Put on Your Yarmulke...

By Sarah Goldfarb
Penn State

Although it may not be the most politically correct song, no one can resist singing along to Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song." Ever wondered whether Sandler's song is factually correct? I dug up the truth on the Jewish roots of the stars mentioned in his festive song.

"David Lee Roth lights the Menorah" -- Although it may be a surprise that the former lead singer of Van Halen was in touch with his Jewish roots, in his 1998 autobiography, "Crazy From the Heat," Roth said that much of his band-life style and energy came from fury over anti-Semitism and an urge to crush Jewish stereotypes. Who would have thought that someone who sang "Hot For Teacher" had such socially conscious thoughts?

"So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas and the late Dinah Shore-ah" -- Caan, best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, was born in 1940 to German-Jewish immigrants in The Bronx. According to online almanac infoplease.com, he is a horse-and rodeo-enthusiast, which has earned him the nickname "The Jewish Cowboy." I always thought that was an oxymoron.... Kirk Douglas, who was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky, said that as a teenage boy his family and neighbors wanted him to become a rabbi. In an interview on aish.com, he talked about how he lost touch of his religious side until later in his life after he survived a helicopter crash. Dinah Shore grew up in the '20s in Tennessee and often found herself taunted for being Jewish in the non-Jewish world of the segregated Deep South, according to her biography. That didn't stop her from becoming one of the most successful stars of early television.

"Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli, Bowzer from Sha-na-na and Arthur Fonzarelli" -- For such a stupid band name (Sha-na-na) and an ever stupider pseudonym (Bowzer), Jon Bauman is a very smart Jew: He went to Juilliard and graduated from Columbia. Henry Winkler, who played "Happy Days" star "the Fonz," told the Jewish Journal that his secret weapon to getting through his career highs and lows was his Jewish upbringing. He has devoted much of his free time to social causes, both Jewish and secular.

"'Cause you can spin the dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock -- both Jewish" -- Captain Kirk, who is played by the famous William Shatner, has recently reconnected with his Jewish roots. He and his wife have made several trips to Israel and contribute to the Jewish National Fund, according to its Web site. Another Star Trek favorite, Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is openly connected with the Jewish community. Nimoy practices Reform Judaism, acted in "Fiddler on The Roof" and has narrated several Jewish documentaries, according to Wikipedia.

"The owner of the Seattle Super sonic-ahs celebrates Hanukkah" -- Howard Schultz is one successful businessman -- not only does he own the Sonics, but Schultz is the chairman of Starbucks. Schultz is very active and vocal in the Seattle Jewish community and has raised a lot of money to protect Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks, according to The New York Times.

"… But guess who is … Hall of Famer Rod Carew -- (he converted)" -- Carew, a former Minnesota Twins and California Angels player, allegedly received death threats after he announced his intention to marry a Jewish woman, much like Sammy Davis, Jr. Carew is from Panama. According to baseball-reference.com, Carew never actually converted, but his children were raised Jewish.

"We get Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby" -- The column queens -- twins Ann and Abby -- both grew up in a strict Jewish household and were daughters of Russian immigrants. Wondering why their names don't sound too Jewish? Ann's real name was Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer and Abby's is Pauline Esther Friedman, according to Chicago.about.com.

So when you're the only kid in town without a Christmas tree, here's a detailed list of people who are Jewish, just like you and me.

Sarah Goldfarb, who is originally from Ithaca, N.Y., is finishing up her senior year at Penn State where she is majoring in journalism and political science. Sarah is a member of Penn State Hillel, spends long hours at her college newspaper and wishes to soon find a copy editing job that hopefully pays well (an oxymoron, I know).

[Posted 04/18/07]