Fans debate whether George Costanza is Jewish or Italian based on references to Nazis, Mahjong, and Christmas gift exchanges in "The Handicap Spot."
In last nite's episode (The Handicapped Space"), George tells his father that the car was ruined by Nazis who were chasing him and "hurling racial epithets" at him. Now just why would Nazis hurl racial epithets at an Italian? Also, his mother was playing Majong, which I gather is a game if Jewish heritage. Face it. George is based on Larry David who is most definitely Jewish. George is Jewish too.
The Doctor of Nothing
This season, Frank was interested in seeing his cousin, Carlo, in Italy. I think that makes George at least half Italian.
Greg
But what about the fact that Frank is always eating kasha (quite east european). Perhaps he is Italian (and possibly Jewish) but his wife is some sort of Eastern European.
[email] (Gregster5) wrote:
[email] (David J Benz) wrote:
How would they even know whether he was Italian or Jewish? We can't even figure it out.
Mah-jong is a game of 'asian heritage'. However, I also have this impression that it is a game that a lot of old Jewish women play. Especially in NYC.
Monty
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Monty D. Martin Arizona State University
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=======================================================================[email] (Monty D. Martin) wrote:
My vote is that the C's are Jewish. If they aren't then the writers sure like to sitck a lot of Jewish "stereotypes" in there...
There was a scene where George can't stand to stay in the apartment with his father because his father (Jerry Stiller) is constantly cooking Kasha and George cant stand the aroma. Would an Italian be constantly cooking Kasha? Only someone Jewish of George's father's age would.
Kasha, or buckwheat, or groats, or whatever you would like to call them, is a Russian or eastern European dish, not a jewish food.
is a term brought to the USA by Jewish immigrants and will be found at Jewish restaurants and homes. Also George ordered matzoh ball soup and said that he felt like a big matzoh ball. As you know matzoh ball soup is a Jewish delicasy.
I am not Jewish, but have eaten matzoh ball soup many times. You don't have to be Jewish to eat "Jewish" food, especially in NY where it is so common.
In article , [email] wrote:
And just as an aside, is there anyone anywhere who considers matzoh ball soup a DELICACY? Good, yes. Able to cure the common cold, yes. But a delicacy? I don't think so...
[email] (David J Benz) wrote:
Do Jewish families commonly exchange Christmas gifts among themselves? (This is a sincere question.) Apparently, the Costanzas exchange Christmas gifts. In one episode, George tells Jerry that he's going to his parents house to drop off their Christmas presents. Jerry says something to the effect of, "But I thought your parents were in Florida." George responds, "Why do you think I'm going now?"
I can find the videotape to get more specific info if needed.
Doctor Fang
That's a good point about the Christmas presents. I remember that scene. I think it was in the episode The Gum. Janine
In article , [email] says...
Nazis could hurl racial epithets at anyone, though typically they focus on certain groups more than others. Majong? If this is a game of Jewish heritage, then it was a mistake for this to be in the episode.
The only reason why he said that, is because he wanted to drop them off when his parents were not around. George doesn't care too much for his parents. They annoy him to no end. So, he tries to avoid them as much as possible.
I seems to me that there are more Christian than Jewish connotations associated with the Costanzas. Clearly, the writers have made some mistakes with the continuity, and mixed things up a bit. Just like with Kramer and baths vs. showers.
-Gary
I spent three and a half years on Taiwan and thought that Mahjong was a Chinese game. Unless I saw a lot of Chinese Jews playing.
Mahjong is Jewish? Are the Chinese the lost tribe of the Jews?
Maybe the Costanzas are Chinese !
Clues Schues!! We all agree that the Seinfelds are Jewish, I assume. Why, in "the Pony Remark", when they go to the aunt's funeral, is no one wearing a yamulke? Because the show rejects direct references to Jewish faith and culture, despite the fact that it is a Jewish show with Jewish humor. So wait as we might, we will never hear a confirm or deny on the Constanzas. Face it-- the writers are having a big laugh at our expense.
Jennifer S. Dawson New York, NY 10011
What exactly is Latvian Orthodox? I must say that I've never heard of it before until I saw that episode? Can someone explain it to me? Thanks.
Heather
There are many types of Catholithism, and I beleive this is one of them.
eg
Roman catholic russian orthodox greek orthodox anglican etc.
each country has a slightly different version.
Latvian Orthodox is the religion that George was going to convert to to keep his relationship going with his Latvian Orthodox girlfriend. He had to study for a test and pass an interview with some Latvian Orthodox priests. Of course the whole thing got out of hand once his mother found out. Kramer ended up meeting someone in the Latvian Orhtodox church and she wound up leaving the religion to go with him. It was apparently never made clear if George coverted back to whatver religion it is that he happens to be. --Mark
On 29 Apr 1996, HGLEIDT wrote:
Wait a minute! I agree with your earlier postings that the writers are purposely vague. Moreover, this issue is really of no significance to the show.
But let me point something out to you: not all Jews wear yarmulkes- even at religious occasions (funerals, etc). Look at reformed Jews.
We all agree that the Costanzas are Jewish? Not bloody likely! This thread will be going well into the next century. The one thing we can agree on is that nobody agrees on this issue.
Kerro.
some of us don't even agree it is an issue!
~P
In article , Jen Dawson writes:
I just attended a Jewish funeral where no one wore a yarmulke. Those who think of themselves as Reform Jews don't buy the custom of wearing yarmulkes, not at funerals, in their temples, or anywhere else. I have even been told that some Reform Jews will ask you specifically NOT to wear a yarmulke in their temples!
