The גמרא in שבת ל tells us that רבה began each שיעור with מילתא דבדיחותא.   As the גמרא states: כי הא דרבה, מקמי דפתח להו לרבנן אמר מילתא דבדיחותא ובדחי רבנן.  Among other things, humor is משמח הלב and opens the mind for learning.  As the חזון איש observed: בדיחות הדעת יותר אהוב מכובד ראש וחרדת כבוד.  Accordingly, although the מילתא דבדיחותא stated by רבה have unfortunately been lost, גדולים throughout the generations have appreciated the importance of maintaining the tradition of including humor in their learning and in everyday life.

With the hope of providing שמחה של מצוה to בני תורה and even greater חשק for learning גמרא, a compilation of Jewish humor and חריפות from throughout the ages has been assembled from numerous sources, translated from Hebrew and Yiddish into English and, to the extent possible, matched with each of the 2,711 דפים in תלמוד בבלי.  These מילתא דבדיחותא will be posted on the Milsa Bedichusa website and be available by text on a daily basis beginning with ברכות ב in accordance with the דף יומי cycle.