Help with Frasier joke (Jewish sensitive)?

Question

I saw this Frasier episode.. The whole family is pretending to be Jewish. Martin asks Niles how should he behave.. And Niles says, "just answer everything with a question".


Could somebody explain this stereotype?

Answer 1

This stereotype regards Jews (especially old and religious ones) as witty and sharp, "seasoned" and sophisticated, as if they were talking in riddles and answer every question with another question.
This stereotype is part of the "wandering Jew" stereotype, which portrays Jews as rootless people, experienced and clever merchants. The wandering Jew has got another aspect in the Nazi propaganda (obviously, not a positive one), but its romantic feature is also appeared in the Jewish religious literature as well as in some of the Jewish folklore tales: a lot of characters from the Jewish folklore are smart, witty and clever Jews whose tongue often saves them from death and other troubles.