What’s In a Jewish Father?

Image by Lior Zaltzman
Pop culture is flooded with images and stereotypes about Jewish moms. But what makes a Jewish dad is still shrouded in mystery.
Is he nebbishy? Is he silent, reading his morning paper? Is he boisterous and argumentative? Is he a hippy like in ‘Dharma and Greg’? Portrayal of Jewish dads are all over the board – they can’t be pinned down.
In honor of Father’s Day, I propose we go beyond the caricature. I want to hear what being a Jewish dad is all about, and what your Jewish fathers are like. My own abba is coming to visit me from Israel, and I intend to ask him just that question.
Send me a couple of sentences, or an anecdote that you think is the perfect example (zaltzman(at)forward.com) and I’ll create quick illustrations leading up to Father’s Day.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
