First of all, a very belated happy new year to all you out in blog land :-). I'm late in sending my good wishes. Life, as always, likes to throw curve balls and keep me busy.

Now. On to the meat of this blog -- that of Jewish stereotypes in literature. Or, in this case, made-for-TV movies. Like the recent Hallmark showing of "Loving Leah." I'll launch this by saying I haven't yet seen the show (though we've DVR'd it). But based on the reviews of this show, I'm already shaking my head. I should have seen it coming. Another Jewish Literary Stereotype. JLS -- it's around, everywhere we look.

For those of you who may not have heard of this (and it could well be most of you in this category), Loving Leah concerns a young Hasidic bride who is the widow of an Orthodox rabbi. This rabbi's brother, a thoroughly non-observant cardiologist, marries her because of a little-known Jewish law that states this needs to happen to carry on the family name. The playboy cardiologist doesn't like this. Neither does the widow. But they make the best of it, get married, love blossoms between them, etc., etc., etc.

One reviewer posted that this show demonstrates a view of a "different culture." Hmm. Aside from the fact that this legal custom is a really obscure one that kinda flies in the face of Leviticus (remember the blurb about not lying with your husband's wife?), the show seems to come up with JLS after JLS that I want to put to rest.

Point 1. Not all very religious Jewish women are mousy, subservient, meek, mild-mannered females who creep around with no opinions of their own.
One of the people I admire the most is my rabbi's wife. We attend a Hasidic shul (synagogue), not too different from the one depicted in "Loving Leah." Yes, the rebbitzen (rabbi's wife) covers her head. And yes, she is very religious. She's also one of the most intelligent, up-to-date, self-aware women I know. She's outspoken with a wicked sense of humor. She runs the religious school with an iron fist. And she's very stylish (she dresses better than I do. Then again, that's not saying a whole lot). Nor is she the only one. Most of the Orthodox women attending our shul are the exact same way. No one there is subservient. They'd kick any guy who tried to put them under his thumb. I mean it. I've seen it happen. The rabbis know who runs our shul. And it ain't the rabbis.

Point 2. Not all Jewish men are schmucks without a clue.
Think "Jewish man," and what comes to mind is -- Woody Allen. Some neurotic mama's boy who is convinced that no woman could possibly love him, so he sleeps with as many goyische girls as he can to prove his manhood. I'm not sure if Loving Leah's "hero" Jake falls into this category, but one reviewer did say he carried on an affair with his shallow non-Jewish girlfriend while being married to Leah.

JLS alert.

Most Jewish men (with the exception of wife-beaters, but that's for another post), are wholly committed to their wives. They take the role of husband/provider seriously. They are charged with caring for their wives and family. And believe it or not, many are NOT under the thumbs of overbearing Jewish mothers (see next point). Do they disparage their wives to others? In the words of the immortal Sarah Palin, you betcha. But then again, Jewish wives aren't above a little jab here or there, either. So not all Jewish men are clueless. At least, no more than the average male. I apologize to the average male. That was my one sexist comment for the month.

Point 3. Not all Jewish mamas are overbearing women with henpecked husbands, sons tied to their apron strings and daughters afraid to assert themselves. Nor or Jewish dads silent doormats.
Most Jewish mothers are like other mothers. And most Jewish dads are like other dads. BOTH parents want their kids to do well. And yeah, Jewish mamas are not above thrusting a little guilt around from time to time to get their way. But my mother never used the "I was in labor 500 hours with you" line to get me to do something. I don't remind my son that I changed his diapers as motivation to get HIM to do something (most times, reminding him to do a chore about 500 times or so does it). And believe me, when my son is old enough to marry, I won't go with the old saw that no woman will be good enough for my son. Even though there isn't a woman out there who WILL be good enough for my son.

Finally, Point 4. American Jews don't have funny accents.
I mean, come on folks. We're all Americans, right? We left the Yiddishe/Russian accents behind when we came to America. Most of us are third and fourth generation Jews. East Coast Jews have East Coast dialects. Midwest Jews sound nasely, just like their Christian counterparts. Southern Jews make two syllables out of one word (example: "Lamp" turns into "Lay-amp"). Then there's me -- born a Midwesterner with some New England and some Southern Drawl. Confuses the hell out of people I meet. But I digress.

In short, beware the JLS. I don't care if JLS rears its head in a Hallmark presentation like Loving Leah, a Philip Roth novel (pick one) or a Woody Allen movie. When you see a JLS, take my advice. Close your eyes, plug your ears...and pray.