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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?|It is also true that Jews are not only people who practice Judaism]]. Generally, in modern secular usage, Jews include three groups:
* 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]].
Contrast [[Ambiguously Jewish]], where a character displays stereotypically Jewish traits, but is never referred to as such; halfway between these two is reality. Compare [[Raised Catholic]], which shares some characteristics with this trope.
{{examples|Examples:}}▼
== Anime and Manga ==
* Benny of ''[[Black Lagoon]]'' is Jewish. It's first mentioned in the second volume, where the crew of the ''Black Lagoon'' encounter a Neo-Nazi boat. Other than that? We're talking about a sea pirate who drinks, smokes and, more prominently, who works with and for criminals, local mafias, smugglers and drug dealers on a daily basis.
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== Comic Books ==
* ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (
* A few years ago, Ben Grimm of the ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' happened to mention that he's Jewish, and he is seen praying in Hebrew (which he admittedly stumbles through) when he thought a beloved store owner in his old neighborhood was dying. Since Ben was always a gentle self-caricature of [[Jack Kirby]], who was Jewish, this makes sense, and the fans seem to be fine with it. But it still seemed to come out of nowhere after all these decades of never mentioning it.
** The in-universe reason that Ben never brings it up is that he didn't want his appearance to be used as an excuse for anti-semitic propaganda.
** Interestingly, a short story from a Marvel [[Christmas Special]] comic book a few years prior to this reveal had Ben Grimm dicussing the difference between Christmas and Hanukkah with a little Jewish girl. [[Retcon|This story seemed to imply that Ben is not Jewish himself]].
* Similarly, during his long run as writer on ''[[
* [[Word of God|According to]] [[Elliot S! Maggin]], the [[Pre Crisis]] [[Lex Luthor]] is ''ethnically'' Jewish, although certainly non-practicing. Maggin himself is Jewish, and always had a slightly more tragic/sympathetic take on Luthor than other writers of the period.
* Other informed Jews from DC Comics: the Atom (Ray), Batwoman (Kate), and the Sandman (Wesley).
* 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 ==
* Paulie Bleeker in ''[[Juno]]'' has a poster displaying the Hebrew alphabet in his room, a framed Bar Mitzvah certificate on his wall, and a dreidel on his shelf. The director confirmed he was Jewish in the commentary.
* Chunk in ''[[
{{quote|
** 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 (
* While the Basterds themselves of ''[[
* 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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== Literature ==
* Abby, in ''[[The
* ''[[
** There are several smaller hints, particularly from Jake, if you notice the descriptions of his family dinners. In this case it's more a function of the stories themselves because we never get any reference to holidays for any of the other characters either. In fact all we know about any of the other characters' faiths is that Cassie's family has a pastor and that Marco's mother sang in the church choir.
** Rachel may not be Jewish herself. In ''Elfangor's Secret'', she only says that her father (through whom she is related to Jake) is.
* [[Captain Underpants]], as shown in book five where his [[Secret Identity]] has a Jewish wedding.
== Live
* Willow Rosenberg from ''[[
** 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]].
* In ''[[Lucky Louie]]'', the priest asks Kim if she would like to make a confession, and she replies, "No, I'm Jewish."
* ''[[Square Pegs]]'' Muffy Tepperman, and Marshall Blechtman both mentioned being Jewish and having a Bat and Bar Mitzvah respectively.
* ''[[Even Stevens]]'' have an obligatory Chanuka special. It is mentioned that the mother is Jewish.
* Both Sarah and Laura Silverman on ''[[The Sarah Silverman Program]]'' are mentioned as being Jewish several times. [[N
* Ross from ''[[Friends]]'' cares enough about Judaism that he tries to teach his son about how great Chanukah is, but rarely ever shows any interest in the faith otherwise.
** His sister, Monica, is only referred to as Jewish twice: once, she mentions having had a Bat Mitzvah, and later, Chandler explicitly says to her, "You're Jewish!" when she laments that she did not choose to be a reverend for her career (she refers to it as a "technicality"). We never see her celebrate Chanukah (and we do see her celebrate Christmas) or make any other reference to her Judaism.
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*** Also, Monica often wears a necklace with a star of David.
** Also this conversation when Ross takes a Bible from a hotel:
{{quote|
'''Ross''': "So I can learn about... Jesus." }}
* ''[[Seinfeld]]'' does this on occasions but always subverts it. A conversation about circumcision indicates it never happened to Jerry. They are friends with a rabbi because he lives in their building. They are never seen doing anything religious. Elaine is explicitly mentioned not to be Jewish. The implication is that they're descended from Jews and live in a Jewish neighborhood but don't follow the religion themselves.
