What Israel Needs to Stop Iran’s Nuclear-Weapons Program
It will have to execute a complex operation—and then defend itself from Hizballah’s retaliation.
October 25, 2021
The Religious Truth behind Jewish Humor
“What’s purple, hangs on the wall, and whistles?”
In Genesis 17 through 26—read in synagogues during this time of year—the Hebrew root meaning “to laugh” or “to jest” appears with unusual frequency, mostly relating to the patriarch Isaac, whose name comes from the same root. Today, Jews are well known for their comic abilities, and according to a 2013 survey, 42 percent of American Jews mention a sense of humor as a key part of their Jewish identities. Chaim Steinmetz, however, seeks a deeper religious truth behind Jewish humor, and finds one in the following joke:
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The Religious Truth behind Jewish Humor
“What’s purple, hangs on the wall, and whistles?”