Saturday, February 28, 2009

Profile: Benjamin of Tudela


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=487

Finding Jewish explorers was not as easy as it seemed. It was between Benjamin, Columbus' ship doctor Luis de Torres, and Gaspar da Gama, the first European to set foot in Brazil, who is so obscure he doesn't even have a Wikipedia article.

Weird Search: February 28

Benito Mussolini.

Not a Jew.

Nice choice of pants, however.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Update: Rosenfels!



Our patron saint, Sage Rosenfels, has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings.

Part one of our plan for Best. Day. Ever. 2010. is complete.

Profile: Bob Kane


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=486

Once again, I have to credit the book Ten-Cent Plague as a source for some of this information. Most of it however just comes from general knowledge.

Unfortunately, one of comics industry's great legacies has been in stealing other people's ideas. Greats such as Bill Finger (Jew), Jack Kirby (Jew) and even Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (the creators of Superman. For decades DC screwed them out of the money and recognition they deserved) have never been given the appropriate credit.

When it's a business doing these things it's abhorrent. But when it happens because of a fellow creator's own ego and greed it's even more disgusting and reprehensible.

Kane was suggested by reader Brooke from New York.

Weird Search: February 27

Mickey Mouse.

Not a Jew.

And no, Mickey Mouse ears are not yarmulkes. Not a chance.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

JONJ on the Web


If you'd like to be our friend, (and Hashem knows, that's a hot ticket) then you can now mosey over to the JewOrNotJew.com Facebook fan page.


Yeah, we know, we lied. The only decision now is which will be less painful: doing the podcast or getting kicked in the nards?

Profile: Humpty-Dumpty


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=485

Hey Yakov, I thought we're gonna do JONJ Recommends at some point? In any case, for more Humpty nonsense, I highly recommend Jasper Fforde's The Big Over Easy. His other books are pretty great, too.

Weird Search: February 26

For years, people wondered about that red thing on his head.

But has anyone ever wondered if he was Jewish?

Mikhail Gorbachev.

Not a Jew.

Someone just did.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Profile: Marty Schottenheimer


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=484

Marty reminds me of an old joke about a guy who's such a loser that if there was a contest for world's biggest loser he would lose that, too.

On the other hand, we should be so lucky, considering that the Jew-count among current NFL coaches is stuck at 0.

Weird Search: February 25

John Wayne.

Not a Jew.

Not because he played cowboys... There were Jewish actor(s) who played cowboys. It's because his first name was Marion.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Jews in the News: Sophie Winkleman



Who? Some random English actress. Yeah, we had no idea either. Until now... for she is engaged to Lord Frederick Windsor, the Son of Prince Michael of Kent. (Let's figure this out. Prince Michael is the grandson of George V and the cousin if Elizabeth II. His son is... OK, we can't figure it out. He's definitely royal.)

So there we go, we might FINALLY have our Jewish royal. (Read about our search here.) Well, half-Jewish, at least (through her father). Still, not sure if she warrants a profile. Maybe when they actually get hitched.

Profile: Rod Blagojevich


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=482

There're only three Jewish governors right now (no, not Sarah Palin): Hawaii's Linda Lingle, Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell, and newly-minted Jack Markell from Delaware.

Thanks to Velvle from Florida (or, more specifically, his friends), for the suggestion.

Weird Search: February 24

With the Academy Awards on Sunday, we got a long of Oscar-related searches. Including...

Hugh Jackman.

Not a Jew.

You can read about our search for Australian Jews here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Profile: Sandra Bullock


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=483

Poor Sandra, another victim of the Why Are Jews So Powerful? article. Although... it's not too late to come aboard, Sandra. Half the internet thinks you're Jewish anyway.

Weird Search: February 23

Let's see, he is black, good at basketball, wears cowboy hats, and his name is Chris. What do YOU think?

Chris Bosh.

Not a Jew.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Profile: Chaim Soutine


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=481

Speaking of Chaims, we really need to profile Chaim Potok at some point.

Soutine was suggested by Andy from California and Adam from Toronto.

Weird Search: February 22

Frank Sinatra.

Not a Jew.

A perfect score on ItalianOrNotItalian.com... not on our site.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Profile: Pointy-Haired Boss


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=480

We get A LOT of requests in our suggestion box. Many, many of them become profiles. And many fall by the wayside. (Say, if someone asks us to profile their college professor. Or their co-worker. Or a relatively unknown model/actress. (Actually, scratch that last one.))

Yet sometimes, we get interesting suggestions that don't seem to go anywhere. I mean, we really really really need a link to something Jewish to make it into a profile.

And then, there are these rare cases, when there doesn't seem to be a Jewish connection, but the suggester helps us by pointing us in the right direction.

Thank you, Amy from Alaska!

Weird Search: February 21

Surprisingly, we've profiled two popes. But the current one, the former Nazi youth?

Pope Benedict XVI.

Not a Jew.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Profile: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=478

Reader Sam from Israel suggested this one. And since we're talking about Turkey today, I just want to add that I love, love, LOVE Iskender Kebap.


What, it's not Kosher?... Oops.

Weird Search: February 20

James Dean.

Not a Jew.

See, see, dear readers (especially you, Mrs. Yakov). "Equal opportunity". "Decent male postage". Etc.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Profile: Al Jolson


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=479

I remember when I learned about "The Jazz Singer" in my American history class in high school and the teacher made sure to point out how horrible it was because of its use of blackface. Well, maybe he should have done the research on exactly how much Jolson did for black people. But he was too busy coaching the track team... The high school teacher, not Al.

