Robin Williams’ Most Jewish Moments

Image by Twitter

By Rachel X. Landes August 12, 2014

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)

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