Robin Williams’ Most Jewish Moments

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky

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Robin Williams wasn’t Jewish. But he was close.

Though raised Episcopalian in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (his mother was a Christian Scientist), the comedian had an affinity for Jews which shaped and even defined many of the roles he took on. He used Yiddish, danced a mean hora and did a killer Barbra Streisand impression.

With his death — in the words of Steve Martin (also not Jewish — but, come on) — we have lost a “mensch, a great talent and genuine soul.”

I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.

— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) August 11, 2014

Let’s take a look at Robin WIlliams most Jewish moments.

1) Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin does “Fiddler”

2) The Crazy Ones: “Rabbi Robin” hosts a bar mitzvah

Thanks, everyone! #CrazyOnes #zachmitzvah pic.twitter.com/AGUXND97Gq

— Robin Williams (@robinwilliams) February 28, 2014

3) Standup: Why Jesus was a Jew

4) Schaudenfreude! (And a Holocaust joke for good measure)

5) Jakob the Liar: Robin played Polish-Jewish shopkeeper Jakob

6) The Bible (according to Robin)