Rob Reiner uses Yiddish word ‘kokhlefl’ in Emmys tribute to Jewish comedy legend Norman Lear
Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers on a mock set for the sitcom “All in the Family,” during a tribute to Norman Lear at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles. Photo by Getty Images
(JTA) — To fete the creator of the TV series that made him famous, Jewish actor and director Rob Reiner turned to Yiddish during the Emmys on Monday night.
Reiner was paying tribute to Norman Lear, the Jewish creator of pioneering TV comedies who died last month at 101. Reiner came to prominence for his role as Michael Stivic on All in the Family, one of the shows that Lear created.
“There’s a Yiddish word that describes Norman’s genius: It’s kokhlefl,” Reiner said. “For all you non-Jews out there, kokhlefl is a ladle, a ladle that stirs the pot. And when Norman the kokhlefl stirred that pot, he wound up changing American culture.”
Reiner, 76, is the son of Carl Reiner, a comedy legend who died in 2020. He is a producer on a forthcoming documentary about the rise of Christian nationalism, which he has denounced.
The Emmys were delayed by last year’s Hollywood strikes, so some shows that finished airing more than a year ago were up for prizes. Two shows about Jewish families, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Fleishman is in Trouble, had been nominated for multiple awards but were shut out.
Watch Rukhl Schaechter, the Forward’s Yiddish editor, explain kokhlefl and related words:
This article originally appeared on JTA.org.
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