Jtube: All in the Family: Archie’s Jewish Friend

When did Stretch Cunningham die?

Loved this one. Love for a friend surmounts all barriers. This should be repeated at leSt once a year.

"A Jewish name ain't got no 'ham' in it." That's so funny I nearly wet myself laughing. Great writing, wonderful delivery.

I saw this when it originally aired, and one line in Archie's eulogy, not included in this clip, went something like this, "I couldn't tell he was Jewish by looking at his face, and I didn't see anything else." Then there's a closeup of Edith, and after a few seconds a look on her face as though realizing what he accidentally implied.

we should be able to joke with our friends, and not be so sensitive as to not be able to enjoy them.

Always be proud of your heritage! Never hide who you are or you surrender your soul to tyrants and fools!

Funny show, Sad reality.

Jewish folks are the smartest, best business people on the planet . Tough to beatn

With the internet and instant coverage in what's happening in the world, we are becoming more concerned with human rights. We will never go back to the Archie Bunker thinking.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN THE ARCHIE BANKERS ARE AS STRONG AS EVER

It is your connection to your ancestors and your heritage. Never be ashamed to own your heritage; it is one way to fight prejudice.

I don't think any other religion has had so much suffering.When i left Egypt after the Canal War and went to Italy, one of the first things I was told, "you deserve everything you got You LKILLED CHRIST!

I am proud to be Jewish we Give more to humanity than any other people in the world

many years ago, my father changed our name from Greenblatt to Greene because he felt that Greenblatt was too jewish for business purposes. I was never satisfied with his reasoning- but he grew up in another era.

Yes, it is my ongoingconnectionwith my ancestors. When I adopted my grandson, it was also the first thing he requested, that his last name be changed to mine.

We need more and more of these scenarios to have a look at how others may feel. It's OK to be Jewish, Catholic, Presbyterian or ???? and it's Ok to laugh at ourselves as well.

This showed an understand of all people. You laugh and cry with the actors, and you love them for teaching a lesson.

Only a consummate actor who knew of the time could portray this skit in the program as Carrol O'Conner did in portraying the brotherhood of mankind didn't pre-select one group as good or another as bad to convey the evils of bigotry.

I never liked my last name and neither did my husband. There was no religious reason as we were both raised in a Jewish home and being Jewish was just a fact of life. However, being called Mrs. Rosenberg all the time was getting on my nerves. My husband always wanted to change our last name, but for one reason or the other, we never got around to it . At my age now, I couldn't care less. As a matter of fact, my grandson is to become a father in April and the doctor told the happy couple that it was a boy. I asked Matthew if he wanted to change his last name and he asked me why he would do that. He is a Rosenthal and his son will be a Rosenthal. So the name will live on. Sometimes. the older generation can learn a lot from their children and grandchildren.

This piece was so sensitive and very moving. Well done, well intentioned! Acting is superb! Bravo

Nice...

Beautiful...

touching and unexpected.

This was and still is a classic.

I watched this program all the time, but don't remember this episode. Made me cry. Loved "All in The Family". What a fantastic show.

One of funniest TV series ever , it was all just a joke on Bigoritry to show how redicules Bigority really is.

Archie Bunker belongs to the "Ages". He was the epitome of bigotry but the writers never made you hate him. An episode like this one made me happy and sad at the same time. He wasn't a total bigot. Just an uneducated man who worked hard at keeping his family together and appreciated for being "Archie". He was the antithesis of the character portrayed by Robert Young in Father Knows Best. Glad he found out that "Stretch" was Jewish and that he ended the show by saying Shalom.. Goodbye Jerome..

So poignant and so true.

Very moving

Every Saturday night back then our family watched 'All in the Family' knowing that just about anything would be on with laughter and messages. You just couldn't help loving him despite his bigotry. And live for the first few years! riva.pearl@rogers.com

This fine clip reminds me of an episode in which Archie somehow gets caught up in the goings-on of the Jewish Defense League. At the end, he finds a swastika painted on his front door, which he covers up with a cloth. Pondering over the incident, Edith says, "I wonder why they call it a swastika?" Arche opens the front door, lifts up the cloth, and says, with perfect Archie logic, "Look at it. What else would you call it?"

