The Predominance of Jewish Comedians in America
A 1979 Time Magazine article estimated that, at the time, approximately four of every five comedians in clubs and on stages across the United States were Jewish. That’s astounding when you consider that a mere 3% of all Americans at the time were Jewish. Why is there such a powerful Jewish presence in American comedy? What is the role of comedy within Jewish culture?
The Deep Roots of Jewish Humor
Most experts say that, fundamentally, humor has been a survival mechanism within Jewish culture for millennia. Historians have found credible evidence of theological satire within Jewish communities in the Holy Roman Empire, believed to be a way to surreptitiously challenge the spread of Christianity.
Scholars say that many of the modern roots of Jewish humor can be found in the purim shpils, plays staged as early as the 15th century CE during the celebration of Purim. These plays often included some form of parody and typically poked fun at authority figures. Around the same time, the tradition of the marshalik or badkhn emerged, a person who acted as master of ceremonies, often at a Jewish wedding.
Vaudeville and the Borscht Belt
It’s generally accepted that Yiddish theater grew out of the purim shpils and the marshalik/badkhn. In the late 19th and early 20th century, many of the Yiddish theaters in the United State, particularly in New York, adopted the entertainment style of the vaudeville houses, which originated in France a quarter of a century earlier. The original “variety show,” vaudeville combined song and dance with other forms of entertainment and gave comedians a platform to perform. Many of the most famous stars of the first half of the 20th century got their start in the Yiddish vaudeville houses, including the Marx Brothers, Jack Benny and Milton Berle.
In the 1920s, the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York became the preferred summer vacation destination for Jewish-American families. Also known as the “Yiddish Alps,” the area featured, during its heyday, as many as 500 resorts that catered to people of most socio-economic levels. The resorts all offered some form of entertainment, providing unparalleled opportunities for Jewish entertainers to develop their talent and routines. Among the many Jewish-American comedians who played in the Borscht Belt at some time in their careers were Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Seinfeld, Woody Allen, Milton Berle, Joan Rivers and Sid Caesar.
Modern Jewish Humor
In the early days of radio, as well as the infancy of television, variety shows were standard and typically included comedy. Because of the vast numbers of Jewish-American comedians created by the Borscht Belt, many of the comedic stars of early radio and television were also Jewish (though many adopted stage names because of persistent anti-Semitism).
In December, 1962, a Jewish-American comedian named Leonard Alfred Schneider (stage name Lenny Bruce) changed the face of comedy forever, moving away from simply telling jokes to addressing social issues, including racism, politics, religion and sexual themes. Bruce was arrested numerous times and blacklisted by clubs across the country who feared prosecution for violating obscenity laws, but ultimately influenced a whole new generation of comedians, from Rodney Dangerfield and Richard Pryor to Jerry Seinfeld.
The Common Themes in Jewish Comedy
Though Jewish humor can run the gamut, there are typically common traits or themes:
- Jewish comedy is almost always topical or substantive—As a general rule, Jewish humor isn’t slapstick—though the Marx Brothers would disagree. It may be about health, wealth, food, family, relationships or even survival, but it generally doesn’t draw from the suffering or misfortunes of others. Self-mockery, though, is always permitted and often the focus.
- Jewish humor typically involves wit and intelligence and may emphasize the logic (or the lack thereof) in a situation
- Jewish comedy tends to focus on the experiences of the common man…it’s typically not elitist, even though it may be intellectual
- While Jewish comedy doesn’t make fun of the suffering or misfortune of others, it almost always has an edge, frequently poking fun at celebrities, leaders or authority figures
- Jewish humor is not afraid to satirize or poke fun at religious beliefs or traditions
Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit—Providing Comprehensive Funeral and Burial Services to the Jewish Community for More Than 130 Years
At Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit, with funeral chapels in New York and Florida, we have served the Jewish community for more than five generations. Because of our unparalleled experience, we know the distinct funeral and burial customs within each Jewish tradition and can offer assistance and guidance on any issue, from the structure of the memorial services or the choice of a casket or monument to the details of sitting Shiva or the preparation of a Yahrzeit calendar. We will also work directly with the Chevra Kadisha to ensure proper preparation of the body according to Jewish law.
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