Jew or Non-Jew

1. Jerry Seinfeld

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: If you didn't get this one right then you are simply destined to fail this quiz. Like lox and bagels, to the world at large Jerry Seinfeld is as synonymous with the Jewish people. Everyone knows he's Jewish. But here's something about Jerry that you may not know: during his time at Queens College, he was an amateur wrestler who called himself "The Jewish Terror." Yup. Little Jerry Seinfeld once wrested for the honor our people. But let's not kid ourselves -- he was surely no Samson. The Biblical strongman deposed of the entire Philistine army single handedly. Jerry on the other hand ran away from a pack of dogs that were attracted to him because his coat smelled like mutton.

2. David Blaine

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: Magician David Blaine's father was Spanish-Puerto Rican and his mother, Patrice White, was Jewish of Russian descent. Blaine's most famous stunts include being buried alive for more than a week, being frozen in a block of ice for two and a half days, and being “drowned alive” spending more than a week submerged underwater. Judaism has a term to describe people like David -- Meshuganeh!

3. Paula Abdul

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: With a last name like Abdul, you couldn't possibly be Jewish, could you? If you're Paula Abdul you can! Paula's father, Harry Abdul, is a Syrian-Brazilian orphan who was born to parents of Sephardic Jewish descent. Her mother, Lorraine Rykiss, who is Jewish, is a former concert pianist, born in Winnipeg, Canada. Because of her last name she often gets confused for a Muslim, and because of her dark complexion she is often thought of as African American. But she is neither. She is Jewish, and proves that there are Jews out there who can do more than just the Hora. Okay, maybe she is the only one.

4. Geraldo Rivera

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: Lillian Friedman married Cruz Rivera. They named their baby Geraldo Miguel Rivera. Since, according to Jewish law, anyone born to a Jewish mother is Jewish, Geraldo Rivera is Jewish. Jewish law however does not stipulate that we have to be "shep naches" from him.

5. Jason Biggs

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER:From American Pie fame, actor Jason Biggs is not Jewish. He has joked in interviews about the fact that he is often cast as an explicitly or implicitly Jewish character. What makes them Jewish? Because they are nerdy. Hey -- should we take offense to that? Well not to worry, Jason spent some time in Israel and is reported to be a supporter of the Jewish State, and also played an Orthodox Jew in an off Broadway play called Modern Orthodox. That's about as Jewish as a non-Jewish person can get!

6. Robert DeNiro

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: Although we are not 100% certain, numerous reports indicate that his mother is Jewish, and his father is not, which makes him Jewish according to Jewish law. His penchant for playing angry violent mobsters seems to run contrary to the idea that he belongs to our religion of peace. However, his reported love of corn beef sandwiches seems to indicate that he is indeed a M.O.T.

7. Harrison Ford

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: His mother is Jewish of Russian ancestry, his father is Irish Catholic. That makes him, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan, Dr. Richard Kimble and Han Solo all Jewish.

8. Michael Richards

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: Somewhat surprisingly and perhaps thankfully, Michael Richards is not Jewish -- he is of Italian Catholic ancestry. We say surprisingly because the character he played on Seinfeld -- Kramer -- seemed like that crazy Jewish uncle that we all have (we say thankfully because Michael's recent press is something the Jewish people definitely do not need right now). Jewlarious has done some research to put an end to the confusion and we have discovered that Kenny Kramer, the real person upon which the Kramer character was based is in fact Jewish. So of the four main actors on Seinfeld -- Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss -- Richards is the only one who isn't Jewish. Yom Kippur must have been a lonely day for Michael on the set. Which really is too bad, because it looks like Michael could use some atonement for his sins these days.

9. The Tomato

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: Tomatoes were introduces to North America from the Caribbean. Initially, residents thought the vegetable was poisonous until a Jewish doctor named Dr. Siccary proved otherwise. As a result, Jewlarious is conferring honorary Jewish status on the Tomato. mazal tov to both the fruit and vegetable families.

10. Martin Short

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: The comedian best known for his sketch characters like Ed Grimly (Saturday Night Live) and Jiminy Glick (The Jiminy Glick Show) is not Jewish. Why the confusion? Well you see, Martin Short is funny, and we Jews are snobs, so we assume that everyone who is funny who doesn't look like Chris Rock must be Jewish. Well, sadly, Marty is not "one of ours." But, maybe he has some Jewish ancestry somewhere? As Short likes to say, "I am part Jewish -- on my manager's side."”

