Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

I think this line is so old that it's a challenge for a comic to make a new joke with the old punchline. I've heard several jokes with this punchline, most of which have some implied reference to circumcision. But the one I hear most, which seems like it may be the original is this:

A man was riding a train when a woman from a seat further back came up to him and asked if he were Jewish.

"No, I'm not Jewish", he replied.

Several minutes later she came up again and said, "Are you sure you're not Jewish?"

"I'm absolutely sure I'm not Jewish", he said.

A while later she comes again and says, "I hate to bother you, but are you positive that you're not Jewish?"

"Yes, I am absolutely positive that I am not Jewish", he said again.

This happened several more times until the man in frustration finally said, "Okay, I'm Jewish. Does that make you happy?"

To that the lady said, "Funny, you don't look Jewish".

I think the root of the humor is that, in western countries, there is nothing definite to distinguish a Jew from any other Caucasian. In the middle east Jews look like every other middle eastern person. Yet some seem bent on picking out Jews. Who knows?