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Fine, but then there was that episode about pork and how she keeps Kosher? [[You Fail Religious Studies Forever|Despite the shrimp cocktail and cheeseburger she had for dinner.]]
OK what about her Bat Mitzvah? You know, the characters were confused by the whole thing, and how they learned about her traditions. Which never got mentioned before or since.<ref>
And that's the problem. A character who practices
This is often a trope that pops up in a number of [[Western Animation]] [[Christmas Episode
Of course, there is a place between
This has an element of [[Truth in Television]]: Some Jews in countries where they've been able to assimilate increasingly practice their religion only on the most important holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), and only celebrate Chanukah to have a winter holiday. They don't keep Kosher or observe the Sabbath. A practitioner of Reform or Reconstructionist
[[wikipedia:Who is a Jew
* People who were born to a Jewish family regardless of whether or not they follow the religion
* Those who have some Jewish ancestral background or lineage (sometimes including those who do not have strictly matrilineal descent)
* People without any Jewish ancestral background or lineage who have formally converted to Judaism and therefore are followers of the religion.
Therefore, someone can be a Jew and no one else would know unless they asked. Many Jews do not do any religious rituals, and some even have Christmas trees ("Chanukkah bushes").
[[Fan Fiction]] often subjects these characters to extreme [[Flanderization]].
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* Other informed Jews from Marvel Comics: Iceman, Justice (Vance), Legion, Moon Knight, the Two-Gun Kid, Volcana, and Wiccan.
* Generally averted for Marvel characters who are also mutants (e.g., Magneto). The theme of being persecuted for ''two'' things tends to make it more-than-informed.
** Kitty Pryde, however, is confirmed to be such, although it is only important in one story where her Star of David pendant repels Dracula after trying to do so with a cross fails.<ref>Marvel vampires can be repelled by holy symbols because the faith of the user is channeled ''through'' the symbol. The symbol alone cannot harm them.</ref>
== Film ==
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** He's also mentioned "old Hannukah decorations" when checking out Mikey's attic, and he's heard reciting Hebrew when his [[Oh Crap]] face shows upon seeing Jake Fratelli in the vehicle he just got down waving down.
* Mickey from the ''[[Rocky (film)|Rocky]]'' movies. There is no hint of this until his funeral in ''Rocky III''.
* While the Basterds themselves of ''[[Inglourious Basterds]]'' are identified as being of Jewish descent, they don't appear to be practicing Jews and aren't that much different from the Americans, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100804063740/http://galusaustralis.com/2009/09/1770/inglourious-basterds-enthralling-but-lacking-in-jewish-content/ which has been criticized by some reviewers].
* In the film adaptation of ''Puckoon'', the towns doctor (named Goldstein) is introduced by the narrator as being so Jewish that even at a party attended solely by Jews, people would still ask "who's that Jewish looking fellow over there?". Despite this, his only "Jewish" characteristics are complaints about somebody owing him money, and having to hide his identity as an Irish Nationalist, not because the British might see him as a terrorist, but because other Jews would frown on him collaborating with Catholics.
* Dr. Berger, Conrad's psychiatrist in both the book and film of ''[[Ordinary People]]''. His name and mannerisms are Jewish, as is the actor who plays him ([[Taxi|Judd|Hirsch]]). His being Jewish is explicitly mentioned only once, in a scene where he's not present, when at a Jarrett [[Crappy Holidays|family Christmas]] Conrad's maternal grandmother mentions it in a tone that implies some disapproval.
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== Live
* Willow Rosenberg from ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. Jewish name, check. Talks about her very observant father (who won't even let her watch ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'') as she nails crosses to her wall
** That one thing, by the way, is placing a small rock on a headstone she visits. That's a Jewish custom.
** Willow's mother appears in Season Three, and she seems more of a [[Straw Feminist]] than an observant Jew as her parents were previously suggested to be. Willow's mother analyzes her daughter's magic use in terms of psychology (until ''everyone'' turns into a crazy witchhunter) and gives no hint that it might conflict with their religion. In fact, the mother never mentions Judaism at all.
