Was Mr. Hooper a Jewish Character?

[zrs70]

In the Christmas Eve episode, Hooper wishes Bob a merry Christmas. Bob responds by saying, "Happy Hanukkah."

Was this because Hooper was Jewish, or was it a way to reach out to the Jewish viewers?

 

[abiraniriba]

Hooper Was Jewish

They didn't make much of a deal about it but Mr. Hooper was a Jewish character. In fact, if I remember right that is the only reference I ever remember to his religion/race on the show.

 

[BEAR]

There were other references made to his background, but i think very few. On the Sleepytime on Sesame Street album, Mr. Hooper sings a German lullabye to Big Bird about a green duck.

 

[abiraniriba]

Daas Goodt

You're right. Hooper was a German Jew and while they never mentioned it the actor Will Lee lost a few relatives to the Holocaust. For those of you who are linguists out there Yiddish, the popular language of the Jewish people is derived from German even though it is traditionally written in Hebrew characters. FYI I am not Jewish. However I am one-fourth German.