Abstract
This thesis is the culmination of a yearlong investigation into the Jewish rituals, themes, and characters portrayed in the 1991 hit children’s series, Rugrats. By studying the era in which this show aired, closely analyzing the Jewish content of the show, and conducting interviews with individuals who had been exposed to it, I set out to determine the accuracy, relevance and impact of Rugrats’ Jewishness. Through this qualitative study I determined that a majority of my respondents had positive associations with the television program, and saw it as an example of Jewish media that both has educational value and an association which makes them proud. Through this thesis I present the study of a popular piece of public media as an example of a growing and legitimate source of evidence and influence on perception and identity on the individuals that consume it – in this case American Jews.