On October 4, 2023, the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program welcomed an in-person crowd for a lecture with Columbia University Fulbright fellow Dr. Roni Cohen, titled “The Myth of Jewish Humor: A Medieval Take.”
The existence of a distinctive Jewish sense of humor is a widely recognized phenomenon, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries. This unique ethos is often associated with early 20th-century Yiddish literature, theater culture, as well as Jewish-American comedians and entertainers. However, it is important to note that humoristic pieces also existed in the early modern and medieval times within Jewish communities. In this talk, Dr. Roni Cohen explores a specific genre of humorous literature that gained popularity in Europe during the late Middle Ages: parodies of the Talmud and the Hebrew Bible. By delving into the historical background of this literary phenomenon, Dr. Cohen suggests new insights into its place within the broader history of Jewish humor.
Dr. Roni Cohen is a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. His Ph.D. dissertation, titled "Carnival and Canon: Medieval Parodies for Purim," was written in the Jewish History department at Tel Aviv University. Roni's research focuses on European Jewish popular culture in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, as well as the relationships between textual pieces and communities. In his current project, "In Search of the Early Modern Earworm," Roni maps and analyzes short textual pieces that were added by scribes and book owners in the margins of late medieval and early modern Jewish manuscripts.
Dr. Cohen’s talk is available to view in full below.
This event was made possible by the generosity of the Radov and Appel families.
Keep up with the IIJS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or join our mailing list for updates!