Posted on 11/29/2006 11:16:53 PM PST by ChicagoHebrew
Michael Richards is not a Jew.
As Cosmo Kramer in "Seinfeld," Richards played one on TV. But he himself is not Jewish -- not that there's anything wrong with that.
Richards lashed out a heckler at the Laugh Factory last Friday, spitting out the "N" word without humor and with abandon. Audience members booed, several walked out, then Richards himself walked off stage.
The incident was caught on a cellphone camera and posted at the TMZ.com Web site, where it ignited a firestorm of criticism against Richards. Richards apologized on "The Late Show With David Letterman" Monday night. "I was at a comedy club trying to do my act, and I got heckled, and I took it badly and went into a rage," he said. "For me to be in a comedy club and flip out and say this crap, I'm deeply, deeply sorry. I'm not a racist. That's what's so insane about this."
Fellow comedians and fans have been quick to criticize Richards -- and misrepresent his religious background. Comedian Paul Rodriquez held a press conference at the Laugh Factory, saying that Richards should know better, because the Hollywood community defended Jews against actor Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirades.
The implication was that Richards, a Jew, should not be launching racist attacks. He shouldn't, but he also isn't Jewish.
"Someone needs to tell Rodriquez that Michael isn't a Jew," said a television director who has known Richards for years. The two worked together in 1980 on ABC's "Fridays" television show and have remained in touch ever since.
According to sources familiar with Richards, the actor was raised I no specific religious tradition. "He does not have Jewish blood," said New York publicist Howard Rubenstein, who Richards retained to help manage his PR nightmare.
Rubenstein created some confusion over Richards' heritage when he told the press that the actor is indeed Jewish. "He's Jewish," Rubenstein is quoted as saying to Yahoo news.
In a telephone interview with The Jewish Journal, Rubenstein clarified that Richards was not born Jewish and never converted to Judaism. "He believes in Judaism, and that's what he's adopted for himself," said Rubenstein
According to traditional Jewish law, a Jew is any person whose mother was a Jew or any person who has gone through the formal process of conversion to Judaism.
Liberal streams of Judaism also recognize as Jewish a person born of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother. By any of these definitions, Richards is not technically Jewish, as Rubenstein acknowledged. "He identifies strongly with [Judaism]," the publicist said.
A biography of Richards on the Wikipedia web site lists no religion, but does say Richards is very involved in the Masons. Masonry is not a religion but Masons do subscribe to a set of ethical precepts.
"Seinfeld" was Richards' first big break after a long and unlikely rise to stardom.
According to Wikipedia, Richards was born in Culver City to Phyllis (nee Nardozzi), a medical records librarian. He was raised by Nardozzi and William Richards, an electrical engineer. "Richards attended California Institute of the Arts but received a bachelor's degree in drama from Evergreen State College in 1975.
He was drafted during the Vietnam War and stationed in Germany, as one of the co-directors of the V Corps Training Road Show. He produced and directed shows dealing with race relations and drug abuse. He then spent two years in the Army developing educational skits and a couple more years 'finding himself' at a commune in the Santa Clara Mountains. He drove a bus and developed a stand-up comedy act in 1979," according to the Web site.
In "Seinfeld," which aired from 1989-1998, Richards played Kramer, a character based on show co-creator Larry David's former across-the-hall neighbor, Kenny Kramer. The real Kramer is indeed of Jewish heritage -- not that there's anything wrong with that.
Richards did appear Sep. 14 at the Laugh Factory's evening of Jewish comics, called, "The King Davids of Comedy." However, the management made it clear at the time that Richards and the other major comic at the event, Louis CK, were not part of that evening's themed show, and that no photography would be permitted during their sets.
Following Richard's racist remarks, Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada posted this message on the company's Web site: "We do not support or condone the inappropriate, hurtful and offensive comments that Mr. Richards made on Friday night at the Laugh Factory.
"Mr. Richards was scheduled to appear on Saturday night and had informed management of his intention to apologize for his hurtful and unprofessional outburst from the previous night. He failed to do so and disappointed us.
"We have made it clear that Mr. Richards is no longer welcomed here. The Laugh Factory is a comedy club not a forum for personal attacks."
Laugh Factory owner Masada is Jewish.
Confusion over Richards' heritage grew after the Anti-Defamation League issued a press release Monday denouncing the actor's tirade.
"Richards' repeated use of the 'n-word' and apparent reference to lynching is offensive in any context. There is no excuse for such insensitive and bigoted language. It has no place in a comedy club and no place in America and must be clearly repudiated," the release said.
"We hope Mr. Richards will now take a public stand against appeals to racism and bigotry and publicly apologize for his poor judgment in shouting them from the stage."
The release did not address Richard's own religion. In the past, the ADL has regularly taken public stances against instances of racism unrelated to anti-Semitism.
Reminds me of the old dracula parody where Dr. Van Helsing changes his name to "Rubinstein" for professional reasons, so he can fit in better with all the other doctors.
