Wasn't there an episode where she wouldn't eat lobster, because she was observant?

I think you're thinking of a Seinfeld episode. With lobster poaching and shrinkage.

Woody Allen movies, maybe? Meet the Parents?

Woody Allen movies, maybe? Meet the Parents?

It was supposed to be only Jewish men who weren't protrayed as nerdy and neurotic so I think Meet the Parents is out.

I don't know that I'd call this "stealthy" though -- I wouldn't know any of my co-workers' religions if it weren't for holidays (and only then if they make a point of taking time off for Good Friday, or Yom Kippur, etc).

Right. That was my point, I just didn't bother to actually type it out, since that would have required thought and effort.

since that would have required thought and effort

On a Monday? Nah, not worth it.

I stayed home from work today, ostensibly because I have a doctor's appointment, but mainly to get some stuff done. What am I doing? Hanging out here, reading Buffistas. I'm such a slacker.

Any film titles with American Jewish Leads come to mind?

Can I sing a couple bars of the Hanukah song??

I would suggest that, with the general cultural trends toward integration, Reform intermarriage, and blow-em-up movies not giving a shit about what the characters do when they're at home, Jewishness in film characters tends to become invisible. Once it's invisible, everybody just casts a tall himbo goy and doesn't even think about it. I can think of recent Jewish Issue movies -- Munich, The Believer -- but the former is a period piece (as is School Ties ) and the latter's protagonist is ultra-Orthodox. But I can't think of many major movies I've seen lately that have Jewish characters in a way that isn't, like, an Issue.

I suspect that it's like a lot of things that give texture to a story: in bad storytelling, all but the extremes disappear.

Grrrr.

Dear Cow-orker -

If you have someone in your office, PICK UP THE GODDAMNED PHONE. You know it's me, you know how I talk, and you KNOW my propensity for being .... colorful .... with my language.

Thanks for embarassing me, asswipe.

Me.

What about the movie A Price Above Rubies? I haven't seen it yet, but a Jewish friend of mine swears its one of the best movies that came out in 1998. [link]

It's set in a conservative Jewish community. Some of the characters are portrayed positively, others not so much.

It was just on one of the Encore movie channels over the weekend, and I caught a few minutes of it. Sort of strange seeing Renee Zellwinger as an Orthodox Jewish wife, complete with wig and long-ish skirt.