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Jewbilee
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"Jewbilee"
South Park episode
Moses as depicted in South Park, a large glowing floating dreidel being worshipped by the Jewish Boy Scouts
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 9
Directed byTrey Parker
Written byTrey Parker
Production code309
Original air dateJuly 28, 1999 (1999-07-28)
Episode chronology
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South Park season 3
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"Jewbilee" is the ninth-aired and produced episode of the third season of the animated television series South Park. The 40th overall episode and the final part of The Meteor Shower Trilogy, the episode describes what happens to Kyle and Kenny as they attend a Jewish Scouting camp on the night of the meteor shower. The episode, which satirizes stereotypes about Jews,[1] originally aired on July 28, 1999.

Plot

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As Gerald and Sheila Broflovski are getting ready to attend Mr. Mackey's meteor shower party, Kyle and his brother Ike are preparing to go to Jewbilee, a Boy Scout-esque camp for Jewish boys. Kyle invites Kenny to attend, even though Gerald and Sheila warn Kyle that Kenny may not be accepted because he is not Jewish. Kyle persuades them to let Kenny come along, and they explain the basic tenets of Judaism during the car ride to the camp. After dropping the boys off, Gerald and Sheila drive to Mr. Mackey's party.

The camp attendees are divided into two age groups, Jew Scouts (older boys) and Squirts (younger, similar to the Cub Scouts). Following the induction ceremony, the boys make arts-and-crafts projects to honor the prophet Moses, whose spirit manifests itself on the site. Kenny is banished from the camp after Moses identifies him as a non-Jew; as he tries to return home, police officers and ATF agents drive past from Mr. Mackey's house, having mistaken it for a cult meeting place. Kenny returns to the camp only to find that Garth, one of the camp's elders, has trapped Moses in a conch shell and locked the Jew Scouts and the other elders in a cabin. Garth, who is from the Synagogue of Antisemites, intends to summon the spirit of Haman and force Jews into servitude.

Meanwhile, the Squirts' leader, Shlomo, mobilizes the troop to help catch a bear in the surrounding woods so he can earn his "Chutzpah" merit badge. The bear captures one Squirt after another, and Shlomo continues to devise plans that ultimately fail. After all the Squirts have been captured, Shlomo seeks out the chief elder but stumbles across Garth's plan to summon Haman; he tries to free Moses, but Garth shoots and wounds him. Kenny is captured by the bear as well, but finds that instead of harming the Squirts, it has brought them to celebrate the birthday of its cub. Kenny leads the Squirts back to camp, finding the summoning ritual nearly completed. As the Squirts form a human ladder to reach the cabin keys and free the captives, Kenny disrupts the ritual and smashes the conch with his own head, freeing Moses but fatally injuring himself. Moses destroys Haman, kills Garth, and declares a new annual holiday in which the Jew Scouts will gather at the camp and honor Kenny's sacrifice by making arts-and-crafts projects.

Production

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The writing process of "Jewbilee" helped South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone realize the approach to writing most suited for the show. The episode had to be aired about a month after the film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut was released, at which time Parker and Stone could take a break from their intensive work. They were pleased with their work on both the show and the film and decided not to care about how good the episode was, and "just make it dumb and weird." Eventually, they came to believe that "Jewbilee" was then one of the best episodes of the show, which helped them realize that they should not try to think of the plots for too long, but "just be stupid and have fun."[2]

Cultural and religious references

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Reception

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John Sinnott of DVD Talk stated that the episode is one of the third season's "strange shows that worked very well."[4] In an article about Isaac Hayes' departure controversy, The Seattle Times referred to "Jewbilee" as one of the show's most outrageous episodes.[5]

References

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Jewbilee

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from Grokipedia
"Jewbilee" is the ninth episode of the third season of the animated television series , originally broadcast on July 28, 1999. The story centers on inviting his friend to join him and his brother Ike at Jewbilee, a specialized camp for Jewish scouts, where the boys engage in religious rituals amid an impending meteor shower. At the camp, the scouts summon the prophet Moses, who reveals a plot by the biblical villain to brainwash the Jewish children and eradicate their faith, leading and to intervene in thwarting the scheme. The episode, directed by series co-creator , forms part of the "Meteor Shower Trilogy" alongside other stories set on the same night, highlighting South Park's satirical take on religious traditions and youth scouting.