[email] wrote:
->In article , Jen Dawson writes:
->I just attended a Jewish funeral where no one wore a yarmulke. ->Those who think of themselves as Reform Jews don't buy the custom of -> wearing yarmulkes, not at funerals, in their temples, or anywhere -> else. I have even been told that some Reform Jews will ask you -> specifically NOT to wear a yarmulke in their temples!
That's pretty funny -- Just how false this is. Considering I'm a reform Jew (Bar Mitzvah May 15, 1993) I think I'd know. Yamukkahs are always worn at temple and especially at a funeral. Never, NEVER would you hear someone ask you NOT to wear one..
Anyway.. back to Seinfeld..
In article , Jordan Tobin writes:
So, at 15 years old, you have managed to attend every Reform temple and
every Reform funeral? Is that just in the Columbia, Maryland area, or is
that world-wide? Little boy, when you get a bit older, you'll discover
that there are no absolutes. I'd also point out that one of the things
about Reform Judaism is that they have little, if any, halacha (that's
"Jewish law," in case your religious training is typical of 15-year-olds
brought up in the Reform movement) that is fixed or consistent. What is
done in one Reform temple is far from what is done in every other one.
And please, don't ever call me a liar again, publicly or otherwise.
What I wrote was not false--I HAD just attended a funeral where no one wore
a yarmulke (please use the standard English spelling) and I HAVE been told
that there are some temples where wearing one is considered inappropriate
because no one else is, and it wouldn't be right to look different than
everyone else.
--ljwI remember an episode, I don't remember the name, but it was the one where they park George's father's car in the Handicapped spot; and after they desicrate it, George says that a car with swastikas (sp?) on it went after them. That doesn't really settle it, but it hints. And I think that there isn't a doubt that the Seinfelds are jewish, but not full-practicing (note the episode where they were eating lobsters up in Maine, but Jerry's girlfriend wouldn't because they weren't Kosher?) There was also that episode where Jerry and George pretended to be the author guy and took the limo, but it turned out that the guys they were pretending to be were neo-nazis?
I haven't really read all the prior posts, so for all I know, these points have already been made. If so, please forgive me for trolling up the group.
In [email] (D Hyslop) writes:
I saw an episode recently where George told someone his father is Italian (I think it was the episode where George had to get calzones for Steinbrenner every day for lunch). I suppose he could be lying (but for what purpose) -- or could it be just like someone else recently posted -- Mr. Costanza Italian and Mrs. Costanza Jewish?
Deborah A. Currie ([email]) posted on 13 May 1996 11:03:56 GMT:
One can be Italian and Jewish. (Primo Levi).
What Is a Jew? See http://www.amherst.edu/~atstarr/jewish.html
In article Deborah A. Currie, [email] writes:
Remember, just because George says it doesn't make it so! He's the lyin'-est man on television today!
Meghan
I didn't think there was any controvery about the Costanzas being Italian. Don't you remember the episode a while back when Marty went to the village in Tuscany because he saw a picture Elaine and the Maestro brought back that he thought looked like his brother? Of course he's Italian; the question was is he an Italian Jew? Frankly, being both Italian and of Jewish extraction it is hard to make a real distinction. There are many similarities, for instance between Jewish mothers and Italian mothers. Not that there is anything wrong with either of them...
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George is Jewish. I remember an episode where he was going to convert to some unusual christian orthodox religion (can't remember which one right now) so he could be with some woman. In that episode, he says he's Jewish straight-out and a reference is made to how his parents will freak out. Costanza is not an Italian name. There are many similar Jewish names. For example: Cardozo was a very famous Jewish judge. There are very few Italian Jews (unless you mean a mixed marriage). The Island of Corsica, a French/Italian island has a sma have a tough time finding a Jew in Italy...unless they've moved there recently. Regards,
[email] (Gregor18) wrote:
A hard time finding Jews in Italy? I'm sure the only ones there weren't the Finzi-Continis...... (as in The Garden of ......).
And, yes....EVERYONE in NYC is "Jewish"....no matter what their religion is :-) It's a NY thing.....
Rewatch that episode, and quote the scene exactly. I think you'll find that he does not state what religion he currently is. It does come up that his parents will freak out, which is why he studies the books in the bathroom, which is very funny all by itself.
Gregor18 wrote:
I too watched the "Conversion" episode looking for a mention of the Costanza family religion. If there was a mention I missed it. By the way I think the religion you mention above was Latvian Orthodox (of which I have found no reference to on the web except for Seinfeld references).
I don't think that one can say that Costanza is not an Italian name though it may not be soley Italian. I have heard of Costanza as a surname while working in Italy. I have heard of "Maria Costanza" used as an Italian first name. There is a Costanza travel agent in Sicily and a Costanza Hotel in Rome. I have heard of a reference to a Saint Costanza (Santa Costanza) but I don't have knowledge of his (probably a she actually) national origin. I have also heard of the Costanza surname from South and Central America--however this could be of Italian origin as many Italians expatriated after WWII to both North and South America. Also "costanza" is Italian for the not too commonly heard English word "constancy" which is "constancia" in Spanish. "Costanza" comes from "costante" which means "constant." Perhaps there is a Saint Constance that corresponds to Santa Constanza.???
The only thing that I can think of that would indicate that George's family is of the Jewish culture is that I associate marble rye bread with American-Jewish cuisine. But then Christians and Muslims can be found eating bagels.
You, know there are non Jews that hate Nazis also...