11. Mindy Cohn

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: Mindy – or Natalie from The Facts of Life -- is Jewish. Her sense of humor and love of pastries on the show was a dead giveaway. Mrs. Edna Garret, initially housekeeper on Different Strokes and then den mother at Eastland Academy for Girls, is harder to peg. Her mothering instincts say she is Jewish, but her bakery -- "Edna's Edibles" -- was not under kosher supervision. However there is no debate about Natalie's friend Tudy -- she is definitely not Jewish.

12. Hank Azaria

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER: The actor and comedian behind many of the voices on the Simpsons is Jewish. Police Chief Wiggun, bartender Moe, and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, are not.

13. Lisa Bonet

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER:African American actress Lisa Bonet famously played Denise on the Cosby show. Her mother was Jewish, which makes her Jewish. At one point, she was married to, and had a child with rocker Lenny Kravitz whose father is Jewish. Lisa has commented publicly that they are raising their child Jewish. When her daughter turns 12, Bill Cosby has reportedly said that he will give little Zoe a lifetime supply of JELLO for her Bat-Mitzvah.

14. Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot)

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER:Balki Bartokomous - Bronson Pinchot (born Poncharavsky), is from the Island of New York and is Jewish. Balki of 80's sit com Perfect Strangers fame is from the Island of Mypos and may be either Jewish or "Myposite-ish," the dominant religion on Mypos. Although we cannot locate Mypos on any known maps or atlases, we are told it is home to a small Jewish community to which Balki and his family may indeed be members. This may also mean that Cousin Larry is Jewish (Mark-Linn Baker), as it stands to reason that if he is Balky's cousin, then they both come from the same family, and therefore must both be members of The Tribe. As for Mr. Twinkacetti, Balki's boss at the Ritz discount shop, all indications are that he is not of the Hebraic persuasion.

15. Borat (Sasha Baron Cohen)

		Jew
		Non-Jew

ANSWER:He may play a Kazakh anti-semite on TV, but Borat's creator and real life persona is British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen. Our sources tell us that Sasha is strongly affiliated and that his parents attend an Orthodox synagogue in England and are observant. So, are they proud of their son and his fame/infamy? Of course not! He's not a doctor.

(7) Peter Sherman, September 3, 2018 11:53 PM

Love your website.

(6) Carol Siegel, August 21, 2016 4:43 PM

Great news about the tomatoes in the Jew or not quiz

I love tomatoes, so I was glad to know that, like me, they are Jewish. This clears up a mystery I have wondered about for years. In Portland, Oregon, where I live tomatoes are only good in the summer. The rest of the year they are pale and tasteless. But when I go to NYC (my mother was from Brooklyn), the tomatoes are always red and good. I had a delicious one on a bagel last winter! The explanation: Jews thrive in New York!

(5) Angela May-Shatz, August 12, 2014 1:01 PM

Jewish Mom & non- Jewish Dad

When Mom & Dad was "very Jewish" although my Dad was born to a non-Jewish Family. My parents lived in a Jewish neighborhood in England and all his friends were Jewish. My parents were childhood sweethearts. When they went to a local Rabbi in Manchester, England they would not convert him. He said that they were "WarTime" sweethearts and it would not last. However, their marriage lasted all their lives. Even after my Mom died he kept a kosher home. I was so proud of him!

(4) Nate Goldstein, March 17, 2012 6:01 PM

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is NOT Jewish!!!

Even though her father is a famous French Jew and she's related to Alfred Dreyfus..she's not Jewish because that's what she says!!! FROM JEW or NOT JEW: We figured out that your mother is not Jewish. She is a mixture of Pennsylvania Dutch and Anglo stock. But even with that, we held out hope. We dismissed reports of you wearing a cross, and of the radio interview in which you supposedly claimed that you were not Jewish... We didn't see the photos. We didn't listen to the interview. We were gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, Miss Louis-Dreyfus. And... well, we can't anymore. For right there, in the opening seconds of a public service ad for American Jewish World Service, you say, "I am not Jewish."

(3) Marjorie, February 6, 2012 5:27 PM

OK, so what do i get for winning. Shalom!

(2) Anonymous, February 6, 2012 1:28 PM

robert deniro

Robert DeNiro is NOT Jewish! It was a rumour that circulated by a member of the press in just one of his interviews. His Mother was actually Protestant and his Father was Catholic. NOT Jewish!

(1) jerry binder, November 5, 2010 6:23 PM

great!

And I thought I knew some much about who is and who isn't Jewish? Great site. Informative and amusing. Your thumbnail sketches are beautifully written, too.