Jewish plot lines and Jewish characters aren’t new to the mainstream media.
When Fox aired the popular show “New Girl,” the show included a Jewish main character, Schmidt, who is shown celebrating Chanukah, talking about his bar mitzvah and confiding in his rabbi. He is even shown in one episode singing the Shema. On the popular NBC show “Friends,” many of the main characters are Jewish, however it is less overt. Monica and Ross mention having bar and bat mitzvahs and celebrating Chanukah during the show.
As entertainment has shifted away from network television and into streaming, popular shows like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which aired exclusively on Amazon Prime, have become critically acclaimed series. Or Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This,” which has been seen a lot of media attention, including backlash for negative stereotypes and praise for the show’s perspective.
But before Jewish TV became popular to the mainstream, there was the Jewish Television Network, which first aired in 1981.
In the April 10, 1981 issue of the Baltimore Jewish Times, an article titled “Jews Discovering Cable TV Potential,” writes about the “first experiment in the United States featuring regularly scheduled programming aimed at a Jewish audience.”
The author of the article, Carol Soren, explains the network’s programming offered programs produced by the Jewish Federation council, specially produced and acquired children’s programs, Yiddish, Hebrew, and Jewish cultural and news programs, teachings in Jewish law, performances, and more.
“The dream of many Jewish individuals and organizations around the country, JTN first went on air in December. Technical difficulties forced its suspension soon after,” Soren wrote. “While the technical bugs were being ironed out, JTN has been concentrating on consolidating its position and obtaining a stronger base, says JTN executive director, Sydney Levine.”
Soren added, “a non-profit network, JTN at the outset will serve just the Los Angeles Jewish community, although expectations are that the network could be expanded to other cities in the future.”
