Hi,

I'm a playwright with a Welcome Back Kotter question. I reference Horshack as a "Jewish nerd from the 70's." Is this true? He was played by an Italian actor, but I want to say he was definitely supposed to be Jewish.

My play is going up next week, so I would appreciate an answer as soon as possible.

Thanks so much,
etc

Negative! Only Epstein, of all Kotter's students, was actually a Jewish person. Horseshack was not an ethnic type and had no ethnic identity. But I would like to direct you to a fine book on the subject of Semitic people. Bryan Sykes's excellent Seven Daughters of Eve book. The "daughter" he calls Jasmine comes from the Syrian region and her descendants settle all around in Europe 10,000 years ago. Becoming Europe's first farmers they mixed breeding wise with the cro-magnon caveman types they found there (especially in Britain). The especially large number of semitic genes of the British show they are, more than other Europeans, of Syrian ancestry. Remember the Jewish people homeland of Israel was around the Syrian region. This explains why Jewish actor Gene Wilder resembles BRit actor Eric Idle. Jewish acting great Dustin Hoffman resembling Brit comic Michael Palin and Israeli PM Golda Meir looking like US President Lyndon Johnson (an American of 100% British background).

:rolleyes:


ernessat:

Hope this answers your question

No, Horshack is not Jewish. However, in the episode called "Arrividerci Arnold, he mentions that he is Slavic.

So according to this, only Epstein is observing Yom Kippur tonight.

So according to this, only Epstein is observing Yom Kippur tonight.
I'm also observing Yom Kippur. :)

I always assumed Horshack was supposed to be Jewish! But I wasn't sure. I knew the actor Ron Palillo was Italian!

And Epstein was a Puerto Rican Jew!

I'm also observing Yom Kippur. :)


Isn't Yom Kippur the most high holy of all the Jewish holidays?

Isn't Yom Kippur the most high holy of all the Jewish holidays?
It is.
I'm hiding out from certain family members right now. :lol:

... and Israeli PM Golda Meir looking like US President Lyndon Johnson (an American of 100% British background).

LOL!

But did she have big feet, like LBJ did...? :lol:

LOL!

But did she have big feet, like LBJ did...? :lol:


Did he have big feet? That is funny! :lol: :D I know he liked dogs, and he had pet Beagles in the White House ! :)

Juan is a Puerto Rican Jew.

I was always under the impression that Horshak was Polish.

A Polish Jew? Like Rob Reiner ( Jew) played a Polish Catholic agnostic.

I always thought that Horshack was Hungarian.