Archie Bunker was a spokesman for the conscience of America at a time when bigotry was still a part of that nation's "acceptable" culture. Language and identity through names are an important part of keeping culture alive ... and Archie makes the point in no uncertain way that it would have made no difference if he had known stretch was Jewish.

Very important to to know and have Jewish name.

Archie, in his way , ridiculed bigotry, and exposed it effectively.

A wonderful summary of todays social condition. Well expressed. I just wished that there was no laugh track attached to the audio. It seemed out of place when considering the content of the message.

a great clip! isn't it amazing how Archie Bunker's dead-pan face still enthralls us after all these years? This Stretch Jerome Cunningham clip together with his segment with guest star Sammy Davis-Junior must surely two of the best Jewish-content segments from his amazing shows.

That was Archie Bunker at his best.

Growing up in No Miami Beach, my father had a jewelry store in a retired Jewish and Italian neighborhood. While we were Cubans, we always passed as "Jew-bans" because we had a special connection with this nation. My father celebrated the Jewish Holidays and we always paid our respects at Jewish funerals. One of my most prized books was "Josephus, the Jewish Wars" given to me by Adam Chait. In short, my respect for the Jewish nation runs deep, as they have held onto their identity, through countless years of persecution and isolation. I can only help my nation, Cubans forced to leave the communist island, can maintain that same sense of identity and that they can one day, return to their homeland. May the good Lord continue to guide the Jewish nation!

Thanks Frank for those beautifully expressed thoughts. I with the same to the Cuban community, both the diaspora and on the Island. G-d willing, Castro will be gone soon and the people can live life freely.

Well said.

What a very beautiful response to this video clip of Archie Bunker. You are a very good person. I too hope that one day soon the people of Cuba can live life freely. Before Castro, Jewish and many American's in general, loved going to Cuba for vacation. They loved the weather, the food, and the people. One day soon I hope it will be like that again. I would love to see Cuba.

This seems like a great web site

I;m Jewish and this episode was meant to be funny. Anyone who get's offended, as some of these posted comments, state that I just read,all I have to say is where's your sense of humor. When this show began in the early 70s,they never showed this kind of stuff on TV. After 40 plus years, come on -- give me a break.

Archie Binker had a great heart but did not want people to know

All in the Family is still one of our favorite shows. Through Archie's 'ignorance' we all learned how to be better and more understanding people. Whenever I see it is on TV, I watch it and it never fails to make me laugh.

DEPENDS ON HOW IMPORTANT YOUR HEARITAGE IS TO YOU, TO ME IT'S PART OF ME, NOT ALL OF ME BUT SOME PEOPLE ONLY SEE THAT AND DON'T CARE TO SEE THE PERSON INSIDE, THE SUM ALL THE PARTS.

My maiden name is very Jewish. I grew up in the 50's in a very small Midwestern town where we were one of only two Jewish families. I would never consider giving up my name to hide my heritage. It's who I am.

I thank G-d for all my Jewish Friends,Draken Got.

The show made us laugh at the wide spread mis-conceptions we have about each other and showed us how stupid racist stero types are, but we all knew Archies growing up in the 50's.

really we need more shows like this,its so nice to laugh, as there areso many bad things happening every day to keep us from laughing..

The question posed was: How important is it to keep your Jewish name? But the responses focused safely on a critique of All in the Family. The message from Archie was clearly that keeping the heritage of a name is important, no mather the ethnicity. If names have been modified by predecessors, what about changing it back to recapture the history and heritage. Above all, let friends know you are Jewish and share your values and rich history with them.

It is not, and should not be, defined by a person's name. It is, and should be, defined by that common belief, and recognition of the universality and equality of all living beings. Cunningham is great with me.

I haver been to a lot of Jewish funerals...Never ha ve I been to on with a Chanukiah burningy candels.

What was burning was not a Chanukah but a menorah - the symbol of the Jewish people. When you think about it it was most appropriate for it to be there for the episode. It can symbolize the tree of life. Archie, Stretch, all of us as people are part of the tree; we just may come from different branches. And, btw, Archie is a product of the twenties/thirties and not the fifties.

You should have counted the candles.. A Hannukah menorah has 9 not 7.

This is touching. It is also a reminder that people are always deeper than they may appear.