** 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
** 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 ''[[
** Actually, they did an episode about Passover before the holiday episode.
* Paul, Kevin's best friend in ''[[The Wonder Years]]'', has a Bar Mitzvah in one episode, in which we also meet his grandfather who [[Nostalgia Filter|reminisces sentimentally about life in the "Old Country"]] and gives him a [[Memento MacGuffin|family heirloom]] prayerbook. In a Christmas episode, we briefly hear him and Kevin argue over whether Christmas or Hannukah brings in the most presents. Otherwise, Paul's religion is never mentioned.
* 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 ''
* ''[[
** Well, while it isn't a huge part of her character, it certainly has been mentioned several times since then.
** In a recent episode, Shirley (a devout Christian) says that all religions have funeral customs, and lists Eskimos, Gypsies, and Jews. Annie sarcastically remarks "Oh, we made the list."
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* Matt Albie on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Made funnier (and lampshaded) in The Christmas Show, where he is the one pushing doing a Christmas show while others are lukewarm at best to the idea.
* Ziva on ''[[NCIS]]'' is a former Israeli Mossad agent and wears a Star of David.
* Charlotte on ''[[Sex and
* George in ''[[Being Human (
** George's father is not Jewish, as we see a vicar giving his burial rites.
** Josh, his counterpart on the American series, has approximately the same level of observance.
* Parodied in ''[[3rd Rock
* Blair Sandburg in ''[[The Sentinel (TV series)|The Sentinel]]''. Mentions that his Swiss Army Knife was a Bar Mitzvah present, and when a guest in the apartment he and Jim share asks if there are any pork chops he says, "Yeah, right next to the whale meat!" But he doesn't seem to observe any other Jewish customs; of course he was raised by a [[Hippie Parents|flower child mother]] and is a cultural anthropologist by training. . .
* ''[[Power Rangers
* Mr. Hooper of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' was Jewish. The only reason the audience ever knew this is because in the early 80s, a [[Christmas Special]] was filmed called "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street," and Bob wished Mr. Hooper a happy Hanukkah. He was also shown as able to read Yiddish in an episode.
** 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 ''[[
* 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
** 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.
== Web Original ==
* In ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', the fact that Diamond is Jewish only came up in a single story (in which she was trying to adopt an orphaned girl), and was never mentioned again except in a much-later story where we meet her father, and he's a complete
* Fractious, in the ''[[Whateley Universe]]''. Known to swear in Yiddish. When she goes with school friends from [[Super
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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 (
** This may be a form of [[Adaptation Decay]]. In the source books Francine shows no sign of being Jewish, and celebrated Christmas (as she apparently did in early episodes).
* Ron Stoppable from ''[[Kim Possible]]'': his Bar Mitzvah is the focus of an early episode, which gets a [[Continuity Nod]] during a [[Christmas Episode]]. Though you'd have never guessed if you observed his dietary habits.
* Moishe from ''[[
* Harold from ''[[Hey Arnold!]]''. In one episode, he is lectured by his rabbi for stealing a ham, with more emphasis on breaking Jewish dietary restrictions than the theft itself
{{quote|
** Could be a bit of [[Fridge Brilliance]], maybe? It'd be bad enough if he had stolen something and intended it for his own use, but if he's not able to use it, that'd be stealing for the sake of stealing, and that'd be worse, wouldn't it?
** 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
* 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
* ''[[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 ==
* [[Drake]]. Because he's half-black and a rapper, most casual listeners have no idea he's Jewish.
* Actor [[William Shatner]] once said, "These days, I'm Jewish only by a technicality", having given up any pretense to practicing his religion-of-birth in his late 30s.
* [[Stephen Fry]] claims to have used his Jewish ancestry to make himself seem more exotic and interesting as an adolescent, but has never actually practiced Judaism and admits to have known boys who's "Jewishness probably means much more to them then it did for me"
* Major League Baseball player Ryan Braun is culturally Jewish, but didn't have a Bar Mitzvah, is apparently more of a Humanist as far as religion is concerned, and is, according to some commentators, "only in it for the jokes".
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Religion Tropes]]
[[Category:Informed Attribute]]
[[Category:Characterization Tropes]]
[[Category:A Nice Jewish Index]]
[[Category:
▲[[Category:Trope]]
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