Let's chat: Which Muppets are Jewish?
Do you subscribe to the blue fur theory?
Is it just me, or is “Sesame Street” suddenly everywhere?
I don’t say this as a mom of a 2-year-old who owns roughly 423 “Sesameet” books, but as a grown adult who has noticed my social media feeds taken over by other grown adults sharing vintage pictures of Big Bird, motivational posters from Grover with phrases like “It’s OK to feel anxious” and promos from viral internet series like “Chicken Shop Date” teasing out their latest celebrity guest: Elmo.
As an adult who has long been obsessed with all things “Sesame Street,” I don’t know whether I should feel like a moody teen bummed that the masses have discovered something that I loved way before it was cool, or thrilled that in the middle of my doom-scrolling, there’s a good chance a lovable furry muppet will pop in to say hello.
But also, as someone who recently acquired a season pass to Sesame Place in Philadelphia, I found myself looking up some special programming going on there in late December and stumbled on a number of Hanukkah events featuring Baby Bear. In the promo images, Baby Bear (you need to read that with his adorable speech impediment, please) can be seen donning a yarmulke and lighting the menorah, which brings me to the age old question on everybody’s mind: Which Muppets are Jewish?
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This question has been asked and answered many times, including in a viral TikTok that posed the theory that all the blue muppets are members of the tribe. Of course, many of the muppets that appear in “Shalom Sesame,” the anglicized version of Israel’s “Rechov Sumsum,” are obviously Jewish, like Oscar the Grouch’s Israeli cousin Moishe Oofnik. And “Sesame Street” has featured Jewish human characters played by Jewish actors throughout the years — including longtime shopkeeper Mr. Hooper and the more recent character Sam, played by young Jewish actress Violet Tinnirello, who introduced the concept of Shabbat to Elmo and Tamir in a perfect, touching episode.
But back to the muppets, what are we to make of the blue fur theory? Will Baby Bear become Man Bear when he turns 13? Why does Bert give off such Old Jewish Man energy?
Let’s discuss. Which muppets do you think are Jewish? Which are decidedly not? Hit me with your best arguments and evidence. May we all have sunny days ahead.
Bert is SO anxious and kvetchy!
My father-in-law bears a more than passing resemblance to Oscar. He has an Israeli cousin, like pretty much every New York Jew I know.
Bert could be Jewish. At least, the Bert I remember. Is he still anxious and cranky?
Gonzo maybe? Not so much because of the nose but because he’s considered “different” and has a relationship with chickens that (as Grace Adler puts it) is both deep and real.