By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

A humorous history of the Jewish people? Seriously? Well, yes, actually, Jewish humor and Jewish history both have a dark side to them. But Jews have always had the ability to laugh – and complain – about our troubles. After all, our holidays have been described as “they tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat,” which combines the best of Judaism: celebration and food. This is just a long way to say that Rob Kutner’s “The Jews: 5,000 Years and Counting” (Wicked Son) looks for the humor – laugh-out-loud and so-lame-it-makes-you-groan humor – from biblical to contemporary times. 
The humor begins with the book’s dedication, which reads, “To all the Jews/ Who, if history is any guide,/ Could probably use a laugh right now.” But it’s the epigraph that really lets readers know what’s coming: “No Jews were harmed in the making of this book. But that doesn’t mean they won’t complain.” 
Some chapters are written from Kutner’s point of view, while, in others, the pretense is that someone from the past wrote it. For example, the story of creation is told from the snake’s point of view. (Well, in the biblical text, the snake does talk to Eve so there is a logical sense to this.) The snake has an interesting perspective about life in the Garden of Eden, which explains why he tempted Eve to eat of the fruit: “If I’m being honest, living in a place of complete, wall-to-wall perfection is boring as sin.”
Moses discusses his time as leader of the Israelites in another funny section. After writing about the people’s constant complaining, even after the miracles God has done for them, Moses does note that there is a positive side to this: “the Jews are finally starting to develop a cohesive national identity: the people who kvetch about food.” 
Kutner writes that, after the destruction of the Second Temple, it became clear what will be “one of the Jewish people’s favorite all time things: words.” These words appear in the numerous pages that comprise the Mishnah, the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds, and collections of midrash. The author then offers a selection of “Rabbi Action Cards,” featuring Hillel (“The Oralizer” who is credited with co-creating the Oral Law), Yochanan ben Zakai (known for his “Sneakery” since he escaped Jerusalem disguised as a corpse), Yehuda HaLevi (known for his “Power Poetry”) and more.
There is a wonderful section called “Fiddlers on the Run” that tells of Tevye and his family in the United States and features new variations of the lyrics from “Fiddler on the Roof” songs. Readers may find themselves singing along. There are Jews with which many readers won’t be familiar, from pirates to Chinese clan leaders. The formation of the state of Israel and its later leaders also receive their own chapters. One chapter, though, has a serious tone: “The Holocaust: The Jokes Write Themselves.” The only humor are the editor’s notes spread through the straight discussion of what occurred – notes that suggest ways the author could try to make this chapter funny.
“The Jews: 5,000 Years and Counting” is easy and fun to read. While obviously not a textbook, using it in addition to a history text might make that history go down smoother. It would also be a good b’nai mitzvah present, in addition to an excellent one for any adult Jew with a sense of humor.