Young, Old, Jew, Catholic, Student, Professor: all were welcome to the 22nd annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium. This symposium, held on October 25th and 26th, brought together scholars from all over the country to discuss this year’s topic: Jews and Humor.

“The idea is to bring together the Creighton community, the Catholic community, and the Jewish community,” Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, Klutznick-Harris Symposium Chair, said. “People from Creighton can get together with people from the Omaha community and with people from out of state.”

The symposium is held once a year, and it brings together not only communities, but also academic departments.

“You may get presenters from the History department, or the English Department,” Greenspoon said. “The topics we chose [to present on] are very universal.”

Scholars, enthusiasts, and religious leaders began arriving in Omaha from all parts of the country on Friday night. This year, their topic of discussion was Judaism and Humor.

“Jews and Humor is a really interesting theme. There is a lot of material,” said Patrick Kilcoyne, an Arts & Sciences sophomore. “The presentations were engaging and looked at a wide range of types of comedy.”

Past years have seen a wide array of themes, such as: Food and Judaism, Jewish Music and Musicians, Jews in the Environment, and Women in Judaism. This year, Jews and Humor had the largest turnout yet.

“Jews and Humor is a topic everyone can connect with. It’s everywhere from humor in the Bible, to Larry David and Seinfeld, to well-known Jewish comedians. It’s a topic that people can immediately identify with,” said Greenspoon.

Students were welcomed to attend and learn more not just about the Jewish community, but also about different perspectives on universal topics.

“It was great to get the presenters perspectives on movies and their themes,” said Katie Lester, a junior Math major. “Humor is in everything. It relates to everyone.”

Themes are chosen yearly. Suggestions are taken at the previous year’s symposium and talked over throughout the year. The theme that appeals to the largest audience becomes the theme for the next symposium.

“The theme connects a lot of people of different faiths. The symposium [this year] got people together to analyze how the Jewish faith has influenced comedy,” Kilcoyne said.

This year the opening dinner was attended by more than two-hundred people. Among the foods provided at this symposium were kosher ribs and deli sandwiches.

“There is always lots of food,” Greenspoon said. “We have our own traditions, like the kosher ribs every year.”

Everyone is welcome to attend next year’s symposium. There is sure to be plenty of food, insight, and community.

“You do not need to be Jewish or of any particular background to learn a lot at the symposiums,” Greenspoon said.