Jerry Seinfeld Says Israelis Are ‘All or Nothing’ People

Seinfeld Image by Getty Images
Jerry Seinfeld told “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah that Israelis are “all or nothing.”
On the show Wednesday night, Noah opened his conversation with Seinfeld, 61, by asking about his recent trip to Israel, his first time performing there.
“The audiences were amazing,” Seinfeld said. “Israelis, everything you ask them is either ‘It’s no problem, it’s no problem’ or ‘No, it’s impossible.’ There’s nothing in between.”
Later in the conversation, as Seinfeld was reflecting on being in his 60s, Noah returned to Seinfeld’s remarks about Israel, saying, “It sounds like in your 60s you become Israeli. It’s impossible to turn around.”
Seinfeld did four shows in Tel Aviv in December, all of which sold out. The American Jewish comedian, who starred in the eponymous hit TV show in the 1990s, last visited Israel in 2007 when he was promoting “The Bee Movie.” In 1971, he volunteered on an Israeli kibbutz.
READ: What does Trevor Noah think about Israel?
Noah replaced longtime host Jon Stewart in September. Soon after his appointment was announced in March, the South African comedian came under fire from Jewish groups for past tweets about Jews and Israel, including one from 2010 that read “South Africans know how to recycle like Israel knows how to be peaceful.”
Stewart, who is Jewish, also was criticized on occasion for his comments critical of Israel.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.

