By the question, I don't mean to ask why so many Jews have become comedians, or why humor is important to Jewish life as a defense mechanism against millenia of oppression blah blah blah.
Rather, I should like to know why the mere presence of a Jewish character, or any reference to Judaism at all, is a cause for merriment. is it the Yiddish? Our enormous noses? The way we manipulate the media and entertainment industries to make us look harmless?
Think of a movie - almost any movie will do - and make the characters Jewish. Are you chuckling already? the laziest comic hack do it; i.e. 'Rocky' (Oy! Adrian!), 'The Godfather' (Make him an offer he can't refuse - half-price tickets to Florida) or 'Dirty Harry' (So go ahead and make my day, already).
My rabbi confessed ignorance of this matter herself, although she did not "Borat was funny, especially in his comically exaggerated prejudice against Jews. But would it have been as good if he had an irrational fear of Hindus or Buddhists or something? No, because Hindus and Buddhists aren't funny and Jews are, though I couldn't tell you why."
I remember in the long ago days of 'The Critic', starring Jon Lovitz, there was a fake promo for a movie starring Arnold Schwarzaneggar going undercover as a rabbi:
Mugger: [holding a gun] Eat lead, Rabbi.
Arnold: [pulls out a bigger gun] Sorry, that's not kosher.
Or, even more so, I remember some crappy sitcom in which the boss is wishing the office a Merry Christmas:
Boss: Merry Christmas, everyone! Oh, and happy Hanukkah to you, Persky.
Persky: Thank you, sir. [audience laughs]
Ha ha! That guy, he's a Jew! Instant comedy.
I recognize this is not an issue of great social import, but I am curious.
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