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

[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.