Dr. Zoidberg: An ongoing crack about Judiasm

[:]

My brother commented about Dr. Zoidberg having a very steryotypical voice of a Jewish Rabbi.  I disagreed, thinking that he was just meant to sound like a weird water-creature.  But then he realized that a lot of Jewish names end in "berg".

So he consulted the interweb.  In turns out, a Zoidberg is a Jewish person who does not Koshure.  (Koshure being that the Jews may not eat shellfish or pork).  Also, Dr. Zoidberg is a shellfish!

Dr. Zoidberg is a crack at Judiasm! Whooda thunk?

[#1 :]

What are you, meshuga?

[#2 :]

Also, it's kosher. It's more a crack at Jewish stereotypes, than the actual religion.

[#3 :]

 

Originally posted by Teral:

It says it all.

[#4 :]

I have to agree with Teral and Spacedal. I just wanted to mention you forgot that his full name is 'Dr. John Zoidberg. It just sounds Jewish to me. I wouldn't know that actual reference, if any.

[#5 :]

As has been said earlier, I don't think he's a crack at Judaism, just a stereotypical Jew (although not too many crustaceans would consider themselves Jewish).

[#6 :]

More proof:

In the silent movie era, Jewish comediens and writers woul oftn take the "berg" of of the end of their name, as some people woul refuse to watch something made by Jews.  Zoidberg's long lot uncle from the "silent hologram" era was just Harold Zoid.

In "Fry and the Slurm Factory", Zoidberg is wearing a shirt in the gift shop that reads "Enjoy Slurm" in Hebrew.

[#7 :]

Yes.  We got it.  He's Jewish.  And almost entirely stereotypical except for the whole dirt poor part.

[#8 :]

and the fact that we never see him celebrate.

but he might not be as he celebrated xmas which i thought jews never celebrate.

[#9 :]

 

Originally posted by Andy1234:
but he might not be as he celebrated xmas which i thought jews never celebrate.

He's not Jewish, he just act Jewish.

[#10 :]

I've never got the "Zoidberg is Jewish" jokes... I guess it's not a Jewish stereotype so much as an American Jewish stereotype.

I've known Jewish people here and I've never met any like that.

[#11 :]

It's more a "Jewish person whose ancestors immigrated to New York from Eastern Europe around 1900" stereotype than anything else.

[#12 :]

Maybe the first Earthling to land on Decapod 10 had that kind of accent, so that's where they learned English...

[#13 :]

I'm surprised no one seems to notice that Leela's parents are Jewish characters or that they live in a place similiar to the Warsaw ghetto.

[#14 :]

I dont think he sounds Jewish at all :P
In a commentary on one of the episodes Billy West reveals where he got the voice for Zoidberg for, and I dont remember him saying it was anything remotely Jewish. So no, he's just paranoid.

[#15 :]

Leela'a parents never seemed Jewish to me. They had accents that i know i heard in New England somewhere i just can't remember where.

[#16 :]

It's more of a New York Jewish accent and Leela's mom is a sort of classic "Jewish Mother" type character. Hey, listen to Seinfeld vs. Becker sometime. New England accents are quite a bit different, not that you wouldn't find New Yorkers or Jews in New England. And, well, heavens, Leela is voiced by Katie Segal. Although that might be a stage name I think it would be ah, in character.

Leela was probably brought up in the religion of the Cookieville Orphanarium. If it is a state run facility there might not be one.

[#17 :]

Ummm, in one of the DVD commentaries David X. Cohen(I think) said that the name of Dr. Zoidberg came from a game that he wasted time programming for the Apple II called "Zoid". Don't know if he was trying to cover for anti-semitism or not but...

I have an old Apple II laying around in the basement. Perhaps I should try to get a copy of this so called Zoid.

[#18 :]

The point I'm trying to make is that it's not anti-semitism it's self-satirization.

[#19 :]

I dont think Zoidberg is Jewish, I think its just a conincidence, also if he was Jewish why would we have been kicked out of that Botmitzha?

[#20 :]

 

Originally posted by Dr.Jerkbird:
I dont think Zoidberg is Jewish, I think its just a conincidence, also if he was Jewish why would we have been kicked out of that Botmitzha?

As the old robot said: "No shellfish!"

