Jtube: Never Too Young

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Published: April 21, 2007

Visitor Comments: 44

(44) Anonymous, November 24, 2008 3:58 PM

ACTORS UNFOTUNATELY LIVE A SUPERFICIAL LIFE AND WILL DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR WORK, AND DO SOME INPROPPER BEHAQVIOR

(43) Fritz Decker, December 12, 2007 9:14 AM

Obediant Son!

He was keeping Kosher. He was being obediant to his Father, G_d, even while in trouble. His Reward? He came through it w/out a scratch, and moved-on! "What's New!"

(42) Gray Miner, August 13, 2007 2:28 PM

Jerry Lewis spit the ham sandwich out because he was obedient to G_d's commandments in Lev. 11 to not eat unclean things. It was very subtle humor and very few would have caught it.

(41) Gary Katz, May 12, 2007 11:22 AM

classic Jewish dilemna

Jerry was obviously conflicted because it was ham, but he got it for free.

(40) J Berkowicz, May 8, 2007 11:49 AM

This morsel is a moshol !

If he were so frum, how would he KNOW it was a ham sandwich? Obviously, Jerry is playing the part of a baal tshuva, who, in the midst of his life-threatening experience, has a turning-point, and throws away the treif. As chazal say, a baal tshuva may reach levels that even a frum-from-birth cannot. This is wonderfully symbolized by Jerry ending up in the branches of a tree!

(39) Chana Tova, May 3, 2007 5:38 PM

Impossible waterskiing as vaudeville comedy

You ask about Ham spit out. Just as well could have been a book for him to read while in his emergency mode. But ham? The Jew's humor upsidedown, so the surprise makes us guffaw. I wish Aish would use my humorous writings! by the way!!!pretty please, I have audiences laughing for 30 yrs. email me

(38) Anonymous, May 1, 2007 1:23 PM

A PERSON CAN EXPECT ANY THING FROM AN EARLY JERRY LEWIS

(37) Dvirah, April 30, 2007 4:04 PM

Ad-Libbing

It would not surprise me if the sandwich in the mouth stunt was in fact the brainchild of scriptwriter, director or producer, who correctly concluded that it would make the scene just that bit funnier. Jerry, however, probably couldn't resist adding his own touch, by calling the sandwich "ham" and spitting it out. Yasher Ko'ach!

(36) Stephen Rabun, April 29, 2007 4:08 PM

unclean is unclean

To make light of unclean food is going too far...what next an idol or something else? I am sure that wasn't the real thing but to make it appear that way is still wrong. Sometimes we take things too far..this is one of those times.

(35) Dick, April 29, 2007 1:11 PM

Strong union

To answer your last question, the Stunt Actors have a strong union.

(34) b, April 28, 2007 3:24 PM

just plain stupid

it is all passe`

(33) Anonymous, April 27, 2007 5:41 PM

This is sooooooooooo stupid

this small video is so stupid

(32) Rabbi Steven Cardonick, April 26, 2007 11:50 PM

Spitting out a ham sandwich

Of course he spit it out.
He accidentally acquired it when he was pulled onto the beach.
Being a Jew he wouldn't eat it. Good for him!

(31) Sharon E. GREENE, April 26, 2007 10:34 AM

SHARING HOME BEAUTY WITH AN AUDIENCE

tHIS LOOKS LIKE MOHEGAN lAKE, NY. THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PARAMOUNT HAD A HOME THERE!!!

(30) Allan Nadohl, April 26, 2007 10:03 AM

Jerry Lewis Ham bit

As someone who has written his share of TV comedy, you may want to consider the following. It works for a laugh...for him. People know that Jerry is Jewish. He comments "ham" and throws it away. Funny.
If Dean did it, no laugh. If Jay Leno did it, no laugh.

(29) Yehudis Schamroth, April 26, 2007 1:48 AM

private joke for jews only

To Woody- watch it again-he said it was ham. I agree with Kuppel- even jews who try very hard to hide thier roots always throw in jokes and lines that only jews would get. This is the pintelle yid inside of them- a deep down yeraning to somehow connect with other jews and yiddishkeit.

(28) Michael, April 25, 2007 8:34 PM

Is it me?

I didn't think this was a Jew spitting out some treyf. I saw it as a guy who, in the middle of a desperate situation, realizes that he would have preferred tuna or something. Jewish pride? Jerry Lewis keeps kosher?

(27) Woody Geller, April 25, 2007 6:18 PM

How does anyone know that it was a ham sandwich? It could have been a grilled cheese or whatever.

