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Arthur Kurzweil www.arthurkurzweil.com is the author of Kabbalah for Dummies, and several other books, including On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz: 25 Years of Pre-Dawn Car Trips, Mind-Blowing Encounters and Inspiring Conversations with a Man of Wisdom.

Arthur Kurzweil

He has been published by “New York Magazine,” the “L.A. Times,” the “Miami Herald” and “Newsday,” among other periodicals, and he has been a weekly columnist at the “Jewish Week” of New York.    

Arthur Kurzweil is the recipient of the Distinguished Humanitarian Award from the Melton Center of Ohio State University for his unique contributions to the field of Jewish education. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.  

Arthur is also an accomplished magician and member of the Society of American Magicians (founded by Harry Houdini) as well as a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.  In addition to his work as a literary agent, Arthur also serves as Judaica consultant for Jossey-Bass, a division of John Wiley Publishers.  

by Arthur Kurzweil, January 2010

It comes as no surprise that there seems to be a disproportionate number of Jewish comedians in the world.  Humor has always been a potential tool of profound power within Jewish tradition.

The Talmud, which is one of the central and essential, ancient yet timeless, holy books of the Jewish people, is clear about humor: humor has the power to open up a student to profound learning; it has the power to express profound lessons, and it even has the power, in the hands of the right person, to earn a share of Heaven.  The great Jewish sages themselves testified as to the power of humor, and some of the greatest of them were known to always begin their discourses with humor, knowing that humor and laughter open a person to possibilities.  Humor, as it has been pointed out, is both a serious subject and often the best medicine.

The Talmud tells of Rabbi Baroka, who often went to the marketplace in his town.  Once, at the market, the prophet Elijah appeared to him, and the rabbi asked the prophet, “Is there anyone among all these people who will have a share in the World to Come?”  Elijah answered, “There are none.”  Later, two men came to the marketplace, and Elijah said to Rabbi Baroka, “Those two will have a share in the World to Come!”  Rabbi Baroka asked the newcomers, “What is your occupation?”  They replied, “We are jesters.  When we see someone who is sad, we cheer him up.  When we see two people quarreling, we try to make peace between them.” (from the Talmud, Ta’anit 22a)

Sam (Simcha) Krause, the author of this book, is possibly a reincarnation of one of those ancient jesters.  Please don’t misunderstand: Simcha Krause is no clown.  If you see him in the market, at first you will see a rather handsome, Orthodox Jew.  When you get closer, you will see that he is engaged in conversation with one or more people, none of whom necessarily know each other.  And when you pass him by, you will find yourself somehow drawn to or drawn in by Simcha Krause, and you join the conversation.  He will speak to you like you’ve known each other forever–and you have, because his secret is the pursuit of timeless wisdom, and he is a master of the paradox that profound teachings are often secretly embedded in humor.

Yes, I have seen Simcha Krause in action.  He is like a superb performance artist: his canvas is wherever he is at the moment, and his method is that he seems compelled to reach out to everyone, indeed everyone.  He grabs you by your soul, as he tells you a joke or shares some interesting, provocative observation.  In any case, it always leads to the Infinite One, and to holy teachings.  The jokes that Simcha Krause tells you are subversive.  You think you are hearing a very funny joke, and don’t always realize it contains a profound teaching that can change your entire outlook on life.  Simcha Krause is like the traveling preachers of old, whose sanctuary is the world and whose congregation is all of its inhabitants.

Simcha Krause is a master teacher of Kabbalah and the wisdom of the Chasidic masters.  He is an extraordinary public speaker and teacher, a gentle man with a passion for life and for learning.  His profound grasp of spiritual and philosophical issues is deep and dazzling.

Simcha Krause had a heart transplant.  But when I think of him I never think of Simcha Krause as walking around with someone else’s heart.  Rather, I know that it is Simcha Krause who is embedded in the hearts of everyone he has known.