ANSWERS: 31
  • This is a carryover from old European traditions. In Dickens' Oliver Twist Fagan was depicted as being not only stingy, but also dirty and nefarious. This was connected to the simple fact that the character was Jewish. This stereotype can be seen in European literature going back many centuries. European literature stereotypes most groups – ethnic, religious, or national.
  • Abraham was not cheap, Moses was not cheap, David was not cheap, Jesus was not cheap....but I think, it may have a lot to do with the Holocaust also, they lost THEIR HARD EARNED money and some lived through depression in US too...they are stereotyped as so, but I would be too if lived through these... the Israelites, rich or poor were not cheap, they just knew waste was sinful......
  • Old European stereotypes, stemming partly from the old Jewish profession of money-changers (the Christians thought of it as a dirty profession). Also why they are stereotyped as having lots of money.
  • I worked for jews in NYC back in the early 80's and they used to go work -everyday- with the same clothing. One of the died, I went to the funeral home and he was wearing the same clothes he used to wear to go work. Is this an stereotype? My 2 cents.
  • I'm Jewish and I get a little sick of this stereotype. I would think those that survived the Holocaust would be more determined to save and be frugal, and extremely cautious, kind of like the mindset of people who lived during the Depression era, they were known to be very frugal and cautious so that they would never be so vulnerable again.. The Depression Era and the Holocaust are extremely different, but anyone that survives that kind of hell is going to try and protect themselves. I don't see that behavior in my family or friends. It's like people thinking that my family isn't Jewish because some of us have blond, and auburn hair, light colored eyes, blue, green etc. The big one that we don't have a big nose etc. It's irritating yet the stereotype's and generalizations prevail. I feel like the jokes and perceptions remain in more rare circumstances than the actual behavior. A non- Jew meets just one person who is CHEAP who happens to be a Jew and boom off goes that stereotype for life. Matt
  • This derives from the fact that in Europe, Jews were barred from almost all professions bar becoming money lenders. To survive, they had to get reasonably good at this; what choice did they have? It's one of the most foolish stereotypes about us - and yet one of the most enduring. To the person asking about Jews and education - that is true. Jews have ALWAYS revered books and learning. Even when Jewish communities were living in abject poverty, in Europe, one of the first priorities was always to establish some form of school and to get books! http://www.ajewwithaview.com
  • Story I heard was an elder Jewish gentleman was hiking in the wilderness, a quarter fell out of his pocket onto the rocky terrain, when he couldn't find it he went to fetch a shovel...this is where the Grand Canyon is now located.
  • Here's my answer - Jews are stereotyped as cheap simply because they are cheap. Okay, next question.
  • I'm not Jewish but I would say that Jewish people have more respect for the time and labor that money represents and they don't squander it. Why they have more respect has been touched on in the other answers but that respect seems to be part of the culture and tradition that has been passed down from hard and harder times. I saw some of the same attitudes in my grandmother who lived during the depression.
  • Because they are
  • there has always been stereotypeing and always will be......of all not just jewish people... look how living through the Depression stereotyped some...
  • Media stereotypes
  • Because, I don't know one that is loose with their money.
  • it is genetic...the Israelites were suppressed with Roman taxes,Egyptian Bondage...but they were a complaining whiny bunch, as I am sure we'd all of been etc...the Holocaust....maybe why God had to force them to tithe , unless of course they were devout as Moses , or Abraham who knew how to GIVE ....just my thoughts..
  • I don't know why people stereotype Jews as cheap, and frankly I'm tired of them getting all the credit. (The pun was unintended.)
  • They're not cheap. I can't even afford one. :)
  • Oh trust me. Some Jews are cheap and I know. My boss is Jewish and he's VERY cheap. Every single paycheck Ive gotten from him has been shorted a few dollars here and there. His equipment is worn out and refuses to get new stuff. Overall he's a cheap &%*$#
  • I believe you just sterotyped "people" when you asked. Why would you do that? I believe I am part of people and I never asked you to speak for me.
  • Because they are prejudiced. +5
  • Your are sterotyping yourself; all people do not do this; I have never done this.
  • I've never really heard of that stereotype. I always thought they were stereotyped as being more intelligent than most.
  • They want to take out their anger on Jews.
