Judaism in the Media

Justin McCreary

Judaism in Television• Judaism is often mocked, parodied, or used in a joke of some kind in many television Judaism is often mocked, parodied, or used in a joke of some kind in many television

programs. Many shows use Jewish traditions and beliefs as a part of the humor. Humor is programs. Many shows use Jewish traditions and beliefs as a part of the humor. Humor is used to entertain by poking fun at common misconceptions, stereotypes, and views of used to entertain by poking fun at common misconceptions, stereotypes, and views of different cultures. different cultures.

• When tastefully done such jokes can be very entertaining, but there are limits to how far one When tastefully done such jokes can be very entertaining, but there are limits to how far one can go when mocking one’s culture. When a character says something possibly offensive but can go when mocking one’s culture. When a character says something possibly offensive but does it in a manner that displays their own ignorance at the same time it can be viewed as does it in a manner that displays their own ignorance at the same time it can be viewed as edgy. When a character says something that is outright blasphemous and shows sheer edgy. When a character says something that is outright blasphemous and shows sheer disrespect for that culture it is offensive. One example of this is in the Family Guy Episode disrespect for that culture it is offensive. One example of this is in the Family Guy Episode “When you wish upon a Weinstein,” Peter’s song “I need a Jew” originally had a line so “When you wish upon a Weinstein,” Peter’s song “I need a Jew” originally had a line so offensive that it had to be re-edited for public broadcast. That line was, “even though they offensive that it had to be re-edited for public broadcast. That line was, “even though they killed my lord,” which refers to when the Jewish people crucified Jesus, an event that has killed my lord,” which refers to when the Jewish people crucified Jesus, an event that has caused a great deal of tension between Christians and Jews for centuries. caused a great deal of tension between Christians and Jews for centuries.

• The Media also references many common Jewish stereotypes, such as being good with The Media also references many common Jewish stereotypes, such as being good with money, the way they talk, as well as their selective choices in foods (Kosher).money, the way they talk, as well as their selective choices in foods (Kosher).

• Television commonly mocks many people’s ignorance towards the Jewish culture, such as Television commonly mocks many people’s ignorance towards the Jewish culture, such as unfamiliarity with their diets or their customs. This is neither edgy nor offensive as it bears no unfamiliarity with their diets or their customs. This is neither edgy nor offensive as it bears no ill will towards the Jewish culture, merely towards a person’s ignorance of the Jewish culture. ill will towards the Jewish culture, merely towards a person’s ignorance of the Jewish culture. One excellent example of this is in One excellent example of this is in SeinfeldSeinfeld when Elaine is offered the Kosher meal and she when Elaine is offered the Kosher meal and she says she doesn’t even know what a kosher meal is, which results in the other passengers says she doesn’t even know what a kosher meal is, which results in the other passengers arguing over what they believe a kosher meal to be, none of which is accurate. arguing over what they believe a kosher meal to be, none of which is accurate.

• Other shows choose to parody the Jewish culture, often involving a playful jab at Jewish Other shows choose to parody the Jewish culture, often involving a playful jab at Jewish terms. One example of this in Futurama where Fry attends a “Bot Mitzvah” which is an terms. One example of this in Futurama where Fry attends a “Bot Mitzvah” which is an obvious joke towards the Jewish term Bar Mitzvah, and is made even more obvious by the obvious joke towards the Jewish term Bar Mitzvah, and is made even more obvious by the robots feelings towards Robot Jesus, and obvious joke towards the Jew’s own feelings robots feelings towards Robot Jesus, and obvious joke towards the Jew’s own feelings towards Jesus.towards Jesus.

“When You Wish Upon a Weinstein”

• Peter: “Max, lets not deny our heritages. You’re Jewish, you’re good with money. I’m Irish, I drink, and I ban homosexuals from marching in my parade.”

• Max: “Financial advice? How the hell did you know I’m an accountant?” Peter: “Hello, Max Weinstein?”

• Peter: “Oh my god, Is there nothing you people can’t do? I mean, other than manual labor?” Lois: “Peter, what a ridiculous thing to say! They built the pyramids.”

• Peter: “Chris, in a few minutes, you’ll become a smart, successful Jewish man. I could make a foreskin joke, but this is a solemn occasion. Besides, there’ll be plenty of time for that on the ride back. I got so many of them, too!”

Seinfeld: “The Airport”• Attendant: Well, the only meal left

is a kosher meal.

Elaine: Kosher meal? I don't want a kosher meal. I don't even knowwhat a kosher meal is.

Passenger 1: I think it means when a Rabbi has inspected it, or something.

Passenger 2: No, no. It all has to do with the way they kill the pig.

Passenger 1: They don't eat pigs!

Passenger 2: They do if it's killed right-- under a Rabbi's supervision.

