Alef: The NEXT Conversation

09: What's So Funny?

This past October, comedian Marc Maron sat down with fellow funny-man Eugene Mirman to record an episode of “WTF,” Maron’s weekly podcast.  As the two seasoned comics traded jokes, insults, and stories of life on the road, Maron remarked that he had, until recently, felt uncomfortable doing “Jewish humor” on stage.  Mirman, himself a Jewish immigrant from the former Soviet Union, began to regale Maron with stories of growing up Jewish in Russia, where “they really hate Jews.”   Maron’s reluctance to be too “Jewish” on stage, juxtaposed with Mirman’s experience with old fashioned, actual, Jew-hating (for lack of a better term) is insightful, poignant, and above all, hilarious. 

But, is it “Jewish” humor?

What about this:  A well known Jewish comedian hamming it up (yes, pun intended) at the Last Supper:

The comic is Jewish, but the context?  Not so much.  So, is it “Jewish” comedy?  You tell us…

Alef wants to know “What’s so funny?”   For the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring stories about comedy, humor, and the things that make us laugh as Jews.   Think we missed something?  Are we not nearly as funny as our grandmothers always told us we were?  Post your favorite examples of “Jewish” humor in the comments section, or email them to Alef@birthrightisraelnext.org.

Happy Laughing! 

-Alef

Photo by Procsilas, licensed under Creative Commons.

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What’s So Funny Posts

Falling for Funny Guys
The Set Up
My Father’s Name was Lewis Lander
If You Ask Me…
Make ‘em Laugh

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