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November 23, 2006

Is Michael Richards a Jew or Not?

Michael Richards is a Mason, not a JewNow we're very confused.

On Tuesday we reported that the Jewish Journal had written that the former Seinfeld star Michael Richards was not a member of the tribe. But this afternoon we read in Gothamist that the actor's newly hired PR man says that Richards is indeed Jewish.

All of this stems from a new allegation that Richards once went on an anti-Semetic tirade on some audience members at The Improv in April.

"He is Jewish and he said, 'I'm absolutely not anti-Semitic,' " Rubenstein was quoted in the NY Post. "He acknowledged that he said those things. He said that he was role-playing and playing a character. He said, 'There is no way I'm anti-Jewish.' "

Born in Culver City to William Richards and Phyllis (nee Nardozzi), Wikipedia, which the Jewish Journal references, claims that Richards was raised a Catholic.

However he was brought up, it appears that the man we know and love as Kramer, is a Mason.

What prompted Richards to become a Mason? In 1996 at Lake Tahoe, Richards inducted Ill. Red Skelton, 33°, into The Comedy Hall of Fame. Bro. Richards says: "I was already interested in the Craft from reading Manly Palmer Hall's The Secret of All Ages, Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma, and Albert Mackey's Symbolism of Freemasonry. So, when I met Red and found out about his strong ties to Freemasonry, I was very impressed. Morals and Dogma certainly introduced me to Scottish Rite philosophy, but it was through Red's lovable nature, Masonic and all, that I really wanted to be a Mason."

Inspired by the high moral standards of Masonic teachings, as well as the fact that so many great men of all times were Freemasons, Michael Richards became a plural member of Riviera Lodge No. 780 and Culver City–Foshay No. 467, the Southern California Research Lodge, and a Life Member of the Los Angeles Scottish Rite Valley as well as a Life Member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. - The Supreme Council

If Richards is indeed Jewish, perhaps Mr. Rubenstein can let us know which temple the actor worships at. Until then we will consider him a former Catholic, a Life Member Mason, and a failed stand-up comic who should go back to reading the jokes written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

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Comments (4) [rss]


Regardless what religion Michael Richards' 'practices', if his mother was born a Jew according to Halacha (Jewish Law), them Michael Richards is Jewish. Even if his mother didn't practice Judaism, if her mother (Richards' grandmother) was Jewish according to Jewish law, his grandmother is Jewish, therefore Richards' mother is Jewish, so therefore Michael Richards is Jewish. Jewish identity is passed along maternally. Assuming Mr. Rubenstein is Jewish, I seriously doubt that he would be say Richards is Jewish if he were not.

 

So you're saying that you're taking the word of a newly hired PR-man over the Jewish Journal?

Call us cynical, and as much as we like our friends in the PR biz, if the Jewish Journal says that Richards isn't Jewish, we're going to stick with their expertise.

 

It seems like The Jewish Journal, a free publication, did no research on this matter other than quoting Wikipedia, a web-based encyclopedia that anyone change at a whim.

So, I have outed Jewish Journal as a free publication, and Wikipedia as an open-source website. Does this mean that Jewish Journal, or Wikipedia, are necessarily incorrect? No, it does not. They may very well be incorrect. In fact, I believe that in general Wikipedia is, generally speaking, reliable, due to its peer review process.

However, nor does this mean that Wikipedia, and by extension, Jewish Journal, are necessarily more reliable and truthful than some PR dude. Just making the point that Wikipedia should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

WHEW! Micheal Richards a jew? Now there's a corruption of knowledge. That a Jew is not a racist. It's only fitting that if Richards is a jew he not has a propensity to be a anti-black but also has a propensity to be a zionist. Has the author taken notice to the zionist aparthied taking place in Palestine by the Jews? jews are the biggest murdering racist's going. I hope Richards is not a Jew. We don't need another one.

 
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