Why do people in NYC ask if you are Jewish? not racist question!?

Question

Sorry if this is long: I am from the North, North East in a little town. I recently started college/ orientation at a pretty big famous school in NYC.

I am of Irish decent, & I have dark hair.

Ever since I've been in NY, I keep having people come up to me and it seems like the 2nd question on everyone's tongue is "are you jewish?"

No one has ever asked me that before, so I'm a little taken aback.
Is this normal in NY?

There seem to be a lot of Jewish girls in my dorm. They are very nice & I like them.
But whenever I am introduced to them, they ask my name, my major, and within 5, no 2 minutes, the question is "are you Jewish?"

Why do they ask so much?

Also I get the feeling they are always trying to find out in the first 5 minutes if you are or not, and sometimes they throw in things like "oh, Temple XXX is really good" and quickly look at you to see your reaction, or am I imagining thing?

thank you & I do not mean this to be racist in any way. tara

Answer 1

because they want to see if your dateable, there are a lot of jewish people that won't date you if your not jewish, its what there parents instill in them, pretty racist if you ask me though,

Answer 2

If you have dark hair and perhaps olive skin, maybe that is their way of asking what exactly your ethnicity is. Or perhaps the people that ask are Jewish. I would not take it as an insult....take it as someone that is interested in getting to know you. If push comes to shove, you can always get a T-shirt that reads "I'm Irish dammit!!"

Answer 3

I guess NY is obsessed with race and ethnicity (it is the most segregated city I've been too). Tell 'em to f off or say yeah or say no or just say what you feel at the moment and don't let it bug you.

I find that weirde also. Maybe you should just ask. Just like you asked ANSWERS ask them.