(26) Kuppel Lindow, April 25, 2007 12:21 PM

Jewish Pride

Perhaps this sandwich was added for the same reason that Spielberg puts a Yiddish word here-and-there in some of his movies. This shows the actor's Jewish pride even though they may not be practicing all the mitzvot. This should encourage other Jews to be proud of their heritage and ask questions why the Jews are different. We should be ready to give them answers.

(25) Roy, April 25, 2007 12:19 AM

Educational

I saw this when I was a little kid. I had to ask my father and mother why Jerry Lewis spit out the sandwich. That was the first time I learned anything about Judaism.

(24) Anonymous, April 24, 2007 9:18 PM

Absolutely hilarious, in a ridiculous, slapstick fashion.

I loved the entire scene. Jerry's early comedies always made me laugh, and still do. I believe he purposely made it a ham sandwich so he could spit it out with gusto, as any good Jewish boy would do.

(23) Marv Hershenson, April 24, 2007 7:27 PM

Jerry Lewis is not Funny

I've never been a fan of Mr. Lewis. I do not find him funny and I believe he is an individual who happens to be filled with himself and his own self-importance.

(22) B Goldberger, April 24, 2007 6:28 PM

Jewish tradition was important to this seemingly mindless character

Don't assume anybody's seriousness about or commitment to yiddishkeit. Learn from everyone and respect everyone's desire to connect to their heritage.

(21) murray parkin, April 24, 2007 5:02 PM

he spit it out when he realized what it was.

It showed that he is Jewish and hated what he tasted and spit it out immediatly.

(20) Joseph, April 24, 2007 2:25 PM

B"H

B"H for a real Human Being!

(19) Anonymous, April 24, 2007 1:19 PM

Jerry Lewis is a HAM.Ever since Browns Hotel

SAME AS ABOVE

(18) reggie wagner, April 24, 2007 1:03 PM

Why? Try this.

Jerry has always referred to himself as "Super Jew." Could it be possible that Jerry wished this scene to be included as not-so subliminal confirmation of his claim?

(17) Howard, April 24, 2007 12:31 PM

Jerry will always be the greatest (jewish) ham on the the screen.What else would he spit out? Why else would there be the beach scene?

(16) mrs. D, April 24, 2007 9:55 AM

You guys don't GET IT!

The comments I'm reading remind me of people who over-interpret the symbolism in a novel or a painting, way beyond what the creator of it intended.
Look at the clip twice and you'll catch the flow. It's nothing more than a corny joke. Here's a wacky guy, stuck on a speeding set of runaway water skis, and suddenly he's got a sandwhich in his hand...where did that come from?!?! So, in true slapstick fashion, he tries to taste a bit while any normal person would be praying for salvation. Where did that sandwich appear from? His lunch box? His POcket? Hello-o-o! A second before, he had side-swiped a bevvy of bathers and then plunged back into the water. He must have picked up somebody's picnic item in the process, true cartoon-style.
"Hmm," he thinks, "might as well try it" So, it turns out it's ham, a common sandwhich to be found, indeed, and one which for the fun of the scene, he can toss into the brine because he just doesn't happen to like ham. It is completely interchangeable with any other posssible sandwhich and wasn't meant as anyhting more significant. He could have said "Peanut butter," and tossed it, for the same effect. It's a bit of an incongruous comic touch thrown in for a laugh.. And this really can't be coming from the "Jewish joke" angle. THis kid was never, I repeat never, thought of as Jewish, and didn't plan inside jokes for the public in his movies. I understand this to be so from people "in-the-know." So, settle down, and look for insdde jokes from the likes of Morry Amsterdam or Jack Benny. Jerry, after all, is "NOTHIN' BUT A HAM."

(15) Phillip, April 24, 2007 9:38 AM

It's an "inside" joke (wink wink).
One way to let Joey Levitch let us know who he really is.

(14) Mary, April 24, 2007 9:21 AM

Comic License, of course!!

This is the kind of stuff Jerry did! He made us think about the comedy he was doing! Great job! His comedy was innocent and his work will go on forever. I love everything I ever saw by Jerry Lewis!!!

(13) sara, April 24, 2007 8:45 AM

what's the fuss?
When the clip was made, there was MORE anti-semetism, not less. (inter-marraige goes up when societal anti-semetism goes down). Back then- everyone knew that Jews don't eat ham - and most Jews didn't eat ham -e ven if they didn't keep kosher. Ithink this clip is really, really funny.

