The History of Jewish Humour with Matthew Gindin
Featured speaker Matthew Gindin spoke on the topic The History of Jewish Humour. Gindin is a journalist, lecturer and teacher, and a regular writer for the Jewish Independent. .
Gyda Chud, coordinator of the Sholom Aleichem Seniors and vice-president of JSA, began the session by introducing JSA president Ken Levitt, who spoke briefly about JSA, and urged those who hadn’t yet joined, to become supporters and members.
Gindin began his talk by posing a questions, Why speak of Jewish humour; why do these words go so well together? He then proceeded to answer the question.
Jews have been over-represented in the comedy scene. At one time, they comprised 75% of the comics in America, while they were less than three percent of the population.
Humour has a long tradition in Judaism dating back to biblical times. The name Yitzchak, Isaac, means “he will laugh” explained Gindin. The prophet Elijah said that the two jesters in the market place already have a place in the World to Come because they made people laugh. Reb Nachman of Bratzlav, the founder of the Chassidic movement, preached about the importance of happiness. Sigmund Freud also spoke of happiness and humour in his book Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious.
Jews are known for making fun of themselves. They have used humour as a means of preparing for things that could go wrong. It was a method of coping with the many negative experiences in their lives. He pointed out that this type of humour was mainly a product of Ashkenazy culture.
Gindin described several different types of humour. For example, jokes about assimilated Jews trying to fit into Gentile society, Chassidim telling jokes on themselves, Jewish folk humour, jokes told under Nazism and Communism in order to relieve tension, and jokes about Israeli life.
In the United States, Jewish humour became popular in theatres and comedy routines starting in the Borsht Belt said Gindin. Much of this humour was self-deprecating. The comedians focused on such themes as Jewish-Gentile differences, Jewish families, the stereotype of the Jewish mother, Jewish professions, and the diminished role of the rabbi. An example is a joke about waiting for the Moshiach (Messiah)—“at least it’s steady work.”
Gindin told many stories and had the audience in stitches. He then asked if there were questions or comments and if anyone had any good stories. The audience immediately responded with many amusing jokes of their own in a similar genre.
Gyda Chud thanked the speaker and commented on how well he wove the theme of humour into its time and place and how well he explained how “Jewish and Humour” went together. She then invited everyone for coffee and dessert.
The second session in this season’s Empowerment Series will take place on Jan. 24, in cooperation with the Jewish Community Centre Seniors and will feature the film, Broadway Musicals, a Jewish Legacy.
This documentary, by Michael Kantor, narrated by Joel Grey, explores the unique role of Jewish composers and lyricists in the creation of the modern American musical.
There will be three more sessions on the Laughter and Music theme: March 21, with Temple Sholom seniors, April 17 with Beth Israel seniors in conjunction with the JFSA lunch programme; and June 25, with Kehila in Richmond.
Written by Shanie Levin
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