As Jon Stewart returns to TV, here's a look back at his most Jewish moments

• Published date: 02 October 2021
• Author: STEPHEN SILVER/JTA
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The 58-year-old Stewart, of course, is Jewish, and has frequently referenced Judaism throughout his comedy career, including before, during and after his time on "The Daily Show." Odds are he will be cracking Jewish jokes again on his new show.

To mark his return to the screen, here are some of the funniest Jewish highlights from Stewart's career:

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Jew Beanie

In a standup routine from the 1990s, Stewart discussed his religious beliefs. "I'm a Jewish guy, but I'm not a serious Jew," he says in the clip, pointing out that he doesn't wear a kippah, while reminding his audience it's not called a "Jew beanie."

Stewart goes on to say that while he believes in God, he suspects that God, billions of years after creating the world, may have "moved on to another project."

"Jesus, Muhammad and Moses all went to the same high school"

In another standup routine, from 1996, Stewart talks about the Middle East, foreign policy and the state of Israel.

"I'm a Jewish guy, I've been to Israel, I'm really glad it's there, but there will never be peace there," he says. While noting that all three major Abrahamic religions give Israel and Jerusalem significance, he jokes that "Jesus, Muhammad and Moses all went to the same high school."

Stewart then riffs about young Jewish women visiting Israel, and male Israeli soldiers "lining up to see 'em," with amorous intentions.

"Adolf Hankler"

In 1998, near the end of the run of "The Larry Sanders Show" on HBO, Stewart appeared as himself, as part of an arc in which he was in line to replace Sanders (fellow Jewish comedian Garry Shandling.) In one episode, Stewart is the guest host of the show, and they produce a German game show parody called "Adolf Hankler," in which the character Hank Kingsley (Jewish actor Jeffrey Tambor) dresses as Adolf Hitler and answers every question with "the Jews."

In the tradition of Mel Brooks' "Springtime For Hitler," the offensiveness of the premise is the joke itself, as it leads Jewish Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander — "the celebrity spokesman for the Anti-Defamation League" — to walk off the show in protest. When Stewart says the Hitler sketch "doesn't bother me, and I'm Jewish," producer Artie (Rip Torn) retorts, "so was Jesus, and we all know where he ended up."

"Can I Interest You in Hanukkah?"

In 2008, about a decade into Stewart's "Daily Show" run, he made a...