An Intriguing Series with a Central Jewish Character

 

One of the COVID semi-isolation dilemmas is deciding what to binge-watch on television. We've watched lots of noir crime dramas and thrillers, but after a while the allure of brutal murders and mutilated corpses runs out. And no matter what country they're from they all have the same ominous sound track with tones and drones rather than actual scores.

A friend recommended an Aussie series set in the 1950's,  A Place to Call Home, and after a number of episodes there has only been one death, so that's a plus. There is a bit of Dallas meets Dynasty with a side order of Downtown Abbey, but that adds to the fun. As season one draws to a close I'm hoping they'll all enter therapy -- this is a messed up bunch.

What I find intriguing is that the central character is a woman who returns to Australia after 20 years in Europe. While there she converted from her family's Roman Catholicism to Judaism for reasons I won't reveal here. Despite prejudice and rejection she remains true to her adopted faith and continues to use the name Sarah. She has lived through the horrors of Jewish persecution during WW2 and refuses to assimilate on her return. 

In one episode Sarah observes Shabbat with one of the few Jewish households. In another she observes Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, entering a stream as a makeshift mikveh for cleansing. She seeks out forgiveness from someone who has wronged her far more significantly, a gesture which is rejected as empty ritual. Donna Robinson Divine, a professor of Jewish studies describes her faith this way: 

...Sarah’s Judaism stakes an even broader claim for universal meaning that gives it its emotional power and philosophical depth. Her Judaism springs from an ongoing dialogue she seems to have with God. Having been thrust into situations that are fraught with moral complexities, she gravitates to God for guidance even though she knows the decisions are hers and that she bears responsibility for their consequences.

As we've watched it occurred to me that there are few Jewish characters in dramas who are central to the story and seldom is the Jewish faith treated with respect. For this alone I'm glad we've watched.

Has anyone else seen this series? Are you a fan?