Shalom and God bless you, Carroll, for all of the laughs that have added to my years...

What's in a name? arose by any other name would still smell as sweet. so the man wrote many years ago.

The Archie Bunker series set out to highlight the evils of bigotry, but it wound up with the reverse effect. That's because Archie's arguments against minority groups were sometimes written to be so convincing that some viewers thought he was putting forward valid points. In the end the producers tried to combat this by having a sequal series called Archie Bunker's Place. which was a restaurant he ran with a Jewish partner, actor Martin Balson. It was too late and the series didn't run because the audience wouldn't accept the dramatic change in Archie's character. As a point of interest, in the British TV series on which All In The Family was based, Alf Garnett the bigot was played by actor Warren Mitchell who is Jewish.

I never thought of changing my name, although faced with anti- semitism during my life. Changing one's name does not change who they are. Jewish is in the soul. it can't be changed with a name change

It was a wonderful episode, made me cry, nothing like the truth.

Although "Strecth" came from a wonderful ancestry he chose to hide that fact because of anti-Semitism then as it is to this day. It is evident in the political sector when "our president's" words tend to favor Islam over the Judao/Christan ethic.

All In The Family was a wonderful show all those years. It fit the times that we lived.but it also depicted the TYPES of human beings on earth... Bigots,activists etc..... I bet our younger generation could relate to this show. I think they could relate to all the characters!

We need more shows like All in the family.

It's not well known but Carrol O'Connor was an environmentalist and anti-drug spokesman.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC---NEVER SAW THIS EPISODE

Not only was the show funny; it had depth and character.

Shalom to All In The Family. Just like "Stretch", it brought laughter (with an extra dollop of warmth) into our lives.

Without preaching or sarcasm, the show made its points.

A REAL CLASSIC MOMENT FOR GOOD OLD ARCHIE. IT IS STILL MY FAVORITE OLD SITCOM. MAY BOTH STRETCH AND ARCHIE REST IN PEACE! NORMAN LEAR WAS A GENIUS!

How very touching!!!

YOUR UPBRINGING CAN REALLY INTERFERE WOTH YOUR OWN TRUE FEELINGS.

I remember this show's importance in history, but I am too young to have watched it when it was on during its original run. I love M*A*S*H episodes and a number mention Jewish themes and even rituals (a soldier attempting to make Matzoh on a rock during Passover, a Korean boy with a Jewish soldier for a father needing a Bris (and thus a Rabbi), and some others too. They don't make television like this anymore in most cases.

What a delightful clip. All in the Family was a wonderful show. Wish it were back in reruns.

It brought tears to my eyes!

We always have the opportunity to grow. Thanks for this.

saw the show thought most were were coments on life at that time

Tears of laughter...Tears of sadness...All come from the same place in the heart.

There has never been such a funny yet serious show on TV and, because of political correctness, there never again will be. I catch reruns of the series whenever I can - usually late at night. Shalom, Stretch.

That was great and one of the best tv show. glad I got to see this one, thanks

I didn't think it was funny. It was poignant. The laughter was inappropriate.

Canned laughter really doesn't work for such a delicate subject but many who see the programme are not Jewish and not as sensitive to the inappropriateness. Better that THEY here the messages contained with inappropriate laughter than not at all.

Surely the laughter was appropriate. All in the Family was a ground-breaking show, breaking all the stereotypes, an presenting what was sensitive material in a way never seen before. This episode was from January 1977. "A Jewish name ain't supposed to have no 'ham' in it," Archie says. Throughout the series, his friend, "Stretch" Cunningham, bore the brunt of many of Archie's jokes, including anti-Semitic ones. The laughter was because we were uncomfortable at being presented with these realities. Archie said if he had known that Stretch were Jewish, it wouldn't have made a difference. The uncomfortable humor was that it WOULD have made a difference. "I wouldn't have believed that Stretch was a Jew. [Afterall] he wasn't a doctor or a lawyer, in the dress business, nothing like that.... He was just like myself...," Archie eulogizes. Fact is, there was much overt anti-Semitism accepted in public. We forget from the comfort of 2012, 35 years having passed, how raw and startling this presentation was. Yes, the writing IS funny and DESERVES laughter. We can see this clearly now. At the time however, it was "pushing the envelope," a description that had been reserved for the Air Force flyers who broke the sound barrier.