Synopsis

Plot Summary

receives an invitation to Jewbilee, a Jewish scout camp, and invites his friend to join him, with Kenny attempting to pass as Jewish. At the camp, , , and Kyle's brother Ike participate in scout activities that parody Jewish traditions, such as arts-and-crafts projects honoring Moses and other tasks, under the guidance of the camp's Rabbi who leads the boys in prayer. During a prayer session, the prophet Moses appears as a glowing, hologram-like figure on a levitating , revealing to the boys that the ancient villain has returned and plans to force the Jewish scouts into servitude. is identified as non-Jewish and banished but later returns. The boys and the younger Squirts disrupt the ritual summoning , where Moses uses his to defeat the scheme by destroying Haman and freeing the captives. sacrifices himself in the process. In the resolution, Moses declares a new annual tradition at the camp honoring Kenny's sacrifice, and Kyle returns home as the meteor shower continues overhead.

Key Themes

The episode parodies Jewish scouting traditions by depicting "Jew Scouts" engaging in exaggerated camp rituals that blend religious observance with childlike activities, such as offering macaroni pictures and popcorn necklaces to honor Moses. This setup satirizes perceived indoctrination within faith-based youth groups, amplifying stereotypical elements of and piety for comedic effect. face critique through Moses' appearance as a giant floating , an underwhelming and prop-reliant manifestation that deflates solemn biblical imagery into absurdity. The portrayal underscores the show's tendency to puncture religious grandeur with irreverent humor, revealing reliance on superficial symbols over profound spirituality. Anti-Semitism emerges prominently via 's role as a scheming antagonist inspired by the , plotting mind control over Jewish children, compounded by the "Anti-Semitic Jews" sect's misguided allegiance to him over Moses. This element draws on historical prejudice while inverting it through self-loathing adherents, offering a layered commentary on enduring tropes of Jewish villainy and internal division. Friendship and deception are highlighted by Kenny's covert participation in the Jewish-only camp despite his non-Jewish background, culminating in his deceptive yet loyal intervention to neutralize 's threat. This dynamic emphasizes themes of unwavering camaraderie amid religious exclusivity and manipulative schemes.

Production

Development and Writing

"Jewbilee" formed the conclusion of South Park's "Meteor Shower Trilogy" in its , centering on and 's experiences at a Jewish scout camp. and , the show's co-creators, penned the script amid fatigue following intensive work on the series and the film , treating it as their last task before a extended break; they adopted a carefree attitude, crafting what they called a "dumb and weird" story "as if they were high" and later quipping that they "shit this out of our ass." The episode's writing process proved pivotal for Parker and Stone, emerging as one of their favorites and clarifying an optimal approach for the series: avoiding prolonged plot development in favor of spontaneous stupidity and enjoyment. Script elements incorporated biblical antagonists like , the villain from the Book of Esther who plotted against Jews, tying into traditions of his effigy-burning.

Animation and Direction

The episode was directed by . It maintains South Park's characteristic crude , adapted for the camp environments and supernatural sequences involving Moses. The 22-minute runtime features rapid scene transitions suited to the series' comedic pacing. Directorial choices emphasize exaggerated, jerky character motions during scout rituals and confrontations, incorporating signature visual elements such as 's obscured expressions and recurring peril motifs.

Broadcast and Release

Original Airing

"Jewbilee" premiered on on July 28, 1999. It was broadcast as the ninth episode of the third season and the fortieth overall episode in the series. The episode carried a , aligning with the network's typical classification for South Park content at the time. Positioned mid-season following the success of prior holiday specials that boosted the show's visibility, its airing incorporated promotional elements leveraging South Park's rising cultural prominence.

Home Media Release

The episode "Jewbilee" was released on DVD as part of the set on December 16, 2003, bundled with the other 16 episodes of the season and featuring 5- to 7-minute mini-commentaries recorded by creators and for each installment. A edition of the complete third season, including the episode, followed on November 21, 2017. There have been no standalone home video releases of "Jewbilee," with distribution limited to season compilations. The episode is available for streaming on Paramount+ within the full series catalog.

Reception

Critical Response

The episode's satirical take on and biblical figures like Moses and drew criticism for its potentially offensive portrayal of religious elements, leading to bans in Romania and Hungary due to the inflammatory title and content. An academic examination notes that "Jewbilee" employs to satirize common misconceptions and tropes associated with , integrating them into South Park's broader irreverent framework without endorsing stereotypes. This approach aligned with 's edgier tone, where the show's parody of often provoked debate but maintained its provocative style.

Viewership and Impact

The episode attracted viewership consistent with other episodes in South Park's third season. "Jewbilee" contributed to the show's legacy of religious satire, particularly in depictions of , where figures like Moses are portrayed as heroic leaders amid parodies of Jewish traditions. It has been highlighted in analyses of memorable Jewish moments in the series, influencing fan perceptions of South Park's approach to faith-based humor.
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