JustASC

So Jon Stewart didn’t observe Yom Kippur, or if he did it didn’t put any crimps in his putting together last night’s show. But did he have to welcome his audience with a “Happy Yom Kippur”? And then joke about eating a “Baconnaise and lobster omelet with a side of Jesus toast” that morning, before explaining that “I’m what you call Reform”?

The show aired Monday evening, after the holiday was over, and he could have gotten away without mentioning it. Stewart has no obligation to “represent” the Jews — but he incorporates enough of his Jewish identity into his act that he might show a little more deference to his roots on this, the one day of the year that even gentiles know to be a pretty big Jewish deal. If he wasn;t going to pull a Sanday Koufax, then at least he could have gone with a ”don’t ask don’t tell” policy — it would have been the mentshy thing to do.

Instead, he insults Reform Jews (who are obligated to fast) and well, just disappoints the rest of us.

I know, I know — I’m Mr. Pluralism. But it’s stuff like this that turns me into Rabbi Kvetch. (And in my defense, I like when comic strips have a Christmas theme on Dec. 25, and get all sad when they don’t. I’m talking to you, Ferd’nand and Andy Capp.)