He described his upbringing as Jewish, but not overly religious.
His comedy frequently discussed his faith and in an interview with the Jewish United Fund, he said: “We weren't [too] religious but I was always proud to be a Jew and what Jews had to fight for from the get-go. I take great pride in keeping my Judaism alive and well-respected.”
He added that his Judaism was: “Something that I wear as a cloak and with the utmost respect for all those in my faith.”
In an interview with the Jewish Telegraph, he paid tribute to his father William, who he described as the "god of kosher catering" in New York and New Jersey.
He recalled: "My father was so well known as a caterer and so booked up that he was actually booked on the weekend of my bar mitzvah so I had to have my party on the Tuesday.
"I had about 30 friends at the bar mitzvah party and it was one of the great bar mitzvahs of all time.”
In an interview with the Jewish Journal, Lewis said: “I’m so Jewish. I’m Jewish from my toes to the remaining hairs on the back of my head. I’m not a deeply religious person, but I am spiritual. I feel Jewish when I wake up. I feel Jewish when I go to bed. I’m not an atheist. I love the story. I’m proud to be a Jew. I don’t feel I do enough as a practicing Jew, but as Mel Brooks once said, and this is his line, ‘I don’t practice, I’m very good at it.’ I reek of Judaism. And I feel blessed about it.”
