Clown and Traditions in Judaism
As a Jewish clown and educator, I've dedicated myself to exploring the rich intersection of clowning, foolishness, and Jewish tradition. My work investigates the history of humor in Jewish texts, the spiritual symbol of the Fool, the role of ritualism in clowning, and what clowning looks like for Jewish people in the 21st century.
The first instance of laughter in the Torah, the Jewish holy book, occurs at the very beginning. Sarah, the mother of the Jewish forefather Isaac, laughs when God says she will have a child at the age of 89, and so she names her child for that laughter; Isaac literally translates as the “one who laughs” or “one who rejoices.”
Since the emergence of this text, Jewish humor has provided profound insight into the core of Jewish history, forever reverberating with Sarah's laughter. From humorous explorations in the Torah and other Jewish holy texts, to the Jewish jokes developed by Yiddish writers in 19th century Eastern Europe, to TV and film humorists like the Fanny Brice, Sarah Silverman, Joan Rivers, Fran Drescher, Bette Midler, Gertrude Berg, and more, Jewish people continue to investigate and embody foolishness as a reflection and expression of their faith, tradition, culture, and diaspora.
Growing up as the child of Soviet Jewish refugees, issues of diaspora, tradition, and humor have deeply shaped my artistic practice. I've combined my training in clowning and physical theatre with my Jewish heritage to create a unique approach to exploring Jewish archetypes, stories, and wisdom through the lens of the Fool.
In my classes, I investigate the history of humor in Jewish tradition, the spiritual symbol of the Fool, the role of ritualism in clowning, and what clowning looks like for Jewish people in the 21st century. I typically focus on the following subjects:
Clown in Holy Jewish Texts: This class/course focuses on finding the many roles and interpretations of the Fool in the presence of Jewish liturgical texts and with Jewish religious scholars.
The Schlemiel as a Jewish Fool/Clown: This class/course focuses on shtetl and Yiddish life in Eastern Europe, investigating ritual fools and discussing famous authors and folk tales that highlight Yiddish Fools and showcase Yiddish humor.
Jews on the Stage: This class/course focuses on the development of Purim Spiels, the history of Yiddish theatre and vaudeville, and Jewish circus traditions.
Today’s Jewish Fools: This class/courses focuses on how vaudeville developed into contemporary comedic performances on and off Broadway and focuses on modern-day Jewish fools on film and Modern Jewish comics.
Classes and Workshops:
Over the years, I've developed and taught various classes that explore different aspects of Jewish clowning:
Clown and Traditions in Judaism (The Clown School): A 4-week course that took a comprehensive look at Jewish clowning traditions, which included exploring Fool archetypes in the Torah, Talmud, and Kabbalah; investigating Yiddish humor and folklore; examining Purim Spiels, Yiddish theatre, and Jewish circus traditions, and exploring modern Jewish comedy in film and on stage.
Jewish Clowns in Purim Spiels (Yelala): Focusing on the role of clowns in Purim celebrations.
The Sacred Shmuck: Embracing Your Inner Fool (UnYeshiva): A 3-week course combining Jewish learning with clowning exercises.
These classes have been taught at various institutions, including Alliance for Jewish Theatre, The Clown School, UnYeshiva (Judaism Unbound), Yelala, and other Jewish and multi-religious organizations.
Learn more about the connection between Jewishness and clown from my talks below:
Henry Greenspan, Ph.D, University of Michigan, Emeritus
“Danielle Levsky’s “Clown and Traditions in Judaism” was pure joy. First, Danielle is a superb teacher, attentive to each participant and to the needs of the class as a whole. It was fantastic and provided essential background for a current play of mine. She is also incredibly informed. Along with the readings formally assigned—well chosen and just the right length—she included an extraordinary range of resources in class emails that allowed each of us to dig deeper. Those messages will remain a primary source for me. This class could easily be three or four times as long, and we would not stop learning, exploring, and having great fun. Danielle is supportive, fun, and enormously generous with her students, providing a bibliography and links that I still access and willing to consult directly with students. A super journey with a super guide. Danielle rocks!”
Tim Gault, Clown
“This was a fascinating lecture/conversation. Danielle is offering a unique and important contribution to the conversation around comedic history in light of the Jewish experience.”
Nellie Lamb, Art Historian
“Danielle created a respectful and friendly space in which to explore and be playful.”
Abi Maze, Clown and Jew To Be
“Sacred Schmuck was such a joyful class! As an aspiring clown AND aspiring Jew, it was really fun to tie those together and create a clown character that embraces a Sacred Fool archetype. I enjoyed that Danielle used her own clown in class to encourage us to have fun and let loose with our clowns! I think my favorite part of the class (after the great schmuck summit finale) was practicing embodying the archetypes; feeling the characters come alive within me as Danielle narrated them was super cool!”
Student Testimonials
Abel Horwitz, Writer, Producer and Performer
“Danielle was an excellent teacher who opened my eyes to the world of clowning in Judaism. I learned a lot, had so much fun, and would definitely recommend any class Danielle is offering.”
Let's Bring Jewish Clowning to Your Community!
Are you part of a synagogue, Jewish community center, multi-faith organization, or any group interested in exploring the intersection of Judaism and clowning?
I offer customizable workshops and classes that can be tailored to your community's needs and interests.
Whether you're looking for a one-time workshop, a multi-week course, or a special event for holidays (like Purim), I can create an engaging, insightful, and joyful experience for your group.
Email danielle.levsky@gmail.com or call (312) 354-0820 to discuss how we can bring the wisdom and joy of Jewish clowning to your organization.