The laughter made no sense. People who change their names are burying their true identity

you are the only one

I wish we had such thoughtful scenes on the tube today. And my great-great-grandfather Gelder's mother came from parents born Cohen who changed it to Cowan.

Wonderful!!!! ...I hope so much he, Edith and family willl be back on Wonderful....Please bring Archie, Edith ,Gloria "Meat Head " and All In The Family back on TV soon!!! t

Your name is the most important thing you have in life. You may bring honor to it or shame.. keeping your Jewish name confirms that you are a member of the nation of israel.. Gd;s chosen people.Wear it proudly and bring only pride to it..

You have to remember the time these shows were written in. I haven't looked this up but I'm sure it was taped in the early '70s. Back then those laughs you here were done with signs flashing in the studio asking to laugh or clap and since all the live TV shows let the audience in for free as they still do today people felt obligated to do what the sign said. As far as the Jewish thing goes, allot of the writers directors & producers were Jewish along with Costar Rob Reiner who was also a writer for the show.

Carroll O'Connor had more versatility as an actor than many realized at the time of these "All In the Family" series. His Archie Bunker persona was always very well played, and in this particular segment, the eulogy revealed a man who had a heart underneath his soul.

This was done in a very tasteful way.

ethnic jokes or slurs are dispicable.& should not be used to denigrate someone. we are all God's children.

Archie's performance was one of his best; there was nothing offensive in it because, after all, the show was supposed to be a comedy. I was moved to shed a tear. The writers did an excellent job!

Wonderful! I am so blessed to have so many Jewish friends! Love, Christi

Was this episode written by Bob Schiller & Bob Weiskoff?

I am not sure that the audience giggles and laughter was appropriate given the Jewish funeral. The writers pulling for laughs by having Edith call the Kipah a "beanie" was so unnecessary. Having Archie being unsure of which end of the coffin was the "head-end" was another laugh moment that was in poor taste. I felt that way when viewing that segment during the original series.

Nothing here was done in "poor taste". However a more insightful individual would appreciate how funny ignorance can be as long as it is not malicious. My gift to you, if it were in my power, would be to grant you a sense of humor.

you missed the message.

Very touching.

My grand parents came through Ellis Island and their Russian names were changed because they spoke no English. I am proud to have the same name as my Russian-American grandfather

U.S. immigration officials admitted immigrants using passenger lists provided by ship lines. The lists were compiled at port of embarkation. No names were changed at Ellis Island. Our ancestors made conscious decisions to change their names for any number of personal reasons and at varying intervals after arrival. Many name changes were never recorded, so ask your oldest relatives if they know about your family names. See Jewish.Gen.org for more info about name changes and tracing your family's history.

i have been to Ellis island many times. they tell you that the names of many were changed. it was not done maliciously but for many reasons. by the way legal name changes going back to the early part of the century can be found in the civil court of NY in each county court house. anyone can look at the records

Very thoughtful and touching performance by a great actor. My parents came to the U.S. on the last boat out of Poland in August 1939. When they were clearing immigration in NY, the folks there told them there were too many consonants and not enough vowels in their last name and Americans would have a very hard time spelling or pronouncing it. They suggested Solon or Solomon and they chose the latter. I was very proud to grow up with it as a last name and have always joked that we're distantly related to the king....which I guess is actually true. Zai gezunt!

i was too young to have seen this the first time around, thanks for posting! laura, american, now in rome

I read a story about Lincoln and some compelling information that he came from a region in Wisconsin that had a large Jewish presence. I can't post all of it here but, maybe a Google serch would find it.

My husband converted to Judaism in 1969. We were together some 46 years before he died, and we always joked that he should change his name and add "stein" or" berg" to the Warren. Brought lottsa tears to my eyes, thank you.

I think 'Archie' learned a valuable lesson, thus passing it along to his non-Jewish fans. A Jew can be a regular 'working stiff' too...not to mention a really nice guy. (Of course *we* knew that but a lot of unworldly gentiles don't!)

Appreciated the tenderness - even Archie! Jewish names are sensitive issues for many of us. Shalom.

