Divine mockery and laughing Rabbis
My paper is dedicated to the role of humour in expressing theological ideas in the Babylonian
Talmud. As an example, I analyse the narrative with a strong theological focus. In stories of this kind the acting
characters are God and the Other involved in an ongoing collision. God plays the role of a scoffer, exposing the Other
as an object of derision. The real objects of the mockery are theological views that the narrator would not like to
have in his own environment: therefore, he projects them on the Other. Analysing appearances of mockery through
theological debates I will show that ridicule here does not demonize the Other or minimize his importance nor does it
pursue the goal of alienating him. As a rule, the laughter opens a moment of potential rupture in the continuity of
interactions and produces some re-organization in order to steer the interaction once more towards continuity rather
than towards chaotic turbulence. With the paradox, it is thoughtfully tried to subject the system of coexistence with
the Other to the shock caused by the usage of the weapon of laughter; however, after the laughing situation, the
previously inhabited borders are sought again in order to ensure the continuity of an updated order.
Keywords: mockery, beard, hair, masculinity, theology, narrative, rabbis, Arameans, Sennacherib, Assyria, Babylonian Talmud
Article outline
- Preliminary remarks
- “Had it not been a written verse, it would be impossible to say it.”
- King of Assyria, his beard, and the barber
- Satyricon and head shaving
- Conclusions
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Notes
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Bibliography