Informed Judaism: Difference between revisions

 

 

* 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.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Religion Tropes]]

[[Category:Informed Attribute]]

[[Category:A Nice Jewish Index]]

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