  • Because, in case you haven't noticed, most humans love classifying people. This makes them feel more comfortable for who they are.
  • It's not a stereotype. They are extremely cheap. I've had experience in the restaurant and valet business and the gratuity they show is absolutely disgraceful. I want to believe that it truly is just one of those stupid stereotypes, but EVERY TIME I serve a Jewish client, they seem to be extremely stingy. Here are some of my favorite quotes I've heard numerous times from Jewish people who DON"T like to tip AT ALL "I'm sorry I have no change...but thanks!" as they pull away in a Lexus. Or, "All I have is twenties." And then I'll sat "Oh, we can make change", then they quickly pull away to avoid tipping. I mean, I'm Irish. And if people were saying Irish people were cheap, I'l be like "hey, we got to step it up." But, it seems to me that Jewish people know they are perceived as being cheap and still choose to have the audacity to leave pennies when they tip. So, I don't feel sorry for them in the least bit anymore. I tried, I gave it a shot. Do they not realize people in restaurant and valet businesses work off tips? So, please cut the crap, and step it up a little bit. I mean people just didn't come to this conclusion out of thin air. This perception is most likely based off of people's real life experiences in working for or with the Jewish community over a long period of time. Like me. Saying that this "being cheap" thing is just a "stereotype" is just a cop out. You know, I know, and everyone else in the world knows exactly what they are doing. STOP BEING CHEAP PLEASE!
  • The Stereotype is not that they are cheap, it's that they are tight fisted. the difference being a Jew will spend money on something, if he think's he needs it and it's worth it, but at the same time if he doesn't think it's worth it, he may try to barter the price down, it doesn't make him cheap. I actually think it's a good quality to have!
  • Perhaps it would be a good thought if this so called "cheapness" were viewed as "paing for what it's really worth"? I'm not Jewish, and if you expect me to pay for anything I'm not happy with, you are so wrong!!!
  • For the most part the hundreds that I have ran across are. The orthodox do not believe in birth control and end up having anywhere from 4 to 8 children. Because many of them are not formally educated (they spend a lot of time studying Torah). Many of the wives do not work because of all of the children they have to care for. They also do not beleve in strong discipline as one of their children may be the Meshiach. Since the majority of the fathers are Rabbis, they make a set amount of money. It was recently made clear to me, by the Jewish Community, that most of these families are on welfare and are supported by us. They spend this money on kosher food (which is way expensive- which reminds me that if these Jews gdrocks is talking about are out at restaurants (that aren't kosher) then they don't observe at a lower level than the Orthodox. I have been at weddings with Jews as well as celebrations and, to my dismay, they will take everything they can, as if it is owed to them. They seem not to care about what others may not get as long as they can take whatever they want. There are those that are very giving and suffer from the stereotype and I feel sorry for them. If I am correct on my origins, I believe that stereotypes are generalizations that are based on fact. Nonetheless, the good of any culture always suffers from the others'actions.
  • stereotypes become stereotypes because of truth and/or jealousy. in the case of jews they have gotten really good at being thrifty and managing money. but not all jews are cheap, just as not all cheap people are jews.
  • Sheer ignorance and stereotyping most are philanthropists
  • Cheap? I haven't heard that one. Good with money, that I've heard. People stereotype out of laziness. They don't want to go through the effort required to judge individuals by their individuality so instead they lump them in a group and judge them by the group. People also stereotype out of xenophobia: they are scared of the Other, so they ridicule them and belittle them and insult them. The stereotype about Jews and money does have a historical basis in reality (as many stereotypes do). This is hazy in my mind, but in the middle ages (I'm guessing ... some time in history, anyway), Christianity was the dominant religion in Europe and people of other religions living in Europe were restrained. Their actions were restrained, I mean, and their engagement in civil society. There weren't many jobs that Jews were allowed to perform, and the only jobs that Jews could have, really, had to do with money -- loan-sharks and other financial management. Hence many Jews had an aptitude with money at that time, out of necessity. That's the origin of the stereotype but of course any reasonable person can see that today a Jew can have any job he or she wants and the employment of a distant ancestor has no influence on the skills or employment of a person living today.
  • I think you mean "stingy" rather than "cheap". It comes from interpretations of the Torah and the old Judaic beliefs where they were told not to help the "goyim" (non Jews).

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