Saturday Night Live: Eddie Murphy: Gumby

• “You know how long it’s been since I had a Morry Amsterdam sandwich?”

• Waiter: “That’ll be $17.27.” • Gumby: “For what?” • Waiter: “For the last time you ran

out without paying the bill.”

• Gumby: “Wait a minute, smart guy, that wasn’t me.”

• Waiter: “No, it was some other green Jew.”

Futurama: “Future Stock”: Bot Mitzvah

• Fry: “Ooh, a bot mitzvah! Shalom hunger. Shalom free food.” Robot: “No shellfish!” Zoidberg: “That is so unfair.” Mutant Pig: “(snort) Tell me about it.”

• Fry: “So, what’s the deal? You guys don’t believe in Robot Jesus?” Robot Rabbi: “We believe he was built, and that he was a well-programmed robot, but he was not our messiah.”

Family Guy: “No Meals on Wheels”: Scarejew

• Lois: “Peter, what the hell?!?” Peter: “Lois, I'm tired of Mort always mooching off us, so I made a Scarejew.” Lois: “Peter, we're not going have this in our front yard, it's racist, and for god's sake you ruined your best suit. Now we're going to have to get you a new one...”Peter: “Shh shhh, Lois, Lois look.” (They go inside and Mort comes to the door)

• Mort: “Hey guys, I just wanted to return your... Oooh! Oh my god it's Hitler! He's back, he's back. Hurry, protect Jon Stewart. He's our most important Jew.”

Judaism in Film

• Several great films portray Judaism in an accurate, and often, sad way, as Jewish history is ripe with prejudice.

• Such films show great respect for the Jewish culture not only in these films attention to detail, but also in the fact that these films do not underscore or tone down the hatred and prejudice that many Jews faced.

• Of the many films that portray the Jewish culture, two of the most well known of these films are Fiddler on the Roof, and Schindler’s List.

Fiddler on the Roof• Fiddler on the Roof is the 1971

film of the Broadway musical of the same name. The movie takes place in Anatevka, Russia in the year 1905.

• This film greatly depicted the Jewish culture in a number of songs, including: “Tradition,” “Sabbath Prayer,” “To Life,” as well as the wedding procession in the film.

• A number of scenes in the film depict the struggle many Jews faced in order to stay loyal to their faith above all else. The saddest moment being when Tevye’s daughter Chava marries a non-Jew, resulting in his rejecting her as his daughter.

• Near the end of the film, the song “Anatevka” greatly displays the emotional turmoil of the Jews being forced out of the land that they had called home for so long, an event that was common for many Jewish villages in Russia at the time.

Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List• Schindler’s List tells the

story of Oskar Schindler.• A war profiteer, and

member of the Nazi party.

• Saved 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.

• This film honors how Oskar Schindler came to respect, honor, and weep for the Jewish people.

• “The list is an absolute good. The list is life.”

Film vs. Television• Films such as Films such as Fiddler on the Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, and and Schindler’s List Schindler’s List take a very serious take a very serious

portrayal of the Jewish culture. These films are perhaps the most famous of portrayal of the Jewish culture. These films are perhaps the most famous of the films that portray the Jewish culture, most likely because not only are the films that portray the Jewish culture, most likely because not only are they accurate in their portrayal of the Jewish culture, but also because these they accurate in their portrayal of the Jewish culture, but also because these films do not try to tone down the prejudice and hate that many Jewish films do not try to tone down the prejudice and hate that many Jewish communities experienced.communities experienced.

• Television, however, commonly mocks the Jewish culture, focusing more on Television, however, commonly mocks the Jewish culture, focusing more on the common stereotypes rather than the actual Jewish culture.the common stereotypes rather than the actual Jewish culture.

• Television shows lean towards a more comical approach towards the Television shows lean towards a more comical approach towards the Jewish culture, rather than a portrayal that is at all accurate.Jewish culture, rather than a portrayal that is at all accurate.

• Films such as the ones mentioned previously focus more on the traditions Films such as the ones mentioned previously focus more on the traditions and practices of the Jewish culture, and presents it in a way that captures and practices of the Jewish culture, and presents it in a way that captures the audiences’ attention.the audiences’ attention.

• Although films such as these are more accurate in their portrayal of the Although films such as these are more accurate in their portrayal of the Jewish culture, the comical portrayal commonly seen in television often Jewish culture, the comical portrayal commonly seen in television often catches the attention of its audience far better than film. This is most likely catches the attention of its audience far better than film. This is most likely because a great deal of people prefer a comical portrayal of the Jewish because a great deal of people prefer a comical portrayal of the Jewish culture over a more serious portrayal of the Jewish culture.culture over a more serious portrayal of the Jewish culture.