** Tiny Jewish Santa! Season five. They only seem to remember when Christian-norming comes
* Brenda Song in both the Made for TV movie "Lost in the Suburbs" and ''[[The Suite Life of Zack and Cody]]''; in both she mentions celebrating Chanuka (though in The Suite Life she just says, "And give up on 8 days of presents, are you nuts?"). In ''Stuck In The Suburbs'', she mentions having a Bat Mitzvah.
** She sometimes on The Suite Life (more frequently in On Deck) acts and talks like an [[Alter Kocker|old Jewish lady]].
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** Kramer is seen eating bacon which he's cooked in and is eating out of Jerry's frying pan, and given Kramer's propensity to steal food from Jerry, it's implied that neither of them care about whether something is kosher or not.
* ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', on many occasions. The only thing is that Larry doesn't seem to take his religion particularly seriously, whereas the other characters do. He was (for a time) married to a Christian woman and the differing religions had no effect on their relationship.
* ''[[Power Rangers SPD]]'': On receiving his new [[Cool Bike]], Jack declares it's like Christmas come early. Bridge (who also got a new bike) answers that, since he's Jewish, it's more like Chanukah came early. This is the only time Bridge mentions he's Jewish during the
** Mind you, this is how we learn ''everything'' about Bridge, such as his love of buttery toast. It would have been distinctly ''out of character'' for him to mention his religion in a context compatible with a kosher diet.
* All the members of the Fine family, from ''[[The Nanny]].''
** On the otherhand, she acted so stereotypicaly like a "j.a.p.," the show was almost a Jewish minstral show.
* Gordo from ''[[Lizzie McGuire]].'' In the episode where this is most present, he up and decides to become a Bar
** Probably more important is the fact that you become a Bar Mitzvah (meaning you, and not your parents, are now responsible for your conduct according to Jewish law) automatically when you turn 13 (or a Bat Mitzvah when you're 12). The ceremony that people generally call a "Bar/Bat Mitzvah" is just the kid's first aliyah, or public Torah reading.
* You wouldn't have known Jody from ''[[The Puzzle Place]]'' was Jewish until its holiday episode (also featuring Kwanzaa!). Given the show about a [[Five-Token Band]] of puppets this isn't too surprising.
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* Wilson and Cuddy from ''[[House (TV series)|House]]''. Wilson mentions he is Jewish but nonobservant in the pilot, and even has to be reminded that he is Jewish in a [[Christmas Episode]]. Cuddy's religion mostly comes up when House makes fun of her. In the case of Cuddy, this follows the actor; whether Robert Sean Leonard is Jewish I don't know.
* Chuck from ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'' is mentioned a few times as being Jewish, yet she manages to make her way through two Christmas specials without even mentioning Chanukah. It is possible that the only reason she was defined as Jewish at all is to explain why she wasn't embalmed.
* John Munch in ''
* ''[[Community]]'' has Annie, whose Judaism was mentioned in the Christmas episode, right out of thin air. Aside from her bringing a menorah to Shirley's Christmas party, she doesn't say much else specific about the religion, and it is likely it will never be mention again. (Or, potentially, become her main character trait.)
** Well, while it isn't a huge part of her character, it certainly has been mentioned several times since then.
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** Also, Moishe the Oofnik, the grouch on the Israeli version of the show, ''Shalom Sesame'', is explicitly said to be Oscar's cousin.
** In recent years, the Bear family has taken up the Hanukkah ball, with Baby Bear showing Elmo how to spin a dreidel.
* This trope appears
** Which is odd given the fact that the Electric Mayhem left to play a Bar Mitzvah at the beginning of ''Muppets In Space''. You would have thought that if it was ever going to come up, ''that'' would have been the time.
*** It's not all that odd considering Zoot is usually only awake enough to play his notes and he doesn't even remember his name or what instrument he plays in "The Muppet Movie."
* Susan Ivanova from ''[[Babylon 5]]'', though it is stated that she is solidly non-observant. (She does sit shiva in one episode, though.)
* Powerful TV producer (and ''major'' prima donna) Alan Brady on ''[[The Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' was implied to be Jewish here and there (and, interestingly, was portrayed by real-life Jew Carl Reiner, who also produced ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' itself). In one episode, Rob, Buddy, and Sally have him stay after work to discuss something with him, and he offhandedly complains that he's late for a bar mitzvah ceremony.
