Why Won’t The Most Jewish Show on TV Talk About Palestine?
By Levi Jacobs
Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s new Netflix show features the Bay Area in its storytelling, and has been getting rave reviews. The Bojack Horseman creator has absolutely brought his incredible storytelling ability to the forefront in his new project, Long Story Short, but something is missing.
As a Jewish person from the Bay Area, and a massive fan of Bojack Horseman, I really wanted to like this show. The lens that Raphael was able to focus on addiction, mental illness, and family relationships in Bojack Horseman, made me bright eyed for what he may have to say about the Jewish experience in America, in 2025.
When I say this, I mean it, there is no way that he missed Palestine on accident. The show talks a lot about the holocaust. The old one. The one we said we would never let happen to anyone again. Many things have hit Palestine in recent days, notably bombs. They seem to have been missed by two things: food, and this show.
I don’t want to spoil the show, because it is actually very well written and made, something that portends to its absolute omission of the genocide occurring in Palestine. The show does seem to go out its way to pay lip service to everything “left wing” it can, while completely omitting what is happening.
There is a mixed race lesbian couple who lives in Oakland and met at Trader Joe’s. There is a familial struggle with parents to acknowledge the trauma they instill in their offspring. There is discussion of sperm donors, discussion of atheism, discussion of the destruction of art in the failing state of America. Somehow, not once, in the most Jewish thing I have seen on television since Larry David, is there a single mention of Israel and Palestine.
In many ways, to me, the show almost reads as an apologetic story that never says what it is apologizing for. It’s very much “here is why we hurt” and never gets to “hurt people hurt people”. Jewish art doesn’t have to comment on Israel forever in perpetuity, but it absolutely must right now. It is wildly tone deaf to make a show, in America, about how the holocaust is inherited trauma, while the state of Israel murders children with American weaponry. It can’t be an accident.
In different times, the show would not need to address a genocide. In different times, an artist would not have to explain why they made a show about the American Jew and didn’t discuss Palestine. These are unfortunately not different times.
Spoiler alert: the show utilizes time travel as a narrative device. It is a show unstuck in time. That device leaves so many options open to discuss Palestine. Do it in 1972 during the olympics, do it in 1948 as Israel becomes an ethno-state, replacing mandatory Palestine. Do it in ‘96 as Netanyahu comes to power. Do it in the ‘70s when Zionism was cute. Just? You know, DO IT. It’s heartbreaking to watch such a talented artist ignore something so essential to the story.
It behooves me to reiterate that I am Jewish, and an artist, and a writer. I simply cannot imagine creating a project in 2025 that talks so much about a genocide that happened 80 years ago (as the show does in several episodes), and refuses to acknowledge the genocide currently happening. I was taken aback immediately, and compelled to write about it.
Without too many spoilers, there is a joke in the second episode that I think actually gets it right. One of the main characters is accused of being a “self hating Jew”, a term I heard echoed by my grandparents. He responds, “I’m not a self hating Jew, it’s all the other Jews I hate.”
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.
I want to take the time to say thank you for supporting independent news media by reading BrokeAssstuart.com. Supporting independent news sources like Broke-Ass Stuart is vital to supporting our community because it amplifies the voices of a wide variety of diverse opinions. You also help support small businesses and local artists by sharing stories from Broke-Ass Stuart.
Because you're one of our supporters, I wanted to send over a pro-tip.
Our bi-weekly newsletter is a great way to get round ups of Broke-Ass Stuart stories, learn about new businesses in The Bay Area, find out about fun local events and be first in line for giveaways.
If you’d like to get our newsletter, signup right here, it takes 5 seconds.
