If you don't think Jews can laugh at anything, check out this Israeli sketch from one of my favorite shows, "Ha-Yehudim Ba-im" (The Jews are Coming)
Next week, when your family sits down for Thanksgiving dinner (is it really next week already???), let's make this year different from all other years.
Because of the war in Israel and antisemitism at home, Jews have been living in a time warp since Simhat Torah. And with Thanksgiving early this year due to the quirky arithmetic of the calendar, it only exacerbates our disorientation. Let's take advantage of that by not gearing up for political battle in the typical way.
In all other years, we've had the obligatory fights around the table, with family members taking on the roles of Archie and Meathead, or Alex P. Keaton and his '60s folks,or just about everyone on TV right now and their Trumpy cousin. It's time for Jews to sit back and cool it for a year. I'd say it's time for everyone else to as well, but Jews are my peeps, so I'll stick to the kinfolk.
We've all been through too much for this to be politics as usual at the dinner table, Let's just be glad to be together, first and foremost. Secondly, let's think of those who can't be with their families, whether because of military service or if they have been victimized by violence, here, in Israel, Gaza or anywhere.
The wounds are too raw for banter, but some good natured humor could be helpful. It's the Jewish way to laugh in the face of tragedy. One might say that this week's entire portion of Toldot is meant to be a farce. Seriously, I can hear the Benny Hill music the whole way through, from the fights in Rebecca's womb to the birthright scene to Jacob with the hairy arms. I've got to think tht these stories were initially intended to be told after knocking back a a few pints.
So I have a suggestion. Rather than filling the time from the soup to the pie with political banter, tell some jokes.
Here are a few perfectly tasteless but also quintessentially Jewish jokes for our times:
Two Jews sat in a coffeehouse, discussing the fate of their people. “How miserable is our history,” said one. “Pogroms, plagues, discrimination, Hitler, Neo-Nazis…Sometimes I think we’d be better off if we’d never been born.” “Sure,” said his friend. “But who has that much luck — maybe one in 50,000?”
Didn't like that one? How about this:
In a small village in Poland, a terrifying rumor was spreading: A Christian girl had been found murdered. Fearing retaliation, the Jewish community gathered in the shul to plan whatever defensive actions were possible under the circumstances. Just as the emergency meeting was being called to order, in ran the president of the synagogue, out of breath and all excited. “Brothers,” he cried out, “I have wonderful news! The murdered girl is Jewish!”
No good? Those are official, Grade A Jewish jokes. But, OK, you win. Here's a joke from "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." In fact, here's a whole page of them. Go to town! And remember, it's OK to laugh at your table. It's what Jews do (especially if the food makes you gassy)
Midge: Me, personally, I was never great at gift-giving. Maybe it’s because I never got to celebrate Christmas. I got Hanukkah. Doesn’t exactly prepare you the same way. For Christmas, a gentile would get a bike as a reminder that their parents love them. For Hanukkah, we would get socks as a reminder that we were persecuted.
Happy Thanksgiving!
And since Hanukkah is coming, and this week's portion introduces Jacob, how about some words on Hanukkah from Jacob himself! Jacob the Bar Mitzvah boy, that is | 
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