By Nirit Anderman on Haaretz…
Simone Nathan has turned Auckland’s Jewish community into comedy gold with her hit sitcom ‘Kid Sister.’ She talks about growing up Modern Orthodox on the other side of the planet and her complicated relationship with Israel.
A young Jewish woman from a good family is searching for Mr. Right while her family is exerting massive pressure for this prince to be one of the tribe. The plot for TV series “Kid Sister” proves that with a little originality and plenty of wit (an exotic location doesn’t hurt either), even the hoariest of clichés can be turned into a charming comedy.
Not only does the New Zealand show make it clear that Diaspora Jews worked very hard to disperse – making it as far as Auckland, some 10,000 miles from Jerusalem. It also proves that some of them at least are well-equipped with self-effacing humor, which helps them survive life in a small and intense community on the other side of the planet.
The show is the story of Lulu, who returns after a few months in America to live with her parents in Auckland, and falls straight back into the arms of her non-Jewish ex-boyfriend. Meanwhile, she tells her parents she left a Jewish boyfriend behind who is waiting for her, just so they’ll leave her alone.
Before the truth can come to light, Lulu manages to get herself into trouble on every possible level. She tries to understand who she is and what she wants in life, while also grappling with the recognition that she, too, carries that mysterious Jewish gene that makes one long for a circumcised groom and a kosher wedding.
Read the full story on Haaretz here.