Peace & Serenity to all

During the Nazi terror, many Jews changed their names, eg those living in Italy would change their name to Roma, Messina, or Fiorenza, etc names of cities, and I understand and sympathize with that at the time. But the fascists figured that out and arrested all with similar names to cities. It was a pox on humanity. I wouldn't anglicize or change my name today because it would be disrespectful to my heritage and my family.

I was born: Sheldon M. Skolnick. I started studying for the opera in 1960. And believed my true name might be a detriment to my succeeding. I have always regretted changing my name legally.

No birth certificate came with the name Reichman, where my dad was born, but Ameri

My father came to London first after leaving Germany in the Twenties and fearing anti-eemitism, a not unrealistic fear, changed Rosenthal to Roberts. I only wish I had changed it back before I became established professionally. Not a lot of Jews named Dennis either. That one I can blame on my mother who thought some Irish singer named Deenis Day was the greatest. Oh well, in my next life . . .

Thanks for sharing.

This brought tears to my eyes....That is one reason I "preach" being current...any day could be our last...we need to tell those we love...that we DO!

My maternal grandfather lives on in my Hebrew Name. Baruch for Benjamin became Brachah for Barbara. I am honored to have received my name as a Blessing.

This was priceless and I could not believe that it brought tears to my eyes but id did.

see above comment....

I laughed & then cried, also. My dad changed his last name from Markofsky, for business purposes. So did my Uncle Benny. Of course, many Jews had their last name shortened, by immigrant officers, at Ellis Island.

When he volunteered in World War II,after all papers were signed the new inductees, with hands raised ready to be sweared in, were asked, "Is this the name on your birth certificate?" One hand went down to the great annoyance of those in charge. When he was in combat, in Germany, he was summoned from his foxhole to receive important papers. Turned out his father had changed his son's name legally in case he got captured by German soldiers and they discovered he was Jewish. .

This story is so heart warming. The Father so loved his Son that He changed his name, that in it's self is so beautiful. He knew that the name doesn't define the person or his heart, his safety was the only concern. How selfless, but shows the love this man had for his child.

I cannot comment anymore, the tears are flowing too quickly. Thank you for this touching moment, and for the reminder.

Maybe you should request the show's owners to run the Archie Bunker segment in theaters every Chanukah season, followed by in-theater community discussions on "Who is today's American Jew?" adding?"...and how much does Israel matter to him...or her." Possibly sponsored by Jewish organizations. Great focal point.

Carroll O'Conner was the one of the most tolerant persons in show business. That is why he could play the bigot and racist and always shown to be wrong. If they would only have the same type programs now, instead of the "political correct" junk. We loved Archie & All in the Family for that reason. Too bad Obama didn't watch that show!

people are people does it matter what religion you are.?NO Like people for what they are not for what they look like or believe in. A lsesson learned

I cannot understand why anyone would take another name that was not Jewish, it just does not make sense! I am already on your Aish mailing list.

I'm a gentile woman, born in 1944. When I was young I lived next door to a very old lady, a Christian peasant who had married a Jewish tailor and immigrated with him from Poland to the USA, where they had a tailor shop in the Lower East Side. When I knew her she had been a widow for a long time. She was important to me, and appeared in two deeply significant dreams. When she died her daughter (an old woman herself) came, and for the first time I heard her daughter's name: Judenfreund. This touched me so deeply that tears came to my eyes. It was clear that this made the woman uncomfortable, so I didn't ask any questions about the name. I have always tried to be a good Judenfreund myself.

to laugh is to make life a better place,to smile is pleasure.

Giiven or Surname? Surnames are derived from variable sources, some unpleasant. The choice of surname retention in a multicultural society should be general expediency of prononciation

I truly loved this piece and am sharing with all my people. It's so funny and at the same time sad but it sure says a lot.

Friendship should know no race or religion. Archie was a bigot and if he had known Stretch was Jewish, he might have missed the friendship they had. Learning his friend was Jewish, I believe he realized that his life was richer for the friendship they had and with the final word, Shalom, he acknowledged his own shortcomings and gave his friend what was probably the best farewell he was capable of giving. And he knew as he left that his life was richer for that friendship and would be a little lonlier without it. Thanks to my good friend, Herb, for forwarding this to me. He keeps me grounded in what is truly important.....family, faith, and friends. Thanks again, Herb. Always, The Goy

I am Mexican with a Spanish last name, my wife is Jewish. We married and she kept her last name. I believe it is important for her to honor her family name. We just had a baby and named him Asher Berg Aguinaga. I want the world to know he has Jewish and Latin blood in his heart. Peace

My father had 4 brothers. The 5 of them had different last names...for business purposes. In those days people were not as tolerant of the name Cohen.

my last name in Hebrew means blessed. Some people thought it was a French name. It was a blessing to see this episode again.

