Anti-Semitism and "Mad Men"

Anti-Semitism is alive and well at Sterling Cooper Draper Price. The hit show "Mad Man" was created by Matthew Weiner, a Jew from a wealthy and prominent family. He wanted to show how discrimination against Jews and other minorities was an accepted practice in the business world during the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

I think the exception is Don Draper (Jon Hamm), who has a gift for engaging with characters who are on the periphery of society. In Season 1, Don Draper had an affair with a department store heiress named Rachel Menken (Maggie Siff). Rachel hires Sterling Cooper wants to expand business beyond the concentrated crowd of affluent Jews. Don tells her intimate details of his life that he hasn't shared with his wife. He suggests that they run away to Los Angeles together, but Rachel things that he is running way from his life and they break up. Don encounters Rachel once during season 2, but she is now Mrs. Katz. Don identifies with Rachel because he too is an outsider. He comes from a poor, humble background in contrast with all the wealthy WASP "suits" of the agency. His colleagues are all self-centered and oblivious to the world around them. No wonder Megan (the current Mrs. Draper) left.

Jane Siegel (Peyton List) is Don's secretary during season 2 and begins an affair with Roger Sterling (John Slattery), who is probably the most prejudiced person (save for Pete Cambell) in the entire firm. By season 3, they are married. Jane is much younger than Roger and just two years older than his daughter, Margaret. After their ill-fated LSD trip during season 5, they realize their marriage is stagnant and mutually agree to get divorced.

Now the show has entered the mid-1960s and the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. This season, SCDP hired Michael Ginsberg (Ben Feldman), their first Jewish copywriter. I should also note here that the agency hired its first African-American employee, a secretary named Dawn. Michael lives with his adoptive father Morris, who told him that he was born in a concentration camp. Morris found Michael in a Swedish orphanage and legally adopted him.  In Sunday's episode of the show, Bert Cooper (Robert Morse) asks Roger to pitch a campaign for Monarch Wines (which specializes in Kosher wine) because he still thinks that Roger is married to Jane.. Roger takes it because he really needs a win right now. He enlists Ginsberg to create copy for Monarch Wines. Roger then confides to Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) that he picked Ginsberg only because he is a Jew. Also, he asks Jane to pose as his wife in order to win over the client.  She agrees, only on the condition that he buy her a new apartment. Roger, of course, drops a few anti-Semitic jokes into the mix:

Roger to Cooper: "How Jewish are they? You know, "Fiddler on the Roof," audience or cast?"


Roger to Ginsberg: "They used to make wine for Jews and now they want to make wine for normal people." Roger, Roger, Roger, when will you ever learn? 


Jane gets her comeuppance against Roger: "You suddenly don't have a problem telling them I'm Jewish?"

BTW, Kosher wine is awful. Avoid drinking it at all costs! 


And Ben Feldman is a hottie who has earned his spot on "Mad Men"!

A Short Vacation in the Catskills, Part 1

Hi there! I wasn't feeling well for the last couple of weeks but now I'm back.

It's almost summer and in glory days, it would have been time for families to head up to their bungalows in the Catskills and for kids to go to camp. Here are some jokes to take you back to those times, and to get your week going as well:

5772: Year according to Jewish calendar

4709: Year according to Chinese calendar

1063: Total number of years that Jews went without Chinese food

* * *

What did the waiter ask the group of dining Jewish mothers?

"Is ANYTHING all right?"

* * *

How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb?

(Sigh) Don't bother, I'll sit in the dark, I don't want to be a nuisance to anybody.

* * *

Sam Levy was driving down the road, gets pulled over by a policeman. Walking up to Sam's car, the policeman says, “Your wife fell out of the car 5 miles back.” Sam replies, “Thank G-d for that. . . . I thought I'd gone deaf!”

* * *

Short summary of every Jewish Holiday: “They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat.”

* * *

Did you hear about the bum who walked up to the Jewish mother on the street and said, “Lady, I haven't eaten in three days.”

To which she replied: “Force yourself.”

* * *

What's the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish Mother?

Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.

* * *

A young Jewish man calls his mother and says,

“Mom, I'm bringing home a wonderful woman I want to marry.”

She's a Native American and her name is “Shooting Star.”

“How nice,” says his mother. “I have an Indian name too,” he says.

“It's Running Water” and you have to call me that from now on.”

“How nice” says his mother.

“You have to have an Indian name too, Mom,” he says.

“I already do," says the mother. "Just call me Sitting Shiva.”

* * *

A man calls his mother in Florida. “Mom, how are you?”

“Not too good," says the mother. "I've been very weak.”

The son says, “Why are you so weak?”

She says, “Because I haven't eaten in 38 days.”

The man says, “That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?”

The mother answers, “Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call.”

* * *

Jewish view on when life begins: There's a big controversy on when life begins. In Jewish tradition the fetus is not considered viable until after it graduates from medical school.

* * *

A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he's been given a part in the school play.

“Wonderful.  What part is it?”

The boy says, “I play the part of the Jewish husband.”

The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part.”

* * *

Jewish telegram: “Begin worrying.  Details to follow.”

* * *

 Coming this week: A Tribute to Adam Yauch (RIP), Anti-Semitism on "Mad Men".