Also if you remember from "Fry and The Slurm Factory" Zoidberg bought a t-shirt with Jewish writing.

[#21 :]

You guys are wearing me out. I need a prescription for some deep fat and nicotine.

[#22 :]

 

Originally posted by parasite?:
Ummm, in one of the DVD commentaries David X. Cohen(I think) said that the name of Dr. Zoidberg came from a game that he wasted time programming for the Apple II called "Zoid". Don't know if he was trying to cover for anti-semitism or not but...

Bite thy tongue, oh parasitic one!  David Cohen anti-semitic? 

As Harlan Ellison once said in a similar situation, "Some of my best friends are Jewish.  Like my mother.  My father.  Me."

 

[#23 :]

sorry once again couldn't find the log-in button...

[#24 :]

I never got any of the Jewish references, cool!

[#25 :]

 

Originally posted by Shiny:
 Bite thy tongue, oh parasitic one!  David Cohen anti-semitic? 

As Harlan Ellison once said in a similar situation, "Some of my best friends are Jewish.  Like my mother.  My father.  Me."

   

Hey, Hitler's mother was Jewish... 'course then again he was beyond insane.

[#26 :]

It was his grandfather, and it's possible he (the grandfather) was Jewish, but not certain.

Anyway, do you really think Matt Groening would hang out with someone who was racist?

[#27 :]

I doubt he's actually meant to be Jewish, I think it's just a series of continuous jokes.

[#28 :]

Of course they take shots at Jews. I mean look at Robanukah.

[#29 :]

They are just a few jokes that make the decapodian race look jewish, for instance the reference when zoidberg tells his mom he wants to be a comedian and she says "sure you can be a comdeian if you want should your grandparents roll over in their grave" (or something to that effect) then when he goes off to medical school she says "sure you can be a doctor, if youve given up on your dream of being a comedian" (again, not a perfect quote) but the point is, that this is a crack at many immagrants, look at the movie Harold and Kumar, when Kumar's dad wants him to be a doctor...and so on and so on. These jokes arent entirely racist, just a little poke at some traditions

[#30 :]

I'm surprised no-one has mensioned the freedom dancethat seemed very jewish to me perhaps zoidburg is futurama's version of krusty the clown

[#31 :]

Until this thread I knew nothin' about Judiasm, I think Zoidberg aint jewish, but theres jokes about him and Judiasm

[#32 :]

I thought the freedom dance was Russian...

[#33 :]

You guys need to check out some common Yiddish expressions. Oy.

[#34 :]

i see...

[#35 :]

No you don't.

I would like to point out that the thread title makes it appear that the idea of Zoidberg is anti-semitic.

Oh, and expanding upon Shiny's point of David Cohen, not only is Cohen a name of Jewish background, but so is David. The Jewish Messiah is meant to rule after King David. I even read it in the Old Testament.

Incidentally, a name doesn't neccessarily mean anything. Besides, the only thing to worry about is if any of the Jewish people were offended by these things that you've all stated, and so far, I haven't heard any complaining.

Except by me. About the Thread Title. But that's it, as of yet.

[#36 :]

I think it would only be offensive if it was felt that it was something to be ashamed of or that the characters were seen as diminished in some way.

[#37 :]

Like most American comedy's, especially cartoons such as Family Guy, South park and Simpsons, they have a character who behaves in a typically Jewish steroetype way and normally is one of the minor character stars of the show.
Zoidberg may be the funniest yet!
Anywho, a few of the writers may be from a Jewish background and they create a character based on past experiences they have had.

[#38 :]

This topped off with the question about Smither's sexuality compounds my lack of faith in humanity.

[#39 :]

 

Originally posted by ebotron:
I'm surprised no-one has mensioned the freedom dancethat seemed very jewish to me...

You don't know many Jews, do you?

Now the dancing at the Bot-mitzvah was adopted from traditional Jewish dances, and the music from the end of "FoaBP" had a distinctly Yiddish feel to it.  I don't think these were "shots" at Jewish culture in the least bit.  That would be like saying that Fry is obviously a Christian (or Western European) stereotype.  He may be, but it's not the defining element of his character.  Zoidberg may be Jewish (or whatever the post-"second coming of Jesus" term is), but it's a part of who he is, not why he is there.