THE GOLDEN BOOK OF JEWISH HUMOR

Normally a book of this title which has a lead-off chapter called ""The Whole World Is Jewish"" would be dropped like a hot knish by nervous landsmenner who doubt the ecumenical efficacy of such statements and furthermore know damn well the world ain't. But Golden has the skill to talk his way out of any boldfaced bag, and between yocks, mumbles away happily, offering personal reminiscences and amusing, sometimes trenchant, sometimes downright slovenly commentary (""Sholom Aleichem is the meshugganah joke raised to literature""). As for the humor, Golden has included most of the grand old classics (e.g., the Lipshitz Diamond which carries a curse) through shetl tales, some sallies seen before in other ethnic contexts, and Israeli and other contemporary jollies. (What did you learn in school Bubala? I learned my name is Irving.) Laff content: fl kosher; (apple) mmnnyeh; fl yeech.