# Thumbs-up gesture in Israel and Jewish culture

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-gesture-in-israel-and-jewish-culture/683420>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 11, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-gesture-in-israel-and-jewish-culture/683420 "2014-03-11T12:05:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-gesture-in-israel-and-jewish-culture/683420/1 "2014-03-11T12:05:11Z")

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Inspired by [this](http://www.cracked.com/article_16335_7-innocent-gestures-that-can-get-you-killed-overseas.html) Cracked article on 7 innocent gestures that can get you killed overseas - it mentions that the innocuous thumbs-up gesture in the Middle East means ‘swivel on this’. I Googled it and Wiki backs this up stating it’s a bad idea in Afghanistan and Iran. But it also says;

> [@](#):
>
> Any extension of the thumb could potentially be offensive in Israel according to page 29 of Let’s Go: Israel of the Let’s Go Travel Guides series published in 2003 by St. Martin’s Press. The book indicates that any extension of the thumb is offensive in Israel.

> **[Thumb signal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbs_signal#International_usage)**
>
> A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward, respectively. The thumbs-up gesture is associated with positivity, approval, achievement, satisfaction and solidarity, while the thumbs-down gesture is associated with concern, disapproval, dissatisfaction, rejection and failure.
> While the exact source of the thumb gesture is obscure, several origins have been proposed. Carleton S. C...

Eh? I’ve never heard this before and further Googling gives us nothing. Could any Israeli or Jewish Dopers clear up if it’d be a bad idea to give the thumbs up (or down, or the ‘not sure’ wiggle) in their respective cultures?

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-gesture-in-israel-and-jewish-culture/683420/2 "2014-03-11T12:51:45Z")

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It’s not something I’ve encountered personally.

I understand that it’s considered an insulting gesture in certain Muslim countries, so you may get some flack from older immigrants from those places, but all in all, Israelis use the gesture the same way Americans do.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-gesture-in-israel-and-jewish-culture/683420/3 "2014-03-12T16:01:48Z")

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Thanks **Alessan** , thought it sounded a bit odd but I didn’t want to embarrass myself someday.