The Talmud relates that Rabbi Baroka was standing in the marketplace, and Elijah the prophet was standing next to him.
Rabbi Baroka asked Elijah, “Is there anyone here who is worthy of the world to come?”
Elijah answered, “No.”
As they spoke, two men entered the marketplace, and Elijah said that these two were worthy.
Rabbi Baroka ran after them and asked what their profession was.
They told him that they were comedians, whose job was to cheer the downhearted.
And this is what made them worthy of the world to come.
—Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz