Rachel’s father was played by Ron Leibman. Perhaps unlike the Gellers, her mother having been played by Marlo Thomas, she may have been the child of intermarriage. Her sisters were played by Christina Applegate and Reese Witherspoon.
I wanted to mention that another show-runner was Kevin Bright who attended my alma matter, Eastside Hebrew Institute (ESHI) in Manhattan.
That's really cool! Actually, according to Kauffman, Rachel is the only halachic Jew of the show, apparently, Christina Pickles' Judy Geller is not Jewish and Marlo's Sandra Green IS, which is so interesting to me. I feel like having Christina Applegate and Reese Witherspoon play Rachel's sisters just tracks with her being played by Jennifer Aniston — all not actors you would think of for Jewish roles and yet in this specific show, they all are.
Yeah, Rachel had to be Jewish. But Robyn makes a good point about her obviously non-Jewish sisters.Maybe as the writers' room changed over the years, they lost the origin story. But let's not quibble. Let's make Christina and Reese Jews and be done with it.
I never bought Reese and Christina as Rachel’s sisters OR the children of Marlo and Ron. So I’m saying yes, Rachel is Jewish and chalking up the others to stunt casting for celebrities.
Rachel’s father was played by Ron Leibman. Perhaps unlike the Gellers, her mother having been played by Marlo Thomas, she may have been the child of intermarriage. Her sisters were played by Christina Applegate and Reese Witherspoon.
I wanted to mention that another show-runner was Kevin Bright who attended my alma matter, Eastside Hebrew Institute (ESHI) in Manhattan.
That's really cool! Actually, according to Kauffman, Rachel is the only halachic Jew of the show, apparently, Christina Pickles' Judy Geller is not Jewish and Marlo's Sandra Green IS, which is so interesting to me. I feel like having Christina Applegate and Reese Witherspoon play Rachel's sisters just tracks with her being played by Jennifer Aniston — all not actors you would think of for Jewish roles and yet in this specific show, they all are.
Yeah, Rachel had to be Jewish. But Robyn makes a good point about her obviously non-Jewish sisters.Maybe as the writers' room changed over the years, they lost the origin story. But let's not quibble. Let's make Christina and Reese Jews and be done with it.
Perhaps their only Jewish roles !!
I never bought Reese and Christina as Rachel’s sisters OR the children of Marlo and Ron. So I’m saying yes, Rachel is Jewish and chalking up the others to stunt casting for celebrities.
I mean, that's definitely something "Friends" did a lot!
Rachel Green literally says to Pheobe “…but I’m not Jewish” when Pheobe sings “Rachel spins the dreidel” during her holiday song.
Chandler says that, not Rachel (in "The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie"). Her only feedback is: "Rachel doesn't rhyme with dreidel."