Humor and Judaism

(Babylonian Talmud, Legal Text, circa 500 CE)

A certain man named Ḥanan the Wicked slapped a certain man. He then came before Rav Huna for judgment. Rav Huna said to him: Go give him a half-dinar, which is the fine imposed for such an act. Ḥanan the Wicked had a damaged dinar, and wanted to give him a half-dinar from it, but there was no one who wanted to take it from him to give him smaller coins for it. Ḥanan the Wicked then gave him another slap, and gave him the bad dinar as payment.

(Babylonian Talmud)

When Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi died, humility and fear of sin ceased. Rav Yosef said to the tanna who reviewed the mishna: "Do not teach that humility ceased, for there is still one who is still humble - me!"

(Babylonian Talmud)

Abaye said: "When I left the house of the master, Rabba, to go to Marei bar Mar, I was already satiated. However, when I arrived there at Marei bar Mar’s house, they served me sixty plates of sixty kinds of cooked dishes, and I ate sixty portions from each of them. The last dish was called pot roast, and I was still so hungry that I wanted to chew the plate afterward!" And in continuation Abaye said: "This explains the folk saying that people say: The poor man is hungry and does not know it", as Abaye was unaware how hungry he had been in his master’s house. Alternatively, there is another appropriate, popular expression: "Room in the stomach for sweets can always be found."

(Babylonian Talmud)

“But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2). Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: A person can learn a piece of Torah his/her heart desires, as it says in Psalms: "But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord, i.e., his delight is in the part of the Torah that he wishes to study." The Gemara relates: Levi and Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, were sitting before Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and they were learning Torah. When they finished the book that they were learning and were ready to begin a new subject, Levi said: Let them bring us the book of Proverbs; and Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, said: Let them bring us the book of Psalms. He compelled Levi to acquiesce, and they brought a book of Psalms. When they arrived here, at the verse: “But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord,” Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi explained the verse and said: "A person can learn a piece of Torah only that his/her heart desires." Levi said: "My teacher, you have given me permission to leave. (As I wish to study Proverbs, not Psalms)"

(Mishna, Legal and Ethics Text, circa 200 CE)

Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinus says: Late morning sleep, midday wine, chatter of children, and sitting in the assembly houses of the ignorant remove a person from the world.

(Babylonian Talmud)

Rabbi Beroka Ḥoza’a was often found in the market of Bei Lefet, and Elijah the Prophet would often appear to him. Once Rabbi Beroka said to Elijah: Of all the people who come here, is there anyone in this market worthy of the World-to-Come? Two brothers came to the marketplace. Elijah said to Rabbi Beroka: These two have a share in the World-to-Come. Rabbi Beroka went over to the men and said to them: What is your occupation? They said to him: We are jesters, and we cheer up the depressed. Alternatively, when we see two people who have a quarrel between them, we strive to make peace. It is said that for this behavior one enjoys the profits of his actions in this world, and yet his reward is not diminished in the World-to-Come.

(Babylonian Talmud)

Rav Yehuda said: "And, so too, one should be joyful before stating a matter of Jewish Law." Rava said: And, so too, one should be joyful before going to sleep in order to have a good dream." The Gemara asks: Is that so, that one should introduce matters of Jewish Law joyfully? Didn’t Rav Giddel say that Rav said: "Any Torah scholar who sits before his teacher and his lips are not dripping with myrrh due to fear of his teacher, those lips shall be burnt, as it is stated: “His lips are as lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh [shoshanim notefot mor over]” (Song of Songs 5:13)?" He interpreted homiletically: "Do not read mor over, flowing myrrh; rather, read mar over, flowing bitterness. Likewise, do not read shoshanim, lilies; rather, read sheshonim, that are studying, meaning that lips that are studying Torah must be full of bitterness. The Gemara explains: This is not difficult, there is no contradiction here, as this, where it was taught that one should introduce matters of Jewish Law joyfully, is referring to a rabbi, and that, where it was taught that one must be filled with bitterness, is referring to a student, who must listen to his teacher with trepidation. And if you wish, say instead that this and that are referring to a rabbi, and it is not difficult. This, where it was taught that he must be joyful, is before he begins teaching, whereas that, where it was taught that he must be filled with bitterness and trepidation, is after he already began teaching Jewish Law. That explanation is like that which Rabba did. Before he began teaching Jewish Law to the Sages, he would say something humorous and the Sages would be cheered. Ultimately, he sat in trepidation and began teaching the Jewish law.