Part 1: Before the Movie

Review the background info on Jewish humor (at the end of this document) and then discuss together:

• What kinds of things make you laugh, and why?
• Have you ever laughed at something painful? How might comedy help us deal with hard things?
• Optional Icebreaker: Share a joke that feels “Jewish” to you, either from your family, pop culture, or stand-up. What makes it Jewish?

Part 2: During the Movie

Invite participants to pay attention to:

• Characters: Are there “outsider” figures? Do we see power challenged or flipped?
• Tone: Is the humor gentle, biting, sarcastic, absurd?
• Themes: Does the movie include themes like suffering, exile, family tension, or identity?
• Style: Do you notice any of the features from the Jewish humor list? Even if the film isn’t Jewish, do you see traces?

Part 3: After the Movie

Discuss together:

• What moments in the film reminded you of the features of Jewish humor (self-deprecation, resistance, kvetching, etc.)?
• Were there moments where laughter felt like a release? Of tension? Anger? Grievance?
• How did the film handle serious or painful themes? Did humor make those moments more or less powerful?
• Does a comedy need to be “Jewish” to be viewed through a Jewish lens?
• What did this movie help you realize about your own relationship to humor or identity?

Adapting for specific kinds of movies

Animated or Family Comedy (e.g., Inside Out, Shrek, Turning Red): Explore universal themes with a Jewish lens , e.g. exile, embarrassment, family, coming-of-age.

Super Jewish movie (e.g., A Serious Man, Jojo Rabbit, The Frisco Kid): Dive deeper into how Jewish identity is portrayed. What message does this movie send about what being Jewish means?

Mainstream comedy (e.g., Bridesmaids, The Hangover, Napoleon Dynamite): Look for Jew-ish humor traits like outsider characters, neurotic moments, undermining authority, etc.