Laughter, Flourishing, and Spirital LifeOctober 16, 2023 at 7–9 p.m.

Most people have a hunch that laughter and humor are related to well-being. After all, we often hear the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine.” What is perhaps less well-known is that religious traditions have long noted the positive benefits of laughter and joy for mental, physical, and spiritual life, and today an ever-increasing number of scientific studies are focused on the significance of laughter and humor for health and well-being. In this series, religious scholars and social scientists explore multiple aspects of how and why laughter can nurture the spirit and cultivate human flourishing.

“The Positive Role of Laughter and Humor in Jewish Faith and Life”

 Speaker: Dr. Samuel Kessler 

Kessler is Assistant Professor of Religion and the Åke and Kristina Bonnier Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies in the Department of Religion at Gustavus Adolphus College.