It's hard to imagine there are still people in this world just like Archie was in the series...even with all the technilogical gadgets available to educate about all religions...Happy Channukah!

Well done. Jews change their names for all kinds of reasons. I kept my non-Jewish married name after my divorce. It was shorter than my maiden-Jewish name. I have to admit I have found having a Gentile name advantageous because I have a chance to present myself as a person first before I'm a minority. I've never denied or hidden my religion, and no one has ever "slipped" and said something about Jews (at least not in my hearing). If someone said something about Jews, I'd inform them that I'm Jewish even though Reed is my last name.

Your comment was quite interesting and informative about you in that you are a coward and ashamed of being a so-called quisi-Jew. You basically a the rear end of a Horse or a donkey with no brain.

Why be so judgmental and so hurtful?! I, too have a last name from my marriage that became my professional name. So, I'm stuck with it! But, living in Israel for most of my life, it has never been a problem. Interestingly, my son changed his name to a very Jewish one. You sound a bit Archie Bunkerish, sir!

That sums it up!

Occasionally, my friend will use a phrase or saying that is anti-semitic, and not be aware that it is not politically correct. I always use the occasion to educate her, and ask her not to say those things around me. Makes me wonder how many times people say similar things when Jews are not around.

Interesting. My name is Perry. I am a Jew. My father was brought to America from Lithuania by an uncle. Dad's name was Yakov Peretzman. He was 16, went to school for a year to learn English and when he was 17 went out to Wyoming and became a cowboy on the Wyoming Hereford Ranch. THE COWBOYS RENAMED HIM JACK PERRY. Hence my name: Stewart Perry. I was raised Jewish by my Russian Grandmother. And am very grateful to my "Bobo."

I married a man whose name whose father's birth name was Cohen. The father left the family and the boys decided to change their name to Knight because of the Antisemitism in the US. I had an uncle who denied he was Jewish because they would not give a Car Dealership to a Jew during the 1940's. I did not grow up with this hanging over my head. We were always proud to be Jewish. My family came from Baghdad, Iraq and by the 1950's All Jews who hadn't left were hung in the square.

I had an Iraqi friend in Yerushalayim named Ephraim Keli. When he was in New York. He was called Frank. frank Kelly!

Clever,funny but well done. Shows bigotry with a level of humor that doesn't disguise his awkward tenderness and sadness over the loss of a friend,and also his lack of social awareness .

I remember this one very well. It was both heart wrenching and extremely funny. This series took chances that I believe changed the face of a lot of series that came afterwards.

"SHALOM" SAYS IT ALL

Why oh why can we not see re-runs of the Archie Bunker Show - He was funny.

Watched the show often but missed this episode. Hopefully we can all wear our heritage proudly

I used to watch All in the Family every week when i was on TV, I never saw this episode until my mother emailed it to me. I think it's a great moment and should go down as one of TV's greatest moments,

and what is important in life............ we are all people.Alike ! All have a heart and a soul ,and the same feelings, our tears are the same and our joys are alike. Does it really matter what religion we are as long as we do good ?

My Mom's boss at Yeshiva University (in New York) used to tell the tale of how when his Grandparents came to the New World, his grandfather wanted nothing more than to fit in. They'd come from persecution and did not want to be assumed Jewish. So grandfather went through the phone book to find a "good AMERICAN name" and found page after page of one in particular, and so said "That's it!" And thus, became the Goldstiens. Now having told that tale, I have to say that my name, Oelberg, is not Jewish, though it's often assumed that it is, and it could be. My point is that all the Goldstiens out there already changed their names at some point in the past. But, (and this is the big one) as population grows, and as we as a world become more accepting of "funny names" and we crave identity rather than granpa Goldstien's anonymity I see the trend of people re-claiming their ancient family names taking over.

