Talmudic Humor and the Establishment of Legal Principles: Strange Questions, Impossible Scenarios, and Legalistic Brainteasers

Friedman, Hershey H.

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Talmudic Humor and the Establishment of Legal Principles: Strange Questions, Impossible Scenarios, and Legalistic Brainteasers

Thalia: Studies in Literary Humor, Vol. 21, 2004, 14-28

18 Pages Posted: 22 Mar 2013

See all articles by Hershey H. Friedman

Hershey H. Friedman

City University of New York (CUNY) - Koppelman School of Business

Date Written: March 20, 2004

Abstract

Humorous cases, improbable scenarios, and brainteasers are excellent pedagogic tools for those studying law and even for other disciplines. They make the lectures more interesting and help clarify matters and make it possible to determine what should be done in more routine cases. Talmudic scenarios and questions are as interesting today as they were almost 2,000 years ago and have ensured that the Talmud will continue to be used as a source to help solve new questions that arise as society becomes more and more complicated.

Keywords: Talmud, humor, pedagogy, legal principles, law

JEL Classification: B30, B31, I2, Z00, Z10, M12, M14, J50, M54

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Friedman, Hershey H., Talmudic Humor and the Establishment of Legal Principles: Strange Questions, Impossible Scenarios, and Legalistic Brainteasers (March 20, 2004). Thalia: Studies in Literary Humor, Vol. 21, 2004, 14-28 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2236456