Weird Search: February 19

You're gonna search for Clint Eastwood on JONJ, you better be feeling pretty lucky. Well, do you feel lucky, punk? Do you?

Clint Eastwood.

Not a Jew.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Profile: Seth Green


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=477

For those who don't know, vildechaya is Yiddish for wild animal.

Weird Search: February 18

Joseph Goebbels.

Not a Jew.

66 years ago today, Goebbels delivered the Sportpalast speech. So, yeah, not a Jew. Come on, searchers.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Jews in the News: Shahar Peer



We don't really follow tennis, so we never heard of Israeli Shahar Peer until this week. (Turns one she's been ranked as high as 15th in the World. Made a couple of Grand Slam quarterfinals. So she's pretty good.)

But she's not in the news for her prowess, but rather because the United Arab Emirates are denying her a visa to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships. In response, some sponsors are pulling out. The Tennis Channel is no longer broadcasting the tournament.

But the Emiratians... Emiratis? Emirs? Emireks? defend their actions. They claim it was done to protect her.

As if.

They just don't want a Jewish woman winning on Emirate soil.

Profile: Nero


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=476

The Jew Or Not Jew historical archives go fairly far back, though our copies get a little scattered before 1700 or so. The Nero scroll is one of the earliest we have. It's much easier to post more recent issues like this one.

Really, though, it's just an honor to be able to carry on this centuries-old responsibility for our people and we hope to do another reprint in the near future.

Weird Search: February 17

Salma Hayek.

Not a Jew.

OK, OK, OK, I promise, I'll stop tomorrow...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Profile: Man Ray


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=475

Off to shave the hair from the right side of my face... Don't want to be a copycat, after all.

Weird Search: February 16

Carla Bruni.

Not a Jew.

First Lady of France, ladies and gentlemen. First Lady of France. Married to Nicolas Sarkozy, of course.

Can you imagine a similar picture from Laura Bush or Michelle Obama?

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Profile: Alex Winter


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=474

Keanu is up for another sequel! But will Alex be available?...

Weird Search: February 15

Back to chicks... what else did you expect?

Nicole Kidman.

Not a Jew.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Profile: Tim Geithner


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=473

Another victim of a chain email... Thanks to multiple-time suggester Alexandra from Michigan for alerting us.

Weird Search: February 14

Yakov's wife is complaining that recently we've had too many slutty chicks in our blog, with not enough slutty men to balance them out.

Here you go, Mrs. Yakov.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Not a Jew.

I chose not to go with the shirtless photo... for my sake.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Profile: David Levy Yulee


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=472

Reader Guillaume from Las Vegas requested a profile of Yulee a while back. We were originally going to make it part of Politics Week to coincide with the Election, but then decided against that whole idea. Still, once again, better late than never!

Weird Search: February 13

Shakira.

Not a Jew.

She learned belly dancing from her Lebanese grandmother. Yep, not a Jew.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Profile: Rachel Green


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=471

Some days just get you down. Life just piles on. The train is delayed. The weather is ice-to-the-bone cold. A 15 minute meeting turns into a three hour slugfest. And you wonder. Why? Why do I do this? Why do I even bother getting out of bed in the morning?

Then you spend all day researching and writing about the potential Judaism of an attractive, fictional character.

And life is good again.

Weird Search: February 12

Naomi Campbell.

Not a Jew.

A good profile for ChineseOrNotChinese.com... or PsychoBitchOrNotPsychoBitch.com.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Profile: Joan Rivers


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=470

Four months ago, UK reader Richard asked us to profile Joan Rivers. We were reluctant to do so... she ceased being interesting decades ago. I mean, she's about to appear on Celebrity Apprentice! Brrrr.

Then, I got the idea for the above "interactive" profile. A big thanks to Jesse Ruderman for allowing us to use his code!

Weird Search: February 11

Weird Search revoked: May 1, 2009.


Paul McCartney.

Not a Jew.

Ringo, on the other hand... well, not really a Jew, but... read the profile.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Jews in the News: Esti Ginzburg


We were looking for Valentine's Day gifts for our wives when we ran into this from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for 2009.

Ms. Ginzburg's from Tel Aviv and this is her first SI appearance. There's not enough to write about for a profile, but we thought we'd share.

It's just too bad that's not a menorah she's holding.

Profile: Benny Friedman


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=469

So, supposedly the reason it took Friedman so long to make it to the Hall of Fame is because he campaigned for induction. So they had to wait until the guy has been dead for over 20 years? What bullfeces.

Thanks to reader Zachary from Rochester, NY for the suggestion.

Weird Search: February 10

Let's get this done once and for all.

Osama Bin Laden.

Not a Jew.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Profile: Elizabeth Taylor


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=468

Not being familiar with Liz Taylor's earlier work, I remember watching "Cat on the Hot Tin Roof" in high school and wondering, how can that (see above) turn into... that.



Another one that was suggested by multiple readers, including Judy from California and Nason from Ohio.

Weird Search: February 9

Nicolas Cage.

Not a Jew.

He is Francis Ford Coppolla's nephew, not Steven Spielberg's.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Profile: Warren Buffett


http://www.jewornotjew.com/profile.jsp?ID=467

A few readers have asked us to profile Buffett, including Thomas from Romania, Carlos from California, and Phil from Germany. So how can we say no to all those requests?

Weird Search: February 8

SpongeBob SquarePants.

Not a Jew.

Now, if someone ever makes GayOrNotGay.com, Spongebob would make a top profile. Him and that Tellytubby.