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No, she wasn’t Jewish, but Betty White had a very Jewish century

JL;DR SUMMARY Betty White, who passed away at 99, was a beloved American actress whose century-long career intersected with significant Jewish historical events, though she herself was not Jewish. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish HistoryHollywoodCivil RightsWomen's RightsTelevisionCarl ReinerAnimal WelfareThe Golden GirlsBetty WhiteAmerican Showbiz

Places mentioned

Oak Park, Illinois, United States
"White was born in 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois, just near the then-new synagogue building of Washington Boulevard Temple of Bnai Abraham Zion (now Oak Park Temple Bnai Abraham Zion) dedicated the previous September."
Alhambra, California, United States
"Whites parents moved out to Alhambra, California, in 1923 and eventually to Los Angeles."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"Whites parents moved out to Alhambra, California, in 1923 and eventually to Los Angeles."
Beverly Hills, California, United States
"Based in Beverly Hills, where White went to grade school, it would become one of the most famous movie production companies in history."
Jerusalem, Israel
"White already had her own radio show when David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Israeli Independence in 1948."
Israel
"By late 1949, when an independent Israel had finally signed armistices with Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Transjordan, White had left her own radio show The Betty White Show and had begun co-hosting Hollywood on Television with Al Jarvis."
Palestinian Territories
"Palestine suddenly seemed like a destination for the Jews fleeing pogroms in the aftermath of World War I, given that the League of Nations had confirmed the British Mandate of Palestine and the British government had said they were in favor of a homeland for the Jewish people."
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
"Filming of the show took place immediately after Priesand was ordained by Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 3, 1972, and the Berle episode aired just after Tisha BAv, on Aug. 4."

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Retrieved 2025-09-12 05:31:42 UTC
Curated 2025-09-12 08:31:23 UTC