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September 9, 2016

A Two-Century-Old Yiddish Humor Collection

Surprisingly unfunny.

Published in Vilna in 1823, Hundert un eyne anekdoten (“101 Anecdotes”) is a Yiddish-language collection of what might best be termed light reading. The book’s episodes—the majority of which were translated from French and Polish—are unlikely to strike modern readers as very funny, but were probably meant to be. The YIVO Institute explains:

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September 9, 2016

  1. The Right Way to Make Israeli Politicians More Accountable

    Introduce a true system of primaries.

  2. The U.S. Submits to Iranian Naval Intimidation

    See no enemies; see no evil.

  3. How Supporters of Academic Boycotts Get Their Way

    L’affaire Dotan.

  4. Mark Podwal: A Unique Artist Preoccupied with Jewish History

    A genius for historical contradictions.

  5. A Two-Century-Old Yiddish Humor Collection

    Surprisingly unfunny.