Jewish Humor: The Secret Weapon That Terrifies Our Enemies
When Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel, something unexpected happened on Israeli social media. Instead of panic, there was an explosion of memes. “This missile takes 14 hours to arrive,” one Israeli joked, “What should I cook in my crockpot while we wait?”
This wasn’t just gallows humor – it was an ancient form of Jewish resistance that traces back to the Bible itself. According to Rabbi Mike Feuer, speaking with Sara Lamm, author of “Into the Fire: Stories of Heroism from October 7th,” this ability to laugh in the face of danger isn’t just a coping mechanism – it’s a powerful spiritual weapon.
“Want to know where Jewish dark humor comes from?” Rabbi Feuer asks with a glint in his eye. “It’s right there at the Red Sea.” He points to a moment that might surprise readers of the Bible. Picture it: The Israelites are trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea, facing what looks like certain death. And what do they say to Moses?
“Were there no graves in Egypt? You had to bring us out here to die?” (Exodus 14:11).
“When you hear it in that tone,” Rabbi Feuer explains, “you realize we’ve been doing this ever since.” This wasn’t just complaining – it was dark humor in the face of terror. By finding something to joke about in an impossible situation, the Israelites were doing something profound: they were refusing to be consumed by fear.
But what makes humor such a powerful form of resistance? Rabbi Feuer explains that humor works by putting together things that don’t belong. “When you say ‘a horse walks into a bar,’ your mind already goes ‘huh?’” he notes. “When you place humor next to an imminent threat, it breaks you out of the narrowness of fear.”
This principle was powerfully demonstrated during October 7th by Rachel Edry, one of the heroes featured in Lamm’s book. When Hamas terrorists broke into her home in southern Israel, she faced what seemed like certain death. But instead of freezing in terror, she made a stunning psychological assessment of the situation. Looking at the armed terrorists who had infiltrated her home, she realized that beneath their weapons and hatred, they were also young men who might respond to maternal comfort and basic human needs.
“She quickly understood that what they also needed, in addition to killing a whole bunch of Jews for no reason, was a mother’s comfort and cookies,” Lamm explains. “They were probably really hungry. And that is what she thought to herself, and that is what she acted on.”
So Rachel did something that seems almost unbelievable: she baked them cookies, sang songs with them that she knew they would recognize from Israeli radio, and brought up shared memories of the region that she knew would resonate with them. “She basically Jewish-mothered her way out of a horrible fate,” Lamm says.
“Cookies and terrorists don’t belong together,” Lamm notes. “Yet in that moment, putting these incongruous things together helped create an unexpected path to survival.”
This reveals something crucial about heroism that might surprise many: Heroes don’t become someone different in moments of crisis. Instead, as Rabbi Feuer explains, “they become much more of who they already are.” Rachel Edry didn’t suddenly become a different person – she accessed the deepest part of who she already was: a Jewish mother who understood the universal language of cookies and comfort.
This understanding of humor as resistance offers a powerful lesson for today. When Israelis respond to missile attacks with memes, they’re not just being funny – they’re engaging in an ancient form of spiritual warfare. “Fear is its own danger,” Rabbi Feuer explains. “When we let fear narrow us, we risk losing our access to the goodness of God. Humor isn’t just comfort – it’s a way to step outside our limitations and access deeper truth.”
This perspective transforms how we view both humor and heroism. Those missile attack memes weren’t just jokes – they were acts of resistance, declaring that even in the face of hundreds of missiles, the Jewish spirit remains unbroken. The ability to laugh in the darkest moments isn’t a sign of taking things lightly – it’s a sign of profound spiritual strength.
As Israel continues to face threats, this ancient wisdom offers both comfort and strategy. Our enemies expect fear; they don’t know what to do with humor. When we can laugh in the face of danger, we demonstrate that while they may threaten our bodies, they can never touch our souls.
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Want to read more inspiring stories of everyday heroes from October 7th? Get your copy of Sara Lamm’s powerful new book “Into the Fire: Stories of Heroism from October 7th” today.
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Want to discover the hero inside of you? Join renowned teacher Rav Mike Feuer for a transformative live workshop series: “The Bible’s Heroic Journey.” Through the timeless story of Moses, you’ll discover that the seeds of heroism already exist within you – they’re just waiting to be awakened.
This workshop is exclusively for Israel Bible+ members. If you’re already a member, check your inbox for the invite – we’re looking forward to seeing you there! And if you’re not a member yet, what are you waiting for? It’s on sale now for Cyber Monday – 25% off! Join now!
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