Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Laughing has been an important part of Judaism since biblical times. 

Abraham and Sarah, were not able to have children. When G‑d's messenger gave the elderly couple the happy news, they both laughed. Because of this laughter, the heir to Judaism and the first Jewish child ever born was named Yitzchak (Isaac), which means "laugh."

The history of Jewish merrymaking does not end in the Bible. We find in Talmudic times  the account of how a great sage, Rabbah, used to begin each of his lessons with a joke.

Another fascinating story involves Rav Beroka, a Talmudic sage, who was surve...