How Jewish is Jon Stewart?

My appreciation of Stewart disappeared during the Jeremiah Wright controversy. Wright spoke at the National Press Club and was his usual offensive, anti-semitic and racist self. Rather than express dismay, disgust, or any sort of disapproval of Wright's antics, Stewart - blindly eager to support Obama - showed a clip of Wright and then said that if the rabbi that presided over Stewart's temple when he was growing up had been half as charismatic as Wright, then Stewart would not have spent Passover stuffing his face with Burger King Croissanwiches.

Ahem....it IS a comedy cable show, followed by South Park, as Stewart would say. Maybe you need to turn down that sensitivity meter a little.

Way to go Peter - getting offended by a comedian.

I agree with Peter -- as funny as the show is, I'm also put-off by Stewart's obvious political bias that at times undermines his comedy. Yes, it is a comedy show and shouldn't be taken too seriously, but I find it hard to laugh at Stewart's "jewishness", facial expressions, and other gimmicks he uses when he's taking HIMSELF so seriously. Then again, a lot of Stewart's fans love him anyway because they are often even more politically biased (toward the liberal side, of course), and they only want to hear cutesy plays on the news that suit their viewpoints. "Look at me, I'm so Jewish! GOBAMA! Haha!" But hey, to each his own.

And yes, Stewart's show is followed by South Park -- one of the more intelligent comedic shows of our times =)

I just never thought the guy was funny.

I think Stewart is extremely intelligent and less biased than most tv personalities these days. He has as many conservative guests on his show as liberal ones. He asks tough questions to both sides while inserting a few laughs. I'm not saying he's not politically liberal but you'll never see Olbermann invite Newt Gingrich on Countdown. I think he's respected in the political community despite the fact that he's a comedian. Keep in mind that he probably will slam on Republicans more because his audience will be more liberal. The few times he made jokes about Obama during the election season he barely got a chuckle from the audience.

Stephen Colbert is more Catholic than Stewart is Jewish. Both are good comedians, thus their religious observance or lack thereof is of no consequence to the majority of their viewers. So, why does anyone care? If they were Episcopalian, Unitarian or Atheist would anyone evaluate them any differently?

Peter, white =jewish, jewish=white, there is nothing controversy about, but only in
the USA. I am glad you find JW less offenive then JJ, I change too.

Who cares?

Article is a waste of etherspace.

CJ - I wasn't offended by Stewart, I just said I lost a good deal of respect for him after that show. Nothing to do with his Jewishness or lack thereof (full disclosure: I am Jewish). It was his using his high profile microphone to be extremely biased in favor of Obama. It was his defense of Jeremiah Wright' offensive behavior when he could have ignored it or made fun of it. He chose to use it to belittle people who objected to Wright's racist ("God Damn America!") speeches. I found it hard to find Stewart as funny after that. I would say the same if Stewart was Catholic or Hindi.

Hey Chris you, "find it hard to laugh at Stewart's "jewishness" because your name is "Chris". FYI: He's funny, intelligent and Jewish, so who cares but his Bubbie and Zadie! I'm Jewish too and I knew we all had horns but what's with the Green Glow in the picture?

Peter,
As opposed to others using their high profile microphones to support Bush or others?
Is Wright racist? As certainly as Rush Limbaugh is. While Wright goes entirely too far, his objections, that America has continually screwed over black people, is rooted in truth. Slavery, the racism that drove the civil rights movement, miscegenation laws and the recent efforts by republicans to prevent poor people in general and blacks in particular from voting have given blacks plenty of reason t think that the establishment (which means white men such as myself) has no interest in respecting their basic liberties.

"It’s impossible to watch The Daily Show without quickly divining that Stewart is Jewish."

That's simply false: I'd been watching the Daily Show for a long time without knowing that Stewart is Jewish, until he mentioned it. I don't read Jewishness into his views of the role of journalists, his coverage of events, his jokes, etc.. He and Stephen Colbert have different acts, but they are both doing the same thing: informing the public by playing dumb. Both are very smart.

"I'd been watching the Daily Show for a long time without knowing that Stewart is Jewish, until he mentioned it."

I must admit, I find that statement incredible - and I'm not sure if that's good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps it's my New York upbringing, but Jon Stewart seems so obviously rooted in Jewish comedic traditions that I thought it was obvious to all that he was Jewish. Maybe it just means that shows like Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm have brought that style of Jewish humor into the mainstream.

Who are we to judge or care "How Jewish is Jon Stewart?" Get a life... This religious "keeping up with the Jones" has to stop... Practice your faith and stop using it as measuring sticks which to judge people. This is one of the things that turns off average people from organized religion. How Jewish is somebody? Are you really a Catholic if you are pro-choice? How can you be moral if you are Atheist? Are you a true American if you're Muslim because you might be a terrorist (which is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard)? When does it end!!!!!!! These stupid and ignorant measuring sticks are ridiculous. Who are we to judge anyone? As Americans we are allowed to practice our religions freely and without risk of persecution. So worry about your own faith and leave the rest of us alone to practice whatever our religion in whatever way we deem fit.

Irregardless of Jon Stewart's ethnic background, he IS a master of biting satire that clears away a lot of cultural clutter with his humor. There are some times when I feel that he goes overboard to make a comedic point. But nine times out of ten, his wit is sharp and to the point.
Laughter is always the best medicine in a time of social troubles.

1. "Irregardless" isn't a word.

2. Stupid, stupidest, ignorant, ridiculous -- sounds pretty judgmental. Adding the words "measuring stick" doesn't change this.

3. Why don't you see any great comedians on TV with conservative politics?