Article Discussion: Interfaith Celebrities: Jennifer Grey Dances Again, Stuff His Dad Says

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[Virginia Spatz]

_Dirty Dancing_ has nothing whatever to do with an "interfaith" relationship. Baby has a fling and, apparently, her first serious physical relationship with a man. In that sense it's a coming of age story, although it's really more about her coming into her own body than finding "love." On the other side, Johnny has a fling and, apparently, his first serious emotional relationship with a woman and learns some things about himself.

If any differences are involved for the couple, they are the classic "bad boy" from a slightly dangerous, low-income background versus a "good girl" from a sheltered, high-income area -- remember nasty Robbie the Waiter's comment about having "gone slumming too"? I don't get the sense that Robbie was a Jew. It's about class.

There is no issue of their families ever having to mingle. How would the pipe fitters or plumbers' union folks get along with the doctors, etc? That could be an issue if the relationship were to survive. But everyone knows, including the participants, that it's a summer thing.

Also, everyone seems to forget that an important aspect of the story line is about the illegal abortion and the scary choices that still faced women in those years. This is not an interfaith love story. It's a time-specific snapshot and paeon to a time and place.

The only Jewish aspect of the story might be that Baby has clearly been taught to "pursue justice," but there's no hint that this is in any context other than her own father's teaching.

Grey's personal relationship with Broderick or her later marriage are both SO THOROUGHLY beside the point, assuming there was one.

[Unregistered]

As a non-Jew from NY, it was clear to me that Baby was Jewish, and part of the movie was the interfaith aspect. We viewed it in one of my grad glasses at University of Minnesota, and I was the only one, other than the Jewish instructor who picked up on it.

[Maria]

How do we know Julian is Jewish? It says online that his parents are Jewish South Africans, but on his Twitter he talks about celebrating Christmas this year in America. What does he consider himself? Is he inter-faith?

[Benjamin Maron]

Maria,

As far as we know, both of his parents are Jewish. But as many of us know, Jews can celebrate Christmas with extended family, a partner's family or with friends.

The tweet you referenced said, "Heading to New York tomorrow! Been wanting to go for Christmas since Home Alone and Big kind of changed my world as a kid." "Going" and "celebrating" Christmas are two very different things. And as many, many movies have shown us, NYC boasts a certain "magical" experience during the Christmas season, with the city decked in lights, decorated, etc. I wouldn't read anything into the tweet...

[Been]

Morris' parents are definitely both Jewish. But a lot of Jews seem to love Christmas. Just check out that list of Christmas songs and who wrote them.