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Pesachim 9b
Where else do we find humor in chazal? Post some examples.
Shavuos 36b. (It’s not intended as humor but I find the Sugya hilarious.)
For those who want explanation –
(from a site but I can’t post links)
Her name also plays a part in an interesting Talmudic pun. The Gemara (Pesachim 9b) is discussing what happens if a person leaves bread in his house before Pesach, and then becomes aware that a rodent (Chuldah) has stolen it. May he assume that the Chuldah ate the bread? Perhaps the Chuldah stored it away, and now there is bread in the house!
One sage in the Gemara suggests that the Chuldah might realize there will be no bread in the house over Pesach, and might hoard the bread. An opposing sage responds, “veChi Chuldah Neviah He?” “Is the Chuldah a prophet?” Of course, this is a pun on the name “Chuldah haNeviah,” “Chuldah the Prophetess.” [Regrettably, too many people who learn that Gemara don’t know who Chuldah is, and thus don’t get the pun…]
bekitzur,
Thanks for pointing out the pun. I know who ????? was, but I did not get the pun when I was learning it today. It’s rather funny now 🙂
Chanan bisha?
What about the shitot of Rebbi and Rav Zera that one shouldn’t laugh too much in this world?
rebdoniel: How much is too much?
I think Bar-Kapara’s episode with Rebbi (Rabeinu HaKadosh) qualifies.
The Sugya in Nida 23 where Reb Yirmiya tried getting Reb Zeira to laugh (and it didn’t work).
Hi, this is jewishfeminist02’s husband. Before weighing in on this, I must mention that my Rebbe (Rav Yitzchak Blau, son of Rav Yosef Blau – mashgiach ruchani of YU) has an extensive shiur called “Does the Talmud Have a Sense of Humor?” A recording and mekoros can be found on YU Torah.
Now, here’s a few of my own:
1) Menachos 99b: Ben Dama thinks he knows all of Torah, and wants to learn Greek philosophy. His brother, R’ Yishmael (already known for advocating work in addition to Torah – see Berachos 35b) tells him “v’higisa bo yomam v’laila.” One of the meforshim says that this means you can learn Greek philosophy during bein hashemashos.
2) Berachos 63a: One must teach his son an easy and clean profession. What is that? “Needlework” ???? ????????. In the context of a machlokes about whether one should engage in a profession or learn full time, suggesting a profession whose shorashim resemble “???” and “?????” is probably a pun.
3) Chagigah 14b: There are lots of serious terutzim and halachos following this one, but it starts off with a pretty funny hava aminah:
They asked Ben Zoma: Can you castrate a dog?
Ben Zoma: In chu”l (the pasuk says only “b’artzechem”)
edited. Nice, thanks!
(?”? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?”? ?’ ???? ??? ??????? ( ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?”?
There’s even a gemara which attests to the fact that a shiur ought to begin with a joke.
I think this qualifies:
This week’s parsha, Devarim, 1:12, rashi “Umasaachem”
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