1

From Family Guy S12E12

(Outside synagogue)

Stewie: So, where do they think they go when they die?

Brian: Well, you should try asking the rabbi. Although, I should warn you, you might not get an answer.

(Inside synagogue with rabbi)

Stewie: So, where do Jewish people think they go when they die?

Rabbi: Where do you think we go?

Stewie: Well, I don't know. That's why I'm asking you.

Rabbi: Why do you think you're asking all these questions?

Stewie: I-I just, I just really want to know what happens.

Rabbi: Do you think that's part of God's infinite plan?

Stewie: I think your whole religion is a sham, just so you can get extra holidays off from work.

Rabbi: Oop, gotta go. It's Buchwuch.

I think I get the joke of the last 2 lines, but before that, the rabbi answers Stewie's questions with questions. Lots of religious, theological or philosophical professionals do this even if they're atheists or agnostics. Is this seeming stereotype about Jews or rabbis somehow based on Judaism?

Asked on meta: Are questions on jokes, humour, fiction or pop culture allowed?

Improve this question
4
  • @mbloch Edited post based on meta: judaism.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5355/…
    – BCLC
    Commented Dec 11, 2020 at 14:32
  • 1
    "Responding to questions with questions" does two good things : [1.] It satisfies the inquirer, because people like knowing they have been heard. [2.] It filters out unnecessary data in order to return the answer the inquirer needs.
    – חִידָה
    Commented Dec 11, 2020 at 19:08
  • 1
    Questions about family guy seem off topic to me. This isn't really about Judaism
    – Dude
    Commented Nov 17 at 11:05
  • @Dude This post was motivated by something the author saw in pop culture, but it's clearly a question about Judaism. See the meta post linked above for history.
    – Isaac Moses ♦
    Commented Nov 17 at 14:58

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

@BCLC I suggest that the better source than the Jews Love Questions article is Leo Rosten's wonderful The Joys of Yiddish in which he "not only confirmed this syntax as a specifically Jewish trait, but viewed “the question” as one way to distinguish between Jew and Gentile! Questioning, deriving from Talmudic debate . . ."

Improve this answer
3
0

Finally after 3.5 years I think I found it? Is this what Wikipedia says?

A common stereotype is that the Jews answer a question with a question. It is used in Jewish humor and in ordinary literature when it is required to paint a character as a "typical Jew".

Is this the source that Wikipedia cites?

Jews Love Questions March 3, 2011 | by Marnie Winston-Macauley

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    The question was "Is this seeming stereotype about Jews or rabbis somehow based on Judaism?" I'm not sure how this answers the question.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented May 27, 2022 at 12:53
  • @DoubleAA Negatively? Or idk. Devil's proof otherwise.
    – BCLC
    Commented May 27, 2022 at 18:48

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .