a cop around here?’ I say,
‘No,’ and he says, ‘Stick ‘em up!’”
Henny Youngman:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=youtube+henny+youngman+jokes&view=detail&mid=CD62D3B944CA7
541E355CD62D3B944CA7541E355&FORM=VIRE

65. 65
YIDDISH
• Richard Fein’s experiences were typical:
• “Yiddish was in my bones, but hidden from
my tongue. I did not know Yiddish as a
language, but I felt reared in its resonance,
pitch, and tone. I recognized a few words
uttered in isolation, grasped nothing of its
structure, but felt washed in its rhythms.
Although I could not speak Yiddish, it was
not a foreign language. I never possessed it,
but sensed it possessing me.”

66. 66
• Bobehla: “little grandmother” term of endearment
• Chutzpah: gall or incredible nerve
• Ganeff: a thief or mischievous prankster
• Kibitz: kidding around
• Mishmash: flagrant disorder or confusion
• Nebish: a loser or sad sack
• Nosh: a snack
• Schmaltz: “chicken fat” sentimentality
• Schmear: bribing or greasing the palm
• Schmooz: a heartfelt visit
• Shlemiel: clumsy or inept person
• Shlep: carrying things (including oneself) in an undignified way
• Shlimazl: fall guy or luckless oaf
• Shnorrer: a beggar

67. 67
• In The Joys of Yiddish, Leo Rosten says that Yiddish
syntax also enters the English Language:
• “Get lost.”
• “You should live so long!”
• “Who needs it?”
• “He should excuse the expression.”
• “It shouldn’t happen to a dog.”
• “On him it looks good.”
• Other Yiddish patterns include “virus schmirus,” and
“a real no-goodnik.”

68. 68
• fancy-schmancy
• kvetch
• maven
• mazel tov
• tanz
• Oy Vey!
Some Great Yiddish Words

69. YIDDISH WITH DICK AND JANE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlO5vUS5KnU
69

70. 70