A Jewish boy had a dream — to go skydiving on his 18th birthday. With the money he saved by skipping breakfasts, he bought a membership at a local flying club. On his birthday he came to the club; they congratulated him but firmly refused to let him jump, citing weak leg muscles. Another club turned him down because he was overweight. The young man went around all the aeroclubs in Israel, but everywhere he was refused — weak heart, poor eyesight, something. He left the last club with tears in his eyes.
An instructor followed him out and asked:
— Do you really want to jump that badly?
— Yes, very much.
— I’ll give you some advice, on the condition it stays between us. In the north of Israel there’s a very small flying club, literally run by two people. They don’t advertise at all.
— Do you think I’ll be able to jump there?
— I think your mother doesn’t know about it.
Joke Poo: The Gnome’s Garden
A garden gnome had a dream – to win the “Best Pumpkin” prize at the annual village fair. With the extra glitter dust he saved by skipping the annual repainting, he entered his prize pumpkin into every competition he could find. At the first fair, they disqualified him, citing suspiciously uniform growth. Another fair turned him down because the pumpkin was excessively large and perfectly spherical. The gnome went around all the village fairs, but everywhere he was refused – unnatural shine, genetically modified suspicion, something. He left the last fair with ceramic tears in his eyes.
A wise old scarecrow hobbled after him and asked:
— Do you really want to win that badly?
— Yes, very much.
— I’ll give you some advice, on the condition it stays between us. In the deep forest, there’s a very small competition, literally judged by two squirrels. They don’t advertise at all.
— Do you think I’ll be able to win there?
— I think your fertilizer came from the neighbor’s prize-winning compost heap.
Okay, let’s break down this joke and then build something funny on top of it.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: A Jewish boy determinedly saves money and tries tirelessly to fulfill his dream of skydiving. The setup highlights his persistence and the repeated obstacles he faces due to physical limitations. The setting (Israel) is also key.
- Central Conflict: The boy’s repeated rejection creates escalating tension and implies a systemic, almost absurd, barrier to achieving his dream.
- Punchline: The twist is that the real obstacle isn’t his physical fitness, but rather parental control/oversight. The instructor’s suggestion subverts expectations and provides a humorous resolution. It’s funny because it implies that the mother is overprotective, a common trope, and that this has actually been the main barrier all along.
- Humor Type: This falls under situational irony, a bit of observational humor, and relies on a cultural stereotype (overprotective Jewish mother).
Key Elements:
- The Jewish Boy: Represents determination and perhaps a touch of naivete.
- Skydiving: The desired but inaccessible goal. Represents freedom, risk, and a bit of rebellion.
- Physical Weaknesses/Rejections: The series of roadblocks that build frustration and expectation.
- Israel: The setting influences the cultural context.
- Overprotective Mother: The ultimate, unexpected barrier.
Humorous Enrichment – A New Joke/Observation:
Here’s a new joke building off of the elements identified above:
Why did Moses never try skydiving?
Because he knew what happened when he went down a mountain with instructions. And his mother had his back.
Explanation of the New Joke:
- It leverages the “Jewish boy” element but pivots to a famous Jewish figure, Moses.
- It ties skydiving (risk/freedom) to the story of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments (authority/instructions).
- It creates an ironic twist: Moses had divine instructions but learned to follow them. Skydiving would require following his mother’s instructions
- It plays on the same theme of parental control and the consequences of disobedience.
Humorous Enrichment – An Amusing “Did You Know?”
Did you know that the world’s first parachute jump was in 1797 by André-Jacques Garnerin? Maybe if he’d asked his mother first, he could have avoided the whole ‘inventing a parachute’ thing and just taken the bus. And that the first documented parachute jump by a woman was Jeanne-Geneviève Labrosse, Garnerin’s wife in 1798? Perhaps she only did it to prove that her husband was just as controlling as any Jewish mother.
Explanation:
- This leans into the factual aspect while still maintaining the humor about parental control.
- It highlights a historical figure and adds a touch of absurdity by imagining his mother’s reaction to his potentially risky endeavor.
- It’s an educational tidbit delivered with a humorous undertone.
By dissecting the original joke, identifying its core elements, and then using those elements as a springboard for new comedic creations, we can build upon the initial humor and deliver more laughs!