He has left. Is he Jewish?

Question

On the Tv show I was watching last night , one of the cops had already left, which surprised the other two cops.

So they said:

Hey, where is Peter?

He has already left.

Why...is he Jewish?

Is that something bad? I haven't got a clue, I mean, do Jewish people leave early ?

• It may have ben a joke? - annierats Jan 19, 2012
• For the record, I have no idea either. - BelugaBebe Jan 19, 2012
• What show was it? - Leatha Jan 19, 2012
• Without context it is impossible to be sure but I think Ken_K has the right answer about Shabbos. - gringojrf Jan 19, 2012

Answer 1

Sounds like a poor joke...

Copied from the net:

The Jewish "day" begins at sunset and continues to the following sunset. Thus Shabbos observance begins before sunset on Friday. (generally 18 minutes, sometimes more depending upon local custom) Since activities such as cooking, driving a car, etc. are forbidden on Shabbat, one must arrive home and finish the preparations (including showering, changing clothes) sufficiently early to light the candles and go to shul before sunset. In the winter sunset comes early, so Shabbat observers have to leave work early. They arrange with their management to make up the time by working extra hours other days or by coming in early on Friday to make up for leaving early.

• That must be for the super conservative observers. I have never known anyone who did that! Thanks. - Jeremias Jan 19, 2012
• What an obscure reference! - rabbitwho Jan 19, 2012
• Is not obscure at all and I worked with people like this. - faliron Jan 19, 2012
• When I used to work as a care assistant in a Jewish hom efor about 2 years they observed Shabbat (Sabbath) from 5 o'clock friday night until 5 o'clock saturday night :) - FELIZ77 Jan 19, 2012

Answer 2

In New York we have a very substantial Jewish population so the notion of early closings of shops on Friday afternoons (shortly before sunset) is not at all unusual. Nor is it necessarily an indication of prejudice (although that is always a possibility).

• gracias sam:) - Heidita Jan 19, 2012
• I agree that this is a likely explanation:) - FELIZ77 Jan 19, 2012

Answer 3

Heidita, without any more context that makes no sense at all. Was it a Jewish holiday? Hard to figure out.

Answer 4

Wow, Ken, that was it, no doubt, I feared it might be something rude, but really, they were just talking and sorta wondering why the other cop had already left.

This was Law and Order Full of slang and good learning, jeje, I love it.

Now that is a really weird thing to say...is he Jewish...impossible to translate, great, I love new words or weird stuff, jeje

Muchas gracias querido camión

• Heidita, it's a REALLY weird thing to say. If I were you, I wouldn't! :) - Jeremias Jan 19, 2012
• noooo, I am not going to use that, jeje, but it is good to know new words and expressions, I am always looking out for them:) - Heidita Jan 19, 2012
• Jeremias I agree :) Iam relieved that Heidi will not use it in this way. The Jewish people are lovely people. This kind of saying could be misconstrued and offence taken. - FELIZ77 Jan 19, 2012
• I love watching Law and order and CSI too Heidi but I would not necessarily use either as a model of English hahaha - FELIZ77 Jan 19, 2012

Answer 5

I agree with Jeremias. Depends of the context.

• Probably a politically incorrect joke.. - annierats Jan 19, 2012
• Who knows...so many things that could even be a correct statement. - chileno Jan 19, 2012