Actual-life ‘Sizzling Rabbi’ slams Netflix’s ‘No one Desires This’ for unfavourable Jewish stereotypes in open letter

Pricey creators of “No one Desires This”:

Mazels on the success of your hit Netflix collection. I do know most of the intelligent elements of the present are rooted in your private tales – a podcast with a sister and changing for marriage. It have to be a thrill! I’m grateful that your crew determined to forged Jewish actors to play a number of the predominant Jewish characters — that’s a notable alternative. I’m completely satisfied that almost all of Jewish individuals will discover this rom-com related, as 70% of non-Orthodox Jews now marry exterior the religion.

I needed “No one Desires This.” I learn many optimistic opinions earlier than binging the collection. I cherished that viewers had been excited over the private lifetime of a rabbi. I like {that a} synagogue rabbi consulted on the present — he’s my pal’s uncle! I put on a Favourite Daughter sweatshirt. I’ve appreciated Erin Foster’s outspoken help for Israel and in opposition to rising antisemitism.

Let me backup and share slightly about myself. I’m a younger rabbi serving a inhabitants of contemporary Jewish constituents. Coincidentally, Haaretz’s 2022 profile on me is titled “New York’s Sizzling Rabbi Unabashedly Likes Her Title.” I went to Jewish faculties and camps my complete upbringing. I preserve kosher dietary guidelines. I work as a Jewish educator and facilitator each single day. I’ve a really full schedule and restricted social life.

Like Joanne, I used to be single for what felt like ceaselessly. I simply received married this 12 months. I met my husband, Ben, at a Shabbat dinner. Moreover chemistry and timing, what drew us collectively was our shared background and charity work. For our fourth date we noticed a manufacturing of “Fiddler On the Roof” in Yiddish. Months later, we received engaged in Jerusalem.

Previous to Ben, I had solely ever dated Jewish guys — you identify the sort, I attempted to make it work. I felt conflicted as a Jewish chief and publicly courting. One man was technically Jewish however had his mezuzah, ritual door casing, on the flawed facet of the entryway. I attempted to let it go for months, grateful he had some Jewish identification. However when he confused Moses parting the Pink Sea with the Useless Sea, I received the “ick,” and we had been completed.

I’m Jewish in every part I do. That’s how and why I’m a rabbi. My many years of training, self expression, and mission in life are tied to my Jewishness and sharing my faith joyously.

So, I discover your portrayal of Judaism problematic. Enable me to pile on to the objections and critiques of Jessica Radloff of Glamour and Allison Josephs of Jews within the Metropolis; the present is unfair to the Jewish individuals and specifically, Jewish ladies. Did you contemplate that you just portrayed each Jewish lady as manipulative and overbearing? I really feel as if you laid a lure for any Jewess to seek out fault together with your collection: in the event that they do, they show your stereotype.

In her Vulture evaluation, Fran Hoepfner will get it proper: “the present’s central downside [is] that nobody within the present itself appears all that keen on being Jewish within the first place and the way it dictates that folks stay their lives.” All the present’s Jews have paper —skinny non secular observance. Even the rabbi doesn’t adhere to a lot of something.

Your view on Jewish professionals is shallow. The temple’s senior rabbi is a corrupt buffoon. You miss numerous particulars as Noah navigates the non secular and secular worlds. How are you going to have the rabbi journey on the sabbath, ditch his camp retreat and obligations, after which bless candles and non-Kosher wine and not using a head masking?

As a rabbi, I can’t imagine Noah solely cares about interfaith courting simply due to his impending promotion. It’s unbelievable that Joannes’ doable conversion comes up solely within the eighth episode. By then there’s no probability that she would make such a dedication to Noah’s faith. Your model of Judaism is unwelcoming, cerebral and but completely arbitrary.

Do you understand within the last product you’ve whittled down Judaism to being about identical — religion courting and abstaining from pork? Nothing else appears sacred to the Jewish characters — definitely not kindness, outreach and deep observe. Even the 12 year-old campers are judgy-hypocrites and liars. Aside from enjoying mediocre basketball, the Jewish males blackmail one another and are disloyal to their wives. And why wouldn’t they be? You sketch a caricature of controlling and frigid Jewish wives. Noah’s mom is unprincipled on condition that she’s caught red-handed consuming pork from the trash. Judaism will get just a few pithy shout-outs for being in opposition to gossip and celebrating relaxation; that alone doesn’t do the Jewish faith justice.

I’m upset in your present. Greater than that, I’m upset in the best way you wasted a chance to do one thing nice for the group that has embraced the present’s creator and helped construct her household. I uphold the awesomeness of Judaism. I’m undecided in the event you see any actual magnificence or attraction in our faith; I’m not saying you hate it, however “No one Desires This” doesn’t replicate that you just prefer it. What you wrote makes it appear to be the one redeemable facet of Judaism is the Sizzling Rabbi. I’m holding again once I say your collection is extra hurtful than it’s useful to Jews.

The Jewish Excessive Holidays begin this week. It’s a time devoted to reflecting on our actions and their impact on others. It doesn’t matter if the hurt was intentional or unintentional. We should attempt to be higher and restore what we’ve damaged. In the event you get a second season, please preserve a few of this in thoughts. I needed to say one thing, as a result of as a Jewish lady, I’m sincere and robust.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Rebecca Keren Jablonski

Rebecca Keren Jablonski is a rabbi, creator and personal educator. Her highly-anticipated debut memoir Confessions of a Feminine Rabbi: Related Faith in an On-Demand World was launched in August 2024 by Viva Editions/Simon & Schuster. She can be a contributing creator for On Being Jewish Now, Essays and Reflections from Authors and Advocates (Zibby Media, Oct 1). Her Instagram is @Myhotrabbi.