Fans debate whether George Costanza is Jewish, with theories about his mixed heritage and Italian surname, referencing his recent conversion to Latvian Orthodox in the show.
In article [email] (Marc A Dashevsky) writes:
BZZT! Actually, "kasha" comes from the *Russian* word for porridge and can refer to any type of hot cereal, from oatmeal to cream of wheat and beyond. Perhaps the word made its way to America via Russian Jews, but anybody who knows Russian would know what kasha is. (And yes, I'm not Jewish.)
At any point, the question of whether or not George is Jewish is moot, because earlier this season, George converted to Latvian Orthodox.
A strange question: it's always struck me as odd that George is so obviously Jewish, and yet his name is Costanza. What's up with this? - Dan
In [email] (DANIEL BENJAMIN SALTZSTEIN) writes:
Legend has it that the character has always meant to be Jewish, but they didn't want to come outright and *say* it because it would be a stereotype. The two possibilities regarding the name are George's father is an Italian Jew; or George's father is Italian, while his mother is Eastern European Jewish: the Jewish faith is passed on through the mother, so George is Jewish.
Of course, George is now Latvian Orthodox. Dave
Hmm. Believe it or not, whether it's strange or not, it is apparently
frequently asked.Ahh, but wait...
::smile:: Good point...!!
From Scott Simpson's FAQ, which can be found at quartz.rugers.edu...
=============== [...] [FAQ Version 1.5 -- Updated: July 13th, 1993] [...]
4.14) "Is George Jewish? Is He Italian? Can He Drive A Three-Inch Nail Through A Board With His...?"
So much bandwidth... So little time... As far as I can tell, it's
been decided George plays a stereotypical Jewish character who is,
in fact, Jewish (asking for the kosher meal in "The Trip", etc.),
who happens to have an Italian surname. Thus, I think we can assume
he is, in fact, a Jewish-Italian American. An article from "Palm Beach Jewish World" says, ``Even with a name
like Costanza, George is decidedly Jewish. "Sure", says the actor
who portrays him, "because he's written by Jews and played by one."''[...] ===============
Hope that helps...
-Me
Did I miss the episode where George celebrated Chanukah? What does it mean to be "obviously Jewish"?
[email] (Jennifer L. Taggart) writes:
Stand back everybody -- here come the fireworks!
Well ... Elaine and Jerry agreed that George's parents' home smelled like kasha. No non-Jew reading this group seemed to have a clue about what kasha is.
I hope this doesn't stop the flames and wasted bandwidth to come.
__Marc
Marc writes that anyone with a kasha smell in their house must be Jewish - but isn't eating kasha simply a Russian custom? I lived there for a while and I was served kasha for breakfast EVERYWHERE (including Estonia!)
DVC
Subject: Re: Costanza - Jewish?
Hi Jennifer Taggart:
JLT>In article [email] (DANIE
JLT>Did I miss the episode where George celebrated Chanukah? What does
I guess I will start a backlash against being politically correct. The reality of the world is that there are stereotypes and despite our desires not to be labeled with those negative terms like racist, prejudicial, biased and bigoted, stereotypes are indeed based on certain observations. All four of the primary stars are indeed Jewish. The writers are Jewish and even the actor/comedian (Jerry Stiller) who plays George's father is Jewish. There are certain things that are considered traits of being Jewish (large nose, being cheap, whining, self-doubting, intelligence (add your own here)). These characteristics are associated with George. This is not to say you wouldn't find these characteristics in a specific Budhist Monk but are labelled with being Jewish.
As to his last name, I have two friends, who's names and religious backgrounds are someone strange. My Friend Jeffrey Goldberg & his sister Laura were raised Irish Catholic by their Irish Catholic mother despite having a Jewish father. His sister married a Jewish guy in a Roman Catholic church, even though three of the four parents are Jewish. Another friend Tom Gallagher who's mother is Jewish and his father and step-father are Irish considers himself to be Jewish.
Bruce --- � QMPro 1.51 � Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture.
In article ,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
OK here is the deal. TECHNICALLY one is only Jewish if one's mother is Jewish.
So you friends religons are "correct" even if the last names don't really match up. Keep in mind there are many children who have only Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers who are in fact raised as Jewish - but the Jewish Law is quite explicit regarding this question. The reason? only the mother *truly* knows who the father is - and he might be a Gentile, or a Muslim, or a ...
-kevin holliday, orthadox jew just kidding -kevin, quasi-episcopalian
Subject: Re: Costanza - Jewish?
Hi Kevin Holliday:
H>OK here is the deal. TECHNICALLY one is only Jewish if one's mother is
H>So you friends religons are "correct" even if the last names
Yes this is true according to Jewish law. This was never at dispute the only question we were debating was how could Costanza be Jewish. The reality is, is that George Constanza is a fictional character, so do we really car anyway :-)
Take Care my Episcopilian Friend! --- � QMPro 1.51 � PCDOS&MSDOS&CP/M&WINDOWSI'LLFIDDLEWITHOS/2WOULDN'TYOU
In article ,
Actually, I think that reform Jews will accept someone as Jewish if either parent is Jewish. The conservative and orthodox factions still hold to the mother being Jewish.
