Thanks, Will. I take your points about 'outsiderdom' &c; but still don't quite see why that makes this compulsion to introduce a Jewish element into neutral, non-ethnically-specific jokes so widespread among that particular ethnic group.

Interesting that the "at least buy a ticket" joke should have come to me as an Irish, rather than a Jewish, joke. It will, though, will it not, fit either category as traditionally perceived? But it is, oddly, not one that I have ever IIRC heard from any of my Jewish acquaintance.

~Michael~