It was warm, funny,compassionate and totally out of character.

Considering the blatant disregard for copyright law shown here. Does hbo know you ripped off the sound design from their network id?

I can't add much to the heart felt comments above, except to say I loved that show!!!

Excellent show, definitely in keeping with exposing the not-so-subtle face of racism that good ole Archie possessed - There are many "Archie's" in our world, however I do believe there are fewer with his mind set than there used to be (at least I hope so)

it is not the least bit important

Interestingly, All in the Family would never have been produced today because of its "politically incorrect" content. I think this is a convincing example of how in the last 40 years, our society has managed to go backward instead of forward. I find it very sad that the vast majority of the current TV programs are geared toward an audience of folks having a brain no larger than a pea.

It was thanks to the frank but necessarily satiric treatment of uncomfortable issues that All in the Family contributed to the education of the public. A result is the very "political correctness" which is so hated by conservatives but which finally taught some of the most backward that it is no longer socially acceptable to use certain words in public. An obvious example is that despite the clear racism behind more than a little of the ciriticism of our president even the dullards and bigots no longer openly use racist language.

Both Deb and William make good points. The problem seems to be that even "good" trends continue until they go too far and become the opposite of what they should be. Thus "political correctness" from increased sensitivity to others has become a fear of expressing any honest opinion which goes against the "socially acceptable" one. Note that the "social acceptable" opinion need not be favorable or even just (cf. Israel in the media).

This episode was a classic--funny but heartwarming as well. Carroll O'Connor is so believable as Archie Bunker that it's easy to forget he was cast (waaay) against type. Many controversial issues were addressed during the run of this show and yet the writers always managed to inject some humor without being crass or offensive. Boy, how times have changed. They don't write shows like this anymore; the 60's & 70's were great years for television. If these kinds of shows were on the air today, I would actually miss not having a TV.

God Bless Israel & Ireland the land of My birth for my best & closest friends are R&M and they have always brought laughter and sun to my darkest days it was classic BUNKER.... sent by our friends PEACE on Earth someday

This vignette is truly a classic, heart-warming and inspirational.

What a national treasure we had in Carol O'Connor, a great actor and a phenomenon that can never be matched or imitated. Shalom to him too...

i AM A SEPHARDIC JEW MY MOTHERS FAMILY IS FROM ITALY SOME OF OUR FAMILY NAMES WHERE ALGRANATI TORANTO CRESPI SUHAMI ROMANO PALERMO NOW TELL ME ARE WOULLDYOU CONSIDER THEIR NAMES AS TYPICALLY "JEWISH'

Thank you to whom ever found this and and brought it back to LIFE. In todays world, it gave decency and brotherhood a much needed perspective on life. Shalom Archie

That was one of the finest scenes from "All in the Family"

And, Shalom to Archie also.......Who next, will bring back a TV series that portrays messages (agreed or not agreed) of the great American 'Freedoms' we are so blessed to express in this country? "All in the Family" was a brilliant series; Depicting the 'good and bad' of human frailties...but, most of all, never 'provoked' the call for 'suicide missions' nor 'rage and revenge'! Wil the future of America hold to its past great culture and achievements? Only, time will tell!

It seems that it was "the content of his [Stretch's] character" not his religion that showed Archie what's important during life and relationships.

Loved it!

Who are the Jews? Everyone...same as Who are the Blacks? Everyone, and on and on.. When everyone gets it, we will have peace. Marvin

I loved this one. Thanks

Edith said, "What's in a name.". The Hebrew name given after 30 days is the only one that really counts; the family name is just a matter of convenience. Judaism looks to what one does, not to thoughts or consequences and Archie did try to focus on something his friend did, possible add days to his life through laughter and good will and good cheer, worthy behavior.

Read my one liner under summary.

This episode spoke volumes - although Archie loved his workmate Stretch during his lifetime, looking back, he realized that all those stereotypical feelings he had about Jews suddenly disappeared and he truly cared for the man, regardless of his religion. Archie learned from his shortcomings - that's what was beautiful about his character.

