Rabbi David Weiss HaLivni On Jewish Humor - Part I

"From Grandfather, I believe, I inherited my sense of humor, which stood us both in good stead in times of trouble. During the evening Talmud lessons that he taught, Grandfather used to exchange jokes with his students as an occasional relief from close to two hours' concentration on difficult Talmudic subjects and their interpretation. I listened, spellbound and with great pleasure, although eventually the jokes became repetitive and a little stale. Grandfather was really a raconteur, possessing a rich repertoire of jokes and knowing how to use them. He did not contribute new jokes, nor was he apt to create humorous situations or comical remarks, but he had a good memory; whatever jokes he heard or read he remembered, and he had the ability to recall them at the appropriate moment. The same can be said of me; I must have acquired the ability from him."