Informed Judaism: Difference between revisions

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 Judaism—quite common in America—is especially likely to disregard most forms of Jewish ritual, including the Kosher laws. "High Holy Days Jews" are the Jewish equivalents of "Christmas-and-Easter Christians." That said, even many of these still show the [[Judaism|cultural aspects]] of Judaism, often missing from these characters.

 

 

[[Fan Fiction]] often subjects these characters to extreme [[Flanderization]].

** 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''.

* 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.

 

 

* 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,<ref>not for religious reasons, just to keep out vampires</ref> check. Responds to "what are you doing for Christmas" with "Being Jewish. Duh." And...that's it. In seven seasons, she only ever does one thing that's a Jewish custom or practice without a neon sign blaring "Jewish! Different!" And let's not get started on the whole "Wicca/witch/magic" thing.

** That one thing, by the way, is placing a small rock on a headstone she visits. That's a Jewish custom.

* 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.

* ''[[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.

** 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."

* 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.

** 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.

* Jude on ''[[6teen]]'' showed no signs of being Jewish until one of the [[Christmas Episode]]s where he said he had to get home because of Hanukkah. There is some irony that Jude was the name of one of Jesus' friends/apostles (and no, he's not the same as Judas). Not to mention Jude is German for Jew.

** This actually adds to [[Unfortunate Implications]] when Jude becomes goth, and adopts the name "Judas."

* 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.

 

== Real Life ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Religion Tropes]]

[[Category:Informed Attribute]]

[[Category:A Nice Jewish Index]]

[[Category:Show, Don't Tell]]