I want an American Jewish version of Rich Crazy Asians

[osewalrus]

I want an American Jewish version of Crazy Rich Asians. That is to say, a story set in the American Jewish community that is mercifully free of stereotypes. That would mean:

1. Not set in NYC or LA.
 

2. Not either Chassids or caricatures out of Portnoy's Complaint.

3. Jewish men are not represented as either physical coward-hypochondriac-intellectuals or something vaguely Amish. Jewish women are not represented as either shrews or repressed.

5. Jews are not represented as rich. Some might even be seen to have jobs like mechanic or baker or other working class profession.

6. The Jewish observances are not limited to Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, High Holiday services, and the Passover Seder. 

Seriously, the last movie (and practically the only movie) I can think of that met these characteristics was Driving Miss Daisy. How many people remember that the white family in that movie were Reform Jews living in Atlanta? (OK, that had the Jewish family in question as at least well off. But points for everything else.)

 

Comments

[gingicat]

Speaking as someone who worked in a JCC (though not for the JCC) for nearly 10 years, just centering on that could work. Maybe Pittsburgh? And don’t be afraid to show that we have prejudices against non-Jewish brown people, nor the very different views of Israeli politics among us.

[osewalrus]

Oh Hell, we have prejudices against non-Jewish white people and fellow Jews. Turns out Jews are human beings.

[gingicat]

Fallible humans indeed.

(Was just reading Lech L’cha and Vayera in preparation for choosing a particular date. Following the path of the patriarchs is only sort-of okay...)

[sdelmonte]

I have given up on that. I certainly have given up on any hope of seeing anything that ever portrayed Orthodox Jews in positive light, or that is aware that there is such a thing as modern Orthodox Jews.

[osewalrus]

Same. But what is even more atrocious is people don't even realize how ignorant they are. They think they know because they all watched Annie Hall or The Chosen and have a Jewish girlfriend or whatever.

[gorgeousgary]

Y'know, it occurs to me that the Babylon 5 episode "TKO" hits 4 of your 5 criteria, if not all 5. Mainly depends on whether you consider Theodore Bikel's character as Hassidic or just modern Orthodox.

Ivanova isn't a shrew (not as I think you mean) and sure as heck ain't repressed! (*grin*)

[avram]

But it’s not set in a Jewish community.

[osewalrus]

It's funny, I had the same thought, actually. I really liked that episode because it was 'hey, no big deal, but here is this highly competent second in command who just happens to be Jewish. Not in a big way, but clearly with a cultural/family connection sufficient so that there is a family friend who is a future-Orthodox (or future Conservative, given that he eats out in a restaurant but asks if the fish is a kosher fish) Rabbi.

But it's not a movie, and as Avram points out below it wasn't set in a Jewish community. But I am definitely of the "more like this, please!"

JMS did a pretty good job handling the evolution of human religions (and writing religious characters and religious themed stories) generally on B5. He actually paid as much attention researching and building human future culture (including religion) as he did alien cultures.