Many in Sheboygan‘s Jewish community still recall with pride one of their own who “made it big” in show business. Jackie Mason, who passed away on Saturday, was born in Sheboygan in 1928 as Jacob Moshe Maza.
Mason and his family were members of a thriving Jewish community that established itself in Sheboygan beginning in the 1890’s, and Mason spent his early years surrounded by rabbis that, according to his biography, included three of his brothers. He was ordained himself at age 25, but later left the synagogue after three years because, in his words, “Someone in the family had to make a living.”.
Mason spent most of his career practicing comedy in the so-called “Borscht Belt” in New York State’s Catskill resort region. He went on to enjoy success in television and movies. Jackie Mason died on Saturday in Manhattan at age 93.
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