RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:TALMUDIC VIEW OF JEWISH HUMOR:JESTERS BRING REDEMPTION

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:TALMUDIC VIEW OF JEWISH HUMOR:JESTERS BRING REDEMPTION

Shalom:

 

 

Humor is a part of Talmudic Judaism (and certainly the Tanach is full of it), and those that help spread humor hold a special place in Judaism.  The below are some examples and this short essay is not meant to be an exhaustive study of the subject.

 

'Rabbi Baruqa of Huza often went to the marketplace at Lapet. One day, the prophet Elijah appeared to him there, and Rabbi Baruqa asked him, "Is there anyone among all these people who will have a share in the World to Come?" Elijah answered, "There is none." Later, two men came to the marketplace, and Elijah said to Rabbi Baruqa, "Those two will have a share in the World to Come!" Rabbi Baruqa asked the newcomers, "What is your occupation?" They replied, "We are jesters. When we see someone who is sad, we cheer him up. When we see two people quarreling, we try to make peace between them."' ( Talmud Bavli, Tractate, Ta'anit, Daf 22a). "Who shall bring redemption, but the jesters?")(ibid)

 

The Talmud tells the story of a king's two jesters whose sage and pithy wisdom were the talk of the kingdom. One day, in a philosophical mood, the king sent them on an errand. "Simon, my fool, go out and bring back the best thing in the world. And you, Yonaton, go out and secure for me the worst thing in the world."

In a short while both jesters were back, each with a package. Simon bowed low, "The best thing in the world, sire!" and unwrapped his package to reveal a tongue. Yonaton began to laugh and quickly unwrapped his bundle. "The worst thing in the world, O king," and he, too, presented a tongue.

The Tractate Sukkah of the Talmud says that Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel could, "take eight flaming torches and throw them in the air, and catch one and throw one and they did not touch one another."

 

 During the Jewish wedding reception, the bridesmaids are called upon like court jesters to entertain the newlyweds. According to the Talmud, whoever gladdens the chatan (groom) and kallah (bride) is "as if he rebuilt one of the ruins of Jerusalem." At many Orthodox wedding parties, bridesmaids bring "shtick" like elaborate masks and flower leis; they perform songs, jokes, skits and even magic tricks. Some bridesmaids fulfill this mitzvah by simply ensuring that the bride is having fun.

 

But on the other hand, and do not we always have another hand recorded by one or more of our sages: Jesters aren't beloved by all Rabbis. Their proof text is Psalm One Verse One: "Happy is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful." They say that scornful, latzim, is best meaning jesters, and the 'seats' mentioned, and those of their 'theater.'

 

Many Blessings,

Rabbi  Arthur Segal

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

BLUFFTON, SC

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