Tradition and Customs Quotes in Everything Is Illuminated

There's a bit of a cultural divide between the Ukrainian Alex and Grandpa, and the Jewish Jonathan. Grandpa seems to have pre-conceived notions of what Jewish people look like, and Jonathan (and Sammy Davis, Jr.) challenge them.

Alex isn't too happy to hear Jonathan say that Ukrainians were terrible to the Jews, yet we later find out, from Grandfather, that it's true. Perhaps this story is a way to show that these two different cultures can actually get along.

Not only is Jonathan Jewish, which is foreign enough for Alex and his family, he's a vegetarian. He might as well be an alien, to hear them react to that.