reading their books, when the Priest turns to the Rabbi and says, "Rabbi, I'm curious about something. Does your religion still forbid you to eat pork?" The Rabbi replies, "Yes, that is still one of our laws." The Priest nods and asks, "Rabbi, have you ever eaten pork?", to which the Rabbi replies, "Yes, I succumbed to temptation once and tasted a ham sandwich." The Priest nods sympathetically and they both go back to their reading.
A bit later, the Rabbi turns to the Priest and asks, "Father, does your faith require that you remain celibate for life?" The Priest replies, "Yes, Rabbi. Celibacy is still very much part of our faith." The Rabbi thinks for a minute and asks, "Father, have you ever fallen to the temptations of the flesh?" The Priest answers, "Yes, Rabbi. I was weak once and broke my vows." The Rabbi nods understandingly and falls silent for a few minutes, then says, "Beats the shit out of a ham sandwich, doesn't it?"
Joke Poo: The Astronaut and the Deep Sea Diver
An Astronaut and a Deep Sea Diver are orbiting Earth in separate spacecraft, communicating via radio, when the Astronaut turns to the Diver and says, “Diver, I’m curious about something. Down there, does the pressure still prevent you from drinking a soda can? I heard they explode from the pressure on the sea floor” The Diver replies, “Yes, that is still a physical limitation.” The Astronaut nods and asks, “Diver, have you ever tried to drink one?” The Diver replies, “Yes, I succumbed to curiosity once and tried to open a coke at 100 meters.” The Astronaut nods sympathetically and they both go back to their work.
A bit later, the Diver turns to the Astronaut and asks, “Astronaut, does your training require you to hold in all bodily excretions when on a space walk?” The Astronaut replies, “Yes, Diver. Waste management is a critical part of our EVA procedures.” The Diver thinks for a minute and asks, “Astronaut, have you ever had an… accident… on a spacewalk?” The Astronaut answers, “Yes, Diver. The restraints failed once during an emergency repair.” The Diver nods understandingly and falls silent for a few minutes, then says, “Beats the shit out of a pressurized soda explosion, doesn’t it?”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then cook up some comedic enhancements!
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: A Priest and a Rabbi, archetypal figures representing different faiths with specific dietary and behavioral restrictions, are placed in a neutral, everyday setting: an airplane. This sets the stage for a conversation about those restrictions.
- Conflict/Inquiry: The initial questions explore the persistence of these well-known religious rules (no pork for Jews, celibacy for priests) and then, crucially, inquire about instances of transgression.
- Revelation/Twist: Both characters confess to succumbing to temptation. The twist lies in the punchline: the Rabbi’s unexpected comparison, elevating the Priest’s transgression (presumably sexual) above his own seemingly minor dietary lapse. The humor derives from the incongruity and the implied judgment.
Key Elements:
- Religious Stereotypes: The joke relies on pre-existing knowledge (and perhaps gentle stereotypes) about Jewish and Catholic practices.
- Temptation and Sin: The universal theme of resisting desires.
- Incongruity: The core humor stems from the unexpected comparison between a ham sandwich and a broken vow of celibacy.
- Implied Judgment: The Rabbi’s statement implicitly ranks the two “sins,” finding the Priest’s lapse far more significant.
Comedic Enrichment:
Here’s an alternative punchline and “Did you know?” that builds upon the joke’s elements:
Alternative Punchline:
After the Priest admits to breaking his vows, the Rabbi nods slowly and says, “Well, that certainly explains why the airline only serves kosher meals on these flights now.”
Why this works:
- Builds on existing themes: Still plays on the idea of sin/transgression within a religious context.
- Introduces a new layer: Expands on the “airline setting” and adds the theme of inconvenience.
- Surprise: A shift from the weight of personal moral lapse to the practical concerns of meal choices is a funny contrast.
Humorous “Did You Know?”
Did you know that according to some interpretations of Jewish law, if a ham sandwich is the only thing available, consuming it can be considered a mitzvah (a good deed)? The reasoning is that preserving life overrides dietary laws. So, perhaps the Rabbi was being extra judgmental of the Priest, knowing he had a religious out for his sandwich sin!