The Funniest Jew on Earth

The Tablet ^ | 28 June 2021 | Clayton Fox

[Rummyfan]

Ask Americans—well, Jews, well, most Jews, well, some Jews—over the age of 60 who is the funniest man on Earth? The answer is “Mel Brooks.” Brooks is the last great Hollywood Jew and when he goes—kinahora not for another 25 years—something will die with him. He might be the last great American Jew, period, some cross between a Kishinev shochet and a Williamsburg ganif, with that voice so full of wryness that the mere anticipation of what it might next utter brings a smile to our lips and comfort to our hearts.

It started in Europe, where the American-born Brooks followed his brothers into the army and ended up serving in the final advance on Germany in 1945. Mel says it was the war that really connected him to a deeper sense of his Jewish identity. In Patrick McGilligan’s exhaustive biography, Funny Man, he says, “I knew what Hitler was doing to Jews, so I really did feel this was a proper and just war.” He even tells a story of being called a “dirty Jew” by a fellow GI during training and reflexively lunging at him, proud of being “a tough Jew from Brooklyn.” By the end of his tour, he was entertaining troops with what would become his signature impression: Adolf Hitler with a comb for a tiny mustache and manic German gibberish.

Upon returning to New York, and every day hence, he has carried the torch of Jewish indignation, and pride. Publicly. This torch has created gifts for the millions, Jew and gentile, but especially a subset of us Jews for whom the jokes are not only funny but deeply personal and somehow cleansing—an unabashed embrace of being one of us.

[Rummyfan]

Was the original Mostel / Wilder Producers his?

Yes, written and directed by....

[AnotherUnixGeek]

You didn’t think ‘Silent Movie’ or ‘Robin Hood - Men in Tights’ were funny?

Not to mention 'High Anxiety' - lots of great movies in Brooks' catalog.

[Gay State Conservative]

My parents loved him in the 50s/60s...had several of his albums.

[Dr. Sivana]

Jackie Mason!!

I love how Jackie Mason can be extremely self-effacing. I loved the bit where he was trying to explain the dynamic of a Jewish husband within his marriage. He settled and likening him to a Japanese wife.

[ConservativeDude]

This article should have talked more about the producers… It has the record number of Tony’s still to this day… Even Hamilton was I think two or three Tony award than fewer the the producers

[MarvinStinson]

That was my thought when I read the headline.

[Political Junkie Too]

Growing up in my family, it was Allan Sherman.

-PJ

[jimtorr]

Springtime for Hitler?

[The_Media_never_lie]

How about Springtime for Bitem?

[Jeff Chandler]

I enjoyed Sapceballs.

[dfwgator]

What about Jacob Rodney Cohen, you all knew him by the name “Rodney Dangerfield”

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

At his age, I would not expect Mel to change, and I think he’s been a Liberal Democrat his whole life. But I do wonder what he thinks when he looks at the current state of American society. This is not at all the country he defended in WWII. Does he see?

In a word....no! He is a typical Hollywood tard. Groucho, and Jackie Mason are funnier IMO

[Jeff Chandler]

Jews in Space

It's been done.

[Big Red Badger]

Was Sam Kinison Jewish?

[reg45]

Mel Brooks also did “The Twelve Chairs” and “The Producers”.

[Fightin Whitey]

Al baby is the drollest of the droll.

Keep 'em in stitches, Mr.baby.

Though I suppose "baby" could be a Norwegian last name...hmmm..

[allendale]

When he does die there will be an American flag draped over his coffin and his family will be rightly thanked by a representative of the President of the United States.That will be entirely fitting and appropriate.

[dfwgator]

Well he was a Christian preacher at one time, so I doubt it.

[Jane Long]

Good grief.

Which one is Mel? Who are the other two?

TIA.

[dfwgator]

LOL, I wouldn’t have known all that had it not been for Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song”.