Rabbi Abba bar Kahana on Mad Laughter and the Nations' Theaters

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Achrei Mot 2:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[(Leviticus 16:1) And after the death of Aaron's two sons.] Rabbi Abba bar Kahana opened (with Ecclesiastes 2:2): "Of laughter I said: It is mad! [And of rejoicing, what does this accomplish?]" How confused is the laughter of the nations of the world, which they make in their theater-houses and their circus-houses. "And of rejoicing, what does this accomplish?" — what good is there in it for the disciples of the sages there?

Themes

HumorNationsTorahWisdomSolomon

Biblical References

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