Mr Mikes gives many theories about Jewish humor, which he argues is the basis for the U.S. humour…

He writes: Theodor Reik quotes the story of the Jewish nurse. She has spent the night with a very sick patient and when the doctor arrives in the morning, he enquires how his patient is. The nurse replies: ‘Oh, he was sick all night, kept calling me… he wanted this and that… God, what a horrible night I had…” This story is supposed to reflect self-centredness… I only see it as the usual, disarming Jewish self-criticism: our nurses care more for themselves than for their charges – but who doesn’t?

Mr Mikes gives examples of Jewish jokes that made fun of death, including funeral jokes. He writes: It is Mrs Levy’s funeral, and Levy is found in the maid’s room, making love to her. The outraged relative who has found him exclaims:

‘Today of all days!’

Levy replies:

‘Good gracious! In my great sorrow I don’t know what I am doing.’

-continued next page

-readersvoice.com