Jewish-Themed T V:
10 Shows to Watch This Summer
e’re supposedly in a golden age of television, with more
outlets than ever, not to mention more quality offerings
than at any point in history.

And Jews are well-represented on TV, with Israeli shows,
Jewish-themed documentaries and plenty of programs that
feature Jewish actors or obviously Jewish characters, even if the
content often is relatively secular.

While social distancing restrictions are starting to loosen,
it’s likely many summer activities will be curtailed, leading us
to have more time in front of what former FCC head Newton
Minow once dubbed a “vast wasteland.”
In no particular order, here are some shows to check out.

W “Unorthodox” (Netflix)
This four-part miniseries debuted earlier this year to much
acclaim, providing a searing look into the life of a young Satmar
woman who abandons an unhappy arranged marriage and lowly
status in her Brooklyn community.

The thing is, protagonist Esther Shapiro (superbly portrayed by
Shira Haas) doesn’t know what she’s looking for. She heads to Berlin,
makes friends, sort of reconciles with her outcast mother and begins
to figure out what she really wants — but her husband and a cousin
are hot on her trail to bring her back to the United States.

The attention to detail helps elevate “Unorthodox” into elite
territory. “Grace and Frankie”/”The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
Both shows feature plenty of alter kocker-themed humor that
makes for perfect summertime viewing. It’s also a pleasure to
watch old pros like Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin (Jewish!), Martin
Sheen and Sam Waterston (not a Jew, but plays one in the show!)
in the former and Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin (both
Jewish!) in the latter clearly enjoying themselves still performing.

And Jewish fingerprints are all over both shows.

“Grace and Frankie” is essentially an updated “Odd Couple,”
while “The Kominsky Method” is more akin to “Grumpy Old
Men.” Despite the inherent silliness in both programs, some of
the universal issues plaguing seniors — death, having to urinate
frequently, memory loss, being unable to get off the toilet — are
dealt with both humorously and poignantly.

It’s also fun when older guest stars pop in. Wait, is that
Ann-Margret? Hey, that’s Sam Elliott!
“Shtisel” (Netflix)
Like “Unorthodox,” “Shtisel” focuses on the haredi Orthodox
community, although the setting is the Geula neighborhood of
Jerusalem instead of Brooklyn.

The Israeli-created program explores the life Rabbi Shulem
Shtisel, as well as his family, which lives in a strict religious
community. When norms are violated, it creates conflict within
the family.

Some have described the show as an anthropological portrayal
of a mostly inaccessible society.

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime)
This much-lauded show draws kudos for a hefty dose of
nostalgia as well as its portrayal of late 1950s/early 1960s Jewish
housewife Miriam “Midge” Maisel who turns to comedy after
her husband leaves her for his secretary.

There are Jewish themes galore and Rachel Brosnahan, a
non-Jew, knocks it out of the park, mixing doses of sass and
humility. The supporting cast is stellar, too.

“Unorthodox” 10
JUNE 25, 2020
Netflix “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
Not much needs to be said about “Curb,” but Larry David
fans or George Costanza fans (really just Larry David fans in
disguise) will likely enjoy the most-recent season of Larry’s
foibles coloring his life. Leon Black (J.B. Smoove) is outrageous
as ever. And Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin) being mistaken for Harvey
Weinstein was a highlight, too.

“The Devil Next Door” (Netflix)
This five-part documentary about John “Ivan the Terrible”
Demjanjuk, the suspected concentration camp guard, details his
highly publicized trial a decade ago.

While the documentary is thorough, it’s a bit repetitive at
times. Still, the testimony of survivors who identify him remains
moving, even if there are some potential doubts about his guilt.

(Even so, the since-deceased Demjanjuk is hardly a sympathetic
figure.) Perhaps the most salient point the documentary makes is that
the passage of time blurs a lot of lines, making finding the truth
a much more difficult task.

“Fauda” (Netflix)
Unlike the other shows on this list, this is more of an action-
thriller program. Additionally, anecdotal evidence shows that
“Fauda” is a polarizing program — either you really like it or you
can’t stand it.

“Fauda” focuses on Doron (Lior Raz), commander of the
Israel Defense Forces’ Mista’arvim unit. Doron and his soldiers
are trying to track down “The Panther,” a Hamas arch-terrorist
played by Hisham Sulliman.

THIS SUMMER
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ANDY GOTLIEB | JE STAFF