Can I tell you what I want for Mother’s Day? I mean, I want a lot of things (including gifts, yes please), but I’d really love a day to just sit down and watch the TV and movies I can’t watch because I’m too busy otherwise. And I really wish I could have a day of rest with my own mother – to enjoy our love of movies together while noshing on some popcorn.
My mother is all the way in Israel, and I am here in the States, so while I can’t watch any movies with her, I can put together a list of movies all about Jewish mothers and their children.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 9, 2025.
“The Fabelmans”
Is there a more iconic mother-son duo than Steven Spielberg and the late Leah Adler? This movie, which is based on the filmmaker’s touching relationship with his larger-than-life mom, movingly played by Michelle Williams, may be the best ode to a Jewish mother ever made.
Read a wonderful mother-son joint review of “The Fabelmans.”
“The Prince of Tides”
Justice for Barbra Streisand! Just like Greta Gerwig, she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for directing this much-beloved film about a complex relationship between a Jewish therapist and her patient. The movie also features Barbra’s real-life son, Jason Gould, playing her onscreen child.
“Otherhood”
If you need a distracting, easy watch, this movie about a group of mom-friends of grown children may have a bit of a stereotypical portrayal of a Jewish mom, portrayed by queen Patricia Arquette. It’s still quite a delightful and mostly light watching experience.
“Then She Found Me”
This surprisingly Jewish movie stars Bette Midler as the eccentric Jewish birth-mom of protagonist April (Helen Hunt) whose Judaism helps her through her IVF journey. You can read Elizabeth Cutler’s reflection on this film on Hey Alma.
“One Life”
Helena Bonham Carter plays a Jew-ish mother in this tearjerker of a biopic about Righteous Among Nations Nicholas Winton, who helped organize the Kindertransport and save hundreds of Jewish children during the Holocaust. I interviewed Helena about what playing this role meant to her and her connection to her own Jewish family story.
“13: the Musical”
Debra Messing and Rhea Perlman both play darling Jewish moms in this Netflix musical about a young boy who moves from New York to a small town and tries to organize his bar mitzvah among peers who know very little about the Jewish rite of passage.
Read my interview with Debra Messing on playing this awesome Jewish mother, as well as my conversation with star Eli Golden.
“Image of Victory”
This Israeli movie tells the story of one brave Jewish mom who was killed while defending her kibbutz during Israel’s War of Independence. Israeli actress Joy Rieger is incredible playing a take on the story of Mira Ben-Ari of Kibbutz Nitzanim.
“A Tale of Love and Darkness”
Natalie Portman’s directorial debut is based on the novel of the same name by Amos Oz, which is an ode to his Jewish mother living in Mandatory Palestine.
“Loving Leah”
In this old Hallmark gem, Susie Essman plays a pretty stereotypical but incredibly loving Orthodox Jewish mom of a religious young widow who winds up falling for her late husband’s secular brother. If you and the Jewish moms in your life love a Hallmark movie, consider having a marathon of Hallmark’s Jewish movies with some yummy noshes and Jewish-themed cocktails and very loud commentary.
“Ester Steinberg: Schmear Campaign”
I adored Ester Steinberg’s very Jewishly-named comedy special, “The Burning Bush,” which got so real about the process of labor and becoming a mother while telling some really fabulous Jewish jokes. I’m very happy her new special “Schmear Campaign” came out this year, and is just as full of Jewish mom jokes as her first special.
