1. This book is the first English translation of two collections of Jewish jokes that are over 200 years old.

2. The collections of jokes have been carefully annotated by the editor and a few other major scholars of folklore and humor. The editor has also written critical contextualizing material that set the joke books into their historical context.

3. The editor's work on jokes and humor has been highly influential in the field. This book is an exciting bridge between two major areas of research and publication: Folklore and Jewish Studies.