Just classic Archie !!!

i just loved a bunker he eas never a racist just an every day guy making a living and what a wife edith ..............rest in peace

GREAT PLAY BY SOME FANTASTIC ACTORS. PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE A OPEN MIND ABOUT THIS CHAPTER. IT IS FUNNY AND NOT RACIAL

Baal Shem Tov a Jewish scholar of old translates his name as Master of the Good Name. So true Archie and this is why I leave my legacy on you tube with my American Stew-"We are all brothers under the skin."

I can't believe I never saw this episode. Thank you so much for sharing.

That was beautiful!

It was very touching, I enjoyed

Don't judge by beliefs, but by actions.

There was never an episode which didn't make us laugh out loud, except the few, which taught us the seriousness of 'tzedaka', of getting along with one another and the idiocy of bigotry. Thank you Norman Lear (another one of us) for enlightening and educating the North American public so well for so long.

LIFE IS TO SHORT AND BEFOR YOU KNOW IT ...IT'S G O N E .

TAKES ALOT TO MAKE THIS SALTY DOG TEAR UP. THIS DID IT. A BRILLIANT ACTING PERFORMANCE BY IRISH AMERICAN CARROLL O'CONNOR, OF BLESSED MEMORY. TRULY BRILLIANT. EVEN IN DEATH 'STRETCH' AND ARCHIE ARE TEACHING US ABOUT BIGOTRY AND REDEMPTION. SHALOM STRETCH , SHALOM ARCHIE. THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS.

It's so important to keep one's Jewish name in order to instill pride and a sense of identity both for one's children and for future generations. There are so many Jews today who would prefer to keep their true identity in the background of their lives but this just causes more confusion in their children.

all alone, crying for Archie's words.

We should be remembered for the good we did for others. How we helped others when they were grieving, how we fed the hungry, how we loved one another, and so much more. And how we lived according to His word.

I would much rather hang out with patriot,iotic hard working Archie with all his bigotry then with the valueless politically correct liberals who are destroying America

I would rather hang around with liberals than you

Of course that is a false dichotomy. There is no reason that a person can't be tolerant of others and appreciative of their differences, and still maintain a conservative political philosophy. In fact, political correctness is often guilty of the soft bigotry of lowered expectations.

I think you're wrong. archie's character was an attempt at an honest portrayal of a poorly educated blue collar american in his day. Although he was filled with stereotypes and didn't hesitate to express them - something that today would be "politically incorrect" , what made him "lovable" was that he would allow himself to be enlightened to the truth (at least until the next episode). And that was one of the the great aspects of the show.

I am at the moment in the process of doing my family tree. To all of you who changed your name it will make it impossible to add you in the family tree.

This was so heartwarming. Brought back wonderful memories.

This, along with the Sammy Davis Jr episode was my favorite episode of the "All in the Family" program. the only problem I might have with it (as well as the show in general) is that underneath it all it showed Archie as a "lovable" bigot. But G-d, how I laughed all through the 25 minutes the episode was on. What a great actor Carol O'Connor was that he could capture the "outer borough" character so well and make that show the one many discussed for the next few days after it was on television. Thanks to Aish.com for this clip!

Very touching! There are many ways of expressing love!

Archie's life was about moving from excluding "the others" to ultimately including them. No doubt that he would not have included his close friend who he'd thought was a Irish Catholic if he'd initially known he was Jewish. Archie's final "shalom" was a step in the direction of inclusion. How many Jews are afraid to use their Jewish names for fear of exclusion? Jewish names according to our tradition are really our life missions encoded & therefore certainly worthy of not only constant use, but of study. How many opportunities are lost because we've not taken the time to investigate much as Archie realized that he'd hurt his close friend w/degrading anti-Semitic jokes because he'd not investigated to find his good friend was a Jew & therefore shown him sensitivity. We have to show OURSELVES sensitivity & be at least as good as Archie, if not more.

Sad but true, but with an encouraging ending. Since finding I have Jewish DNA, I see things differently. Most don't realize the pain of rejection that many go through and people have told me how they have hidden their true heritage for fear of persecution. I was never anti-Semitic before but just unaware.

Thank you aish for choosing to run this video - a very moving acct. of a real life issue that affects everyone. People of all faiths die with secrets. Perhaps if some of the people in your professional life 'do not know your jewish name' this is not as relevant to a legacy lived in which you are remembered (hopefully) for the JOY you brought into the world. I'm going to take this example to heart with the challenges in my life. Thank you, again.