Hollywood’s Orthodox Jew Problem: A JITC Documentary

For nearly two decades, Jew in the City has worked to challenge misconceptions about Orthodox Jews by sharing authentic stories of Jewish life. That mission expanded with the launch of the JITC Hollywood Bureau, an initiative dedicated to improving Jewish representation on screen and behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

Created in collaboration with PhilmCo Media, Hollywood’s Orthodox Jew Problem is the first installment of a three-part documentary series exploring how Hollywood’s portrayals of Jews have shaped public perception—and why those portrayals matter. This first film focuses on Orthodox Jews. Part two will examine antisemitic tropes and caricatures of secular Jews, and part three will highlight the erasure of Jews of color.

The documentary features interviews with television writer Rob Kutner, acclaimed author Dara Horn (People Love Dead Jews), Chabad comedian Mendy Pellin, and JITC founder Allison Josephs. It also examines recent examples of problematic Orthodox Jewish representation, including NBC’s Nurses and Netflix’s My Unorthodox Life.

While stories about leaving Orthodox Judaism can certainly be worth telling, Josephs argues that their overwhelming prevalence creates a distorted picture of a small religious community.

“We’re a tiny people,” she explains in the documentary. “The overrepresentation of observance as a thing to leave sends a really clear message that the way out is the only way for the Jew to complete him or herself.”

The documentary also explores why representation is about far more than entertainment. Pellin argues that inaccurate portrayals can have real-world consequences.

“It’s not just, ‘Oh, it would be nice if we looked good,'” he says. “No, there is death and violence that ultimately comes from othering a group of people.”

At a time of rising antisemitism around the world, the conversation feels more urgent than ever. Rather than calling for perfect Jewish characters, Hollywood’s Orthodox Jew Problem advocates for authentic, nuanced portrayals that recognize Orthodox Jews as fully human.

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