Why don't Jews drink? It interferes with their suffering.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A dark joke linking Jewish history of suffering to abstention from drinking.
- In plain terms
- Jews don't drink because it stops them from feeling their pain.
- What can you take from it?
- Humor can use pain to explain behavior.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can humor help process collective trauma?
- When does joking about pain go too far?
Another view
This trivializes historical suffering.
More from Henny Youngman
A Jewish woman had 2 chickens. One got sick, so the woman made chicken soup out of the other one to help the sick one get well.
Permalink to quote #29 I asked a Jewish man 'Do you know where Michigan Avenue is?' He said 'Yes', and walked away.
Permalink to quote #28 A Jewish man pulls up to the curb and asks the policeman 'Can I park here?' 'No' says the cop. 'What about all these other cars?' 'They didn't ask!
Permalink to quote #27
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