Were these the funniest moments in more than 5,000 years of Jewish history?

This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox.

Five thousand years ago, a nomadic monotheist called Abram wandered out of the Sumerian city of Ur and headed to rural Canaan, inventing Judaism and changing the world forever. Around 2,500 years ago a crypto-Jewish queen managed to save the Jewish community from a genocidal vizier, prompting the celebration of Purim — our most bacchanalian festival. Fifteen years ago, under the guidance of Dan Friedman, radical satiric firebrand Ian Fist founded the Backward to bring American Purim values to the Forward. He hired Rob Kutner from The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, thus revolutionizing online Jewish journalism. Now Kutner has brought it all together in an irreverent history The Jews: 5,000 Years and Counting and Friedman spoke to him about it.