Ping to you.
I guess the joke's on us. So many people I've heard just
assumed Richards eas Jewish because of Seinfeld.
Whose baiting whom?
Hmm.
So is Judaism a religion or ethnic group? If Richards believes in Judaism and lives according to the laws of Judaism then what should he call himself, a Hindu?
Masons seem a bit suspicious because of their secretiveness, whether or not some of the founding fathers were Masons.
Remember when John Kerry revealed he has Jewish roots? At about the same time, he suffered from prostate cancer
and made a successful recovery. People wondered if he
would make the annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast in
South Boston. He did show up, and joked, "Hey, who said
I didn't have the matzoh balls to show up here?"
http://www2.jsonline.com/election2000/ap/mar03/ap-kerry-irish031803.asp
Most accurately, Judaism is a nationality -- like being American, British or French. You can "convert" to a nationality by being nationalized (i.e. going through the process of getting citizenship), but you must meet the requirements the nation imposes on you.
Richards wasn't born into Am Yisrael (the People of Israel), so he didn't have "citizenship" from birth. And Richards never converted, so he never acquired citizenship. Richards claiming to be Jewish is, roughly speaking, like sort of like a Frenchman claiming to be American despite not having American parents or ever getting American citizenship.
Masonry is Absolutely Not a "religion."
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmgh.
<< Agree with the hmm, but there are (millions) of Christian Masons, Hindu Masons and (hundreds of thousands) of Jewish masons.
Masons seem a bit suspicious because of their secretiveness, (despite that many) of (our nation's) Founding Fathers were Masons. >>
Masons are not "secretive" and any man who believes in One God may qualify to become one. Thus there are also many muslim Masons.
But Masons are frequently misrepresented and are consequentially much maligned and/or defamed.
Hmmmmm?
When you feel like the only kid in town without a x-mas tree, heres a list of People who are jewish, just like you and me:
David lee roth lights the menorrah,
So do james caan, kirk douglas, and the late dinah shore-ah
Guess who eats together at the karnickey deli,
Bowzer from sha-na-na, and arthur fonzerrelli.
Paul newmans half jewish; goldie hawns half too,
Put them together--what a fine lookin jew!
You dont need deck the halls or jingle bell rock
Cause you can spin the dreidl with captain kirk and mr. spock--both jewish!
Put on your yalmulka, its time for hanukkah,
The owner of the seattle super sonic-ahs celebrates hanukkah.
O.j. simpson-- not a jew!
But guess who is...hall of famerrod carew--(he converted!)
We got ann landers and her sister dear abby,
Harrison fords a quarter jewish--not too shabby!
Some people think that ebeneezer scrooge is,
Well, hes not, but guess who is:all three stooges.
So many jews are in show biz--
Tom cruise isnt, but I heard his agent is.
Michael Richards has even made the claim,
but now we're wondering about his fame
Tell your friend veronica, its time you celebrate hanukkah
I hope I get a harmonica, on this lovely, lovely hanukkah.
I'm not one of those who malign masons.
If you define religion as who God is and what is man's relationship to God, then Masonry is a religion. Very obviously so.
With the exception, I believe, of Southern Baptist, mainstream Christian Churches see Masonry as contrary to their creed. I'm Roman Catholic and it is not condoned in our church.
I realize that for many Masons, it is a fraternal-only, social committment. But if one studies and believes its principles and theology, one is part of a religion.
thanks for your reply.
Sorry, my last post was to you also...
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemason
While Wikipedia is not the most accurate of sources (whether or not it compares with the Encyclopaedia Britannica), is does show the common perceptions, in this case, of masons.
<< The fact is though, whether it is the case or not, that Masons are known for being secretive. >>
The fact is that FReemasons are absolutely not secretive.
The other fact is that FReemasons are often maligned by folks quite willing to lie bur unwilling to acknowledge and/or to accept their own ignorance.
<< If you define religion as who God is and what is man's relationship to God, then Masonry is a religion. Very obviously so. >>
Rubbish. A man's relationship to his God and/or his religious beliefs are never discussed among Masons. Nor are his politics.
Masonry, whose principles and tenets (It has no "theology") were included by the Masons who drafted them in this nation's founding Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights is an anonymous fraternity.
There are Masons are of every religion on Earth and most Christian churches, including your own, are very well represented by cardinals and bishops and priests and by other members of their clergy and congregations in lodges throughout the land and throughout the world:.
Personally, when I started my conversion process, RCIA, I asked if there was anything that I should disclose that would prevent my confirmation. The only question asked in reply was "Are you a Mason?"
From an official source, here's the most recent Vatican decree on the matter:
Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on November 26, 1983.Time permitting, I address your other point tomorrow.It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.
This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance is due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.
Therefore the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 [1981] pp. 240-241).
In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this Declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.
Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.
JOSEPH Card. RATZINGER
Prefect+ Fr. JEROME HAMER, O.P.
Titular Archbishop of Lorium Secretary
thanks for your reply.
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