Forty Years After His Day Off, the Jewish Values of Ferris Bueller

Ferris Bueller’s actual day off was 40 years ago, on June 5, 1985, the day the Chicago Cubs hosted the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field, a scene depicted in the movie. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was a teen comedy released in 1986 starring Matthew Broderick as the titular character.

Autographed picture of Matthew Broderick. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.

This photo is an autographed picture of Broderick in the iconic “twist and shout” parade scene from the movie.

Broderick’s mother is Jewish, so he is too. Ferris’ sister Jeanie was played by Jennifer Grey who is Jewish and the daughter of stage and screen actor Joel Grey. Her paternal grandfather was musician and comedian Mickey Katz, the writer of Yiddish Square Dance and the producer of Borscht Capades.

While two of the main actors in the movie are Jewish, is the Ferris Bueller character? The consensus among Bueller analysts is that he is not, but I have always thought there was something very Jewish about the movie’s theme and the reason that Ferris took that day off. Ferris shares his philosophy at the beginning and end of the movie when he says:

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Is there anything particularly Jewish in this?  I asked this question of Rabbi Steven Wernick, senior rabbi at Toronto’s Beth Tzedec Congregation. The answer is most certainly yes, and Rabbi Wernick pointed me to three sources:

The first is hakarat hatov, recognizing the good in our lives and expressing gratitude. As Pirkei Avot, (4:1) expresses: “Who is rich? One who is happy with their portion.” In other words, life moves fast, and one who takes time to appreciate what they have will find true happiness rather than always chasing more.

The second Jewish idea is simcha, finding joy in life, as Psalms (100:2) states: “Serve God with joy; come before God with gladness.”  Taking time to enjoy life is not just a luxury but a spiritual act. Judaism encourages experiencing joy as a form of divine service.

The third Jewish concept is Shabbat, having a day to stop, reflect and appreciate life, otherwise we risk missing its beauty in the rush of daily tasks.  The ideal of a day for sacred rest is found in Exodus (20:9-10):  “Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work.”

Who thinks that there is something very Jewish about Ferris Bueller?

Anybody?  Anybody?

For more treasures from the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow which appear in the Treasure Trove column weekly in the Canadian Jewish News see https://herzlcollection.com/treasure-trove