* Max Blum on ''[[Happy Endings]]'' never displays any knowledge of Judaism or follows Jewish customs. However given that Max is established as extremely lazy, simple-minded and slothful (Ruling out him going kosher), this is very much justified.
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== Theater ==
* Shylock from ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' might count if the play was written today; though he constantly is called "Jew" and gives his famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" soliloquy, we rarely see any evidence of his
* In ''Avenue Q'', Brian and Christmas Eve have a Jewish wedding.
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* Riff from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' only mentions his Jewishness when Chanukah rolls around (though he ''does'' bring a Star of David with him when he goes vampire hunting).
* Parodied in ''[[Kid Radd]]'', when Kobayashi reveals in a holiday [[Omake]] comic that he's part of a [[McNinja|Jewish order of Ninja]].
* Choo-Choo Bear of ''[[Something
* It's mostly [[Fanon]], since it never comes up in the comic and is based on a joke by the author, but fans of ''[[Homestuck]]'' have taken Terezi to be [[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|Jewgish]] due to a conversation where she admits to not knowing about "Jegus" (referring to a ''[[Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff]]'' misspelling). [[It Makes Sense in Context]].
** Hilariously, it was revealed later on that there was an actual [[Crystal Dragon Jesus|Jesus-analogue]] in the history of Terezi's world. Terezi's ancestor was one of the followers of an underground cult he inspired after his death. In other words, Terezi is the descendent of an alien Christian.
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* Tish from ''[[The Weekenders]]'' Implied by her having Eastern European parents, getting a type of Bat Mitzva at 12 and 1/2, which is the usual age for girls in reform and many conservative temples (For some reason they don't call it a bat mitzva), and has a great uncle named Moishe (forgive my spelling). Stated in the holiday special, where it is revealed that she celebrates Chanuka.
** It should be pointed out that one early episode has her celebrate Lent, and the fans seem to have a [[Broken Base]] on whether she is Catholic or Jewish.
* Sam from ''[[Danny Phantom]]''
* Arnold from ''[[The Magic School Bus]]''. Once again, a Chanukah mention during the Christmas episode is our only clue.
* Similarly, on ''[[Arthur (animation)|Arthur]]'', the Frensky family's Jewishness didn't come out until ''its'' holiday episode. They're making up for it since; there's been an episode in which Francine vacillates between a relative's Bar Mitzvah and a bowling match, and another in which she mentions playing on her temple's sports team. Plus, she's attempted a Yom Kippur fast.
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** In another, has a Bar Mitzvah (yes, he's in fourth grade, but he was held back). And once, he uses the Yiddish word "kibbitzer" (meaning "person who butts in").
** Eugene may be as well, as they included a kosher joke in his song during the food groups pageant. Also, his last name is Horowitz.
* In a ''[[The Mighty B!]]'' episode where Bessie and Penny keeps sneaking into Bat Mitzvah parties, we learn that Portia Gibbons is (probably) Jewish when Bessie sneaks into the Bat Mitzvah party of Portia's cousin.
* Billy wishes the audience a happy Chanukah at the last possible minute in ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy
* Jude on ''[[
** This actually adds to [[Unfortunate Implications]] when Jude becomes goth, and adopts the name "Judas."
* Kitty from ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]''. The only evidence that she's Jewish is a scene of her lighting the menorah in her home in the [[Christmas Episode]]... and, of course, being very definitely Jewish in the comic the show was based on.
* T.J. Detweiler from ''[[Recess]]'' was shown in a Hanukkah-themed costume for the school's Holiday pageant in the [[Christmas Episode]] (he does mention that he celebrates Christmas, though), though this is never confirmed anywhere else, so it's possible it was just for a part in the play rather than religious beliefs.
* Mipsy in ''[[As Told by Ginger]]'' mentions transferring funds from a Bat Mitzvah fund in one episode.
* ''[[Harley Quinn (TV series)|Harley Quinn]]'' has many, including Harley herself and the Penguin. Sy Borgman is a source of a lot of Jewish stereotype jokes, and given the names of the writers in the credits, it seems this is [[Self-Deprecation]] humor.
== Real Life ==
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Religion Tropes]]
[[Category:Informed Attribute]]
[[Category:Characterization Tropes]]
[[Category:A Nice Jewish Index]]
▲[[Category:Informed Judaism]]
[[Category:Show, Don't Tell]]
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