(12) patricia, April 24, 2007 8:41 AM

cause it has sand on it?

best i could think of was it somehow got sand on it or Jews dont eat ham

(11) Jodi, April 24, 2007 8:35 AM

Interesting!

He does say "Ham!" before he spits it out. JL was a great multi-tasker in those days. I think if it was PJ&J, he would have at least had a bite before getting on with the task at hand. Cute scene. I used to have a crush on him when I was little.

(10) Max Rambow, April 24, 2007 8:13 AM

It was a "better" day

There are alot of things that could be said about it but there are alot of Jewish writers and movie goers and I'm sure they found it funny. I was just a dumb kid and it went right over my head. I think it was totally innocent and now it brings a smile to my face.

(9) Tammy Fesspoint, April 24, 2007 8:10 AM

Ham Sandwich Spit Out - Oh no!

Probably because he accidentally scooped it up as he slid through those picnicers and when he realized it was ham he THREW it in the lake because he eats kosher. (I'm guessing.)

(8) David Poo, April 24, 2007 7:20 AM

How do you know it was ham sandwich? It could have been a peanut butter sandwich or a jam sandwich, who cares!!. The point is he was just trying to make people laugh.

(7) Howard, April 24, 2007 7:11 AM

He rejected the ham sandwich, so what's the big deal? If he had eaten it, then that's a different story. There are many people that keep kosher homes and then go out and eat cheeseburgers outside of the homes. Those are the people that should be questioned; not Jerry Lewis who is doing this to make people laugh.

(6) Anonymous, April 24, 2007 6:13 AM

Is being Jewish funny?

Maybe the script writers felt this line would add humor. This was in the day and age when being Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant was ok and people didn't get insulted as much about such things.

Being ethnically or politically correct wasn't really an issue back then and people just liked to laugh. After all many had survived the war and were happy to be alive and laughing with no insult or hurt intended--Jerry Lewis could pull this off better than anyone and he remains one of my all time favorites.

(5) Alan Levy, April 24, 2007 5:38 AM

Rye Not Have It In The Scene?

I think it's great. A comedian who makes no bones about being Jewish accidentaly is handed a ham sandwich and he spits it out. He basically said to the world we Jews answer to a Higher Authority.

BTW: I worked with Jerry Lewis, on his desh he has a sign that says 'Super Jew'. He is extremely proud to be Jewish.

(4) Anonymous, April 24, 2007 5:34 AM

There is never any doubt regarding Jerry Lewis' heritage!

The scene is a comedic reminder to both Jerry Lewis as well as his movie viewers regarding Jewish beliefs, values, and traditions. The humor stems from the implied message that even in the most life-threatening situations, a Jew must retain his most important Jewish traditions and beliefs.

(3) Elizabeth, April 24, 2007 5:13 AM

It was ment to add humor to the movie, a sandwich from out of no where. His comment its ham, I cannot eat it I am Jewish.

I was young and I really did not remember the sandwich scene. However seeing the clip brough back memories. At the time I seen the movie I was thinking that it was very funny. With all the commotion, I just though it was funny that if the sandwich had been anything but ham he was thinking of eating it, in all that commotion! That was funny to me at the time. Today I see it as my cup half full, to give it the energy it deserves, a differant place and time, do not make a mountain out of a mole hill. The sandwich scene really was not necessary. What was the intention? Do you have a reason for the scene? The innocents of a child.

(2) JewishHeart, April 24, 2007 5:10 AM

Ham Sandwich?

I have always enjoyed Jerry Lewis, but in this clip, there was no way of telling that the sandwich was ham.

(1) Richard...aka..Pinchas, April 24, 2007 4:23 AM

The Movie was produced by Paramount

When you see the Paramont symbol you will see that there are 22 stars there. The meaning behind the 22 stars is......... and what came to your mind first.... wrong...the company was founded in 1922.... now, in regards to the ham sandwich... which appeared while Jerry was "hamming it up" .... what matters most here is that he spit it out... in the early 50's when this film was made you were not going to find a pastrami on rye at the lake and if you did, was America ready to hear J.L. say "Pastrami on Rye with Russian Dressing and Cole Slaw, Yum Yum Yum!"...no way Jose...er...a... No way Yussel...

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Jtube: Never Too Young

Classic Cinema: In the midst of this humorous chase scene, why does a hammy Jewish comedian spit a ham sandwich out of his mouth? And why was this scene even inserted in the first place?

Visitor Comments: 44

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