# All of the characters on Seinfeld are Jewish? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422 "2003-02-07T08:22:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/41 "2003-02-07T21:48:00Z")
I think since Jerry Seinfeld was playing himself and he is really Jewish, one needs no further evidence of his religious persuasion. Also, another place to look for George would be the episode where George and Susan discuss children. Any mention there? (I don’t remember any.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/42 "2003-02-07T22:05:23Z")
Harvey Korman has played Italian gangsters? How did I miss that? Anyway, I specifically remember Jerry telling George something like: “George, one thing you have to remember about the Jewish people is…”, in a way that made it clear that George was not Jewish. Early in the show, I too assumed they were ALL Jewish, but was soon disabused of that notion by the trickle of clues. After that, I always assumed the Costanzas were Spanish, since the mom is so fond of paella…Timmy ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/43 "2003-02-07T22:18:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > **A Gentile in those circles would be like Marisa Tomei on “A Different World”- completely out of place.** Sorry, that’s not correct. Plenty of Jewish circles have a token Gentile or two. I know a few Gentiles that are as “stereotypically Jewish” as any Jew. And it’s incredibly easy to pick up Jewish and Yiddish mannerisms and words, especially living in the NYC area. My aunt’s best friend is of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry, and boy does she look it! But she’ll let loose with a torrent of Yiddish that’ll curl your toes and impress your grandma. I think the problem is that the “neurotic New Yorker” thing has been conflated with the “stereotypically Jewish” thing. I always thought: Jerry: Non-practicing Jew who is a neurotic NYer. George & his family: Completely neurotic New Yorkers who happen to be Italian, Elaine: Not Jewish, neurotic. Kramer: May or may not be of Jewish ancestry, but a)doesn’t cosider himself Jewish and b) defies all stereotypes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![jeanster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jeanster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeanster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/44 "2003-02-07T22:29:47Z")
Wasn’t there an episode where Elaine had Christmas cards made with her photo on it, only she didn’t realize the photo revealed her nipple until AFTER she had mailed out all the cards? If so, then we know the character Elaine celebrates Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/45 "2003-02-07T23:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Aglet** > “I mean, somebody asks me which way is Israel, I don’t fly off the handle.” > > - Jerry, in “The Cigar Store Indian” > > Other than that, I don’t remember it being mentioned. You forget episode 152 “The Yada Yada”: > [@](#): > > Jerry enters confessional, sits down on kneeler. Father Curtis opens sliding door. > > Father: That’s a kneeler. > > Jerry: Oh. (Adjusts accordingly) > > Father: Tell me your sins, my son. > > Jerry: Well I should tell you that I’m Jewish. > > Father: That’s no sin. > > Jerry: Oh good. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Whatley. I have a suspicion that he’s converted to Judaism just for the jokes. > > Father: And this offends you as a Jewish person. > > Jerry: No, it offends me as a comedian. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/46 "2003-02-07T23:23:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Whether or not Woody Allen is Jewish, I have no idea He is. I can’t tell you how religious he is (I would say not very), but he was born Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/47 "2003-02-07T23:31:04Z")
I think **TJ555 The Golfer** was joking when he wrote that, **Splanky**. Wondering whether Woody Allen is Jewish is like wondering if the Pope is Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![markdiscordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@markdiscordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdiscordia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/48 "2003-02-08T00:10:51Z")
I agree with the theory that George’s mother is Jewish, his father is Catholic, and he was raised Catholic before the invention of Festivus. Estelle once said that she “wouldn’t ride in a German car” and is seen wearing a chai. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/49 "2003-02-08T00:50:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mjollnir \* > \*\*A time-honored tradition. For some reason, Jews are “better” at playing Italians than. . . Italians? Especially gangster types. Edward G. and Harvey K. come to mind. \*\* Also James Caan and Paul Muni. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/50 "2003-02-08T03:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > **A time-honored tradition. For some reason, Jews are “better” at playing Italians than. . . Italians? Especially gangster types. Edward G. and Harvey K. come to mind.** My mom would take issue with this statement. She was raised in Brooklyn, and she only needs to watch something for about two minutes before she can tell if the “Italians” are real or fake. If she says that a guy isn’t really Italian, you can bet money that she’s right. (And this is even more impressive if you know that she doesn’t have a drop of Italian blood in her body 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/51 "2003-02-08T03:40:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*I think **TJ555 The Golfer** was joking when he wrote that, **Splanky**. Wondering whether Woody Allen is Jewish is like wondering if the Pope is Catholic. \*\* _gasp_ Mel Brooks is Jewish?! ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/52 "2003-02-08T05:09:27Z")