[email] (Bruce Goldman) writes:
You are talking about the real world. The question is, why would a sitcom writer care to make things that way, not can it happen in the real world.
George is a collection of every unflattering Jewish stereotype in existance. He is weak, whinney, ugly, selfish and just pathetic. To give this charactor the name Norman Rosenbaum would get every Jewish activist bent out of shape about the way that Jews are portrayed on televison. Therefore they give him an Italian name. Problem solved.
J.P.
I disagree. I don't think that George is 'weak, whinney, ugly, elfish and just pathetic'. You're being awfully severe. And I don't think that all of those qualities are stereotypically Jewish. I have never heard Jews characterized as ugly or pathetic, and I've done extensive research on the subject of antisemitism. Besides which, I find George to be a refreshing symbol of what every human being fears - insecurity. He's honest about the qualities that he exhibits, and that all of us share. And I don't think that George is necessarilly selfish. He's a loyal, honest friend; he simply craves a source of confidence. Could it be, that his persona makes you uncomfortable because he's more similar to you than different....
I agree with your assessment of George. I've never thought of him as "weak, whiny, elfinathetic." Hreally cares about his friends. He's just incredibly insecure! In short, he's someone I would be friends with but not date, for that very reason. (And I don't think he's ugly. He has a sort of teddy bear quality.)
**************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTE: Please send all e-mail to another address: [email] [email] Messages received at RSBBS have a 90 line limit.
No day is safe from news of you, Walking about in Africa, maybe, but thinking of me. - Sylvia Plath
In article , [email] (Ted
In Russia when speaking of kasha people may be talking about hot cereal, but when in New York City kasha is kasha varnishkes (sp?) Buckwheat groats, onions, and bow tie shaped noodles. Go to a Jewish-style deli in NYC (or South FLorida for that matter), order kasha and what you get is what I described.
BTW, my daughter is Jewish, and she has an Italian last name. It's not that uncommon.
Jan Penovich writes:
Agreed. When I was a freshman in college, I knew a girl by the name of Heather Ciociolla. I had a real crush on her but never got around to asking her out because I just assumed she wasn't Jewish. A year later, she shows up in my Hebrew class, with her boyfriend to whom she is now engaged. I learned my lesson.
[email] writes:
The question isn't "can this happen in the real world?"; the question is, "would a sitcom creator create a Jewish character with an Italian name?".
[email] (Roy Eassa) writes:
Not a chance.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Aloysius McVeigh |"By the delusions of seeming good the
Dept of Banking & Finance | people are often misled to desire their
The University of Georgia | own ruin; and they are frequently
Brooks Hall 517..(706)542-3991 | influenced by great hopes and brave
[email] | promises." - Niccolo Machiavelli
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Almost as improbable as a sitcom creator creating a Puerto Rican with a Jewish name?
(Ie., Juan Epstein, Welcome Back Kotter)
[email] (Art Taylor) writes:
Yes, but *that* fact was played up as part of the show. It was done by the creator for a reason.
Why not?
jan
In article [email] writes:
A good friend of mine claims that everyone in New York is Jewish, either in reality or vicariously. I think George falls under this description.
Kim
[email] (Jan Penovich) writes:
I contend that the creator would only do so as part of the "plot" of the show, not in a hidden way.
In article [email] writes:
On the box of Kasha, it says "Buckwheat Groats" in parenthesis. What are groats anyway...I really want to know!
Basic Kashe is made with kasha, eggs, butter, water and salt. Kashe soup is made with basic kashe, plus milk and sugar! (no salt) Kashe filling for Pirogies is made with Basic kasha, onion, mashed potatos. Kasha is also used as a filling for Knishes!, Kasha Cholent (stew) is made with Kasha, lima beans, chuck beef or brisket, onions, fat, water and spices.
Anybody know any other Kasha dishes????
Deena
My next door neighbors who are from Hong Kong periodically stop me in the driveway and ask me to explain the "Jewish Humor" of Seinfield. They just can't seem to get it. I've tried explaining to them that I thought it was better classified as "Northeastern Humor" or "Urban Humor," but they insist. What do you think?
Many of the writers and actors involved in Seinfeld are Jewish. Does that mean the show has "Jewish humor." Hardly. Is there such a thing as "Jewish humor" which is not funny or is is simply unintelligable to non-Jews? Hardly. There have been many Jewish comedians who have had an impact on the development of humor on television and in movies in this country, dating back to the Marx Brothers and beyond. There was once a thriving Yiddish theater in New York and other cities, and I'm sure many performers crossed over into the main stream. They were successful, not because they were "Jewish," but because they were funny. If Seinfeld were done in Yiddish, I think your neighbors would have a point!
1. Rome is the site of the longest continuously inhabited Jewish community in the world.
2. To be Jewish and to be Italian is essentially the same thing, just ask the mothers!
Mazel tov, Matthew Rubenstein (100% Jewish, Italian on demand)
In [email] (Labrynth) writes:
this last one, while a longstanding stereoype, is the one that they're proabbly going for. Dave
Didnt George convert to some Latvian Eastern Orthodox religion?