_all- three- stooges!_ ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/53 "2003-02-08T06:12:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krokodil \* > \*\*I guess a history of pogroms makes you leary of any gentile asking you too many questions about your Jewish heritage, but it’s a fair topic. Unless the individual bringing it up has a proven track record of antisemitic behavior or is targeting you for conversion. Short of that, your religion/heritage is a completely fair topic of discussion. As is that of the person asking you all the questions. \*\*I reread my OP to see if I may have inadvertantly given the impression that SIL’s husband has quizzed me about my religious beliefs/heritage, or that I was sensitive about such things. I see nothing in my post that either states or implies either of these two things. You have something in common with SIL’s husband. He, too, makes assumptions about me based solely on my ethnicity. > [@](#): > > \*\*And as for his being a conservative… Are political conservatives any different from political liberals in this specific regard? \*\* I don’t think either group as a whole can be fairly characterized as behaving in any particular way in this specific regard, which is why my description was of this one specific person and not the whole group. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/54 "2003-02-08T14:08:46Z")
O. J. Simpson? Not a Jew. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/55 "2003-02-08T14:31:39Z")
BTW, here’s a link that sorta ties in with this subject: [http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/970905/tv.shtml](http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/970905/tv.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/56 "2003-02-08T14:41:43Z")
Good article. It must be older because Monica and Ross from FRIENDS are definitely Jewish. The Holdiay Armadillo told me so. And do Christmas lights, cards or cookies mean someone is not Jewish? I know lots of Jews who celebrate the season if not the reason for the season (of course, you could say that about a lot of gentiles, too!) This was all before Adam Sandler came along with his inspirational song! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aglet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Aglet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aglet)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/57 "2003-02-08T14:46:17Z")
> [@](#): > > **TheeGrumpy** : You forget episode 152 “The Yada Yada” . . . Yes I did. Thanks. **Mjollnir** Your link tied in extremely well, not just sorta! ---
**Author:** ![Spiratu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Spiratu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiratu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/58 "2003-02-08T18:45:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doreen \* > \*\*How much diffenent is stereotypically New York Jewish from stereotypically New York Italian? Lenny Bruce wasn’t entirely wrong. [http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/features/articles/humor.shtml](http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/features/articles/humor.shtml) \*\* Yeah, I’ve always thought that the Jewish stereotype was actually pretty similar to the (especially Italian) Catholic stereotype, despite the obvious religious differences. In the stereotype world, the Jews just seem to act like wealthier Italians.😉 ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/59 "2003-02-08T19:02:45Z")
Jews and Italians similiar? It’s the guilt. Oh, God, the guilt. ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422/60 "2003-02-08T19:25:21Z")
One question: > [@](#): > > **Number Six** : So my sister-in-law and her husband is visiting for Mrs. Six’s 21st birthday, and he brings up the subject of the Larry David show “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. So isn’t the guy, like, _your brother_? How can he be your sister-in-laws husband and not be your brother? Sorry if this question is silly. To answer the OP, I think Costanza is definately Italian, b/c I remember him in an episode trying to get an Italian Pizzaria’s attention to him tipping the guy big bucks and mentions that he is one if his fellow “countrymen”. In all likelihood then, he should be Catholic, though HMMV. Elaine is definately meant to be non-Jewish, as she qualmed a Rabbi about “his faith” and “his people” in an episode I watched. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-of-the-characters-on-seinfeld-are-jewish/153422.md?page=4)