There are several competitors, each one righteous and courageous in their own ways. Each one has had their faith tested and each one has been faced with difficult decisions.
The first one is Eve. Her and her partner Adam have been thrust together but have created this idyllic paradise in which they live. They are completely comfortable with each other and are happy to be isolated. However, Eve is an impressionable young woman, she is easily led astray by others and at times seems incapable of making decisions on her own and then taking responsibility for them. Eve has two sons that do not get along, one is jealous of the other and there seems to be an unhealthy amount of resentment between the members of the household.
The second competitor is called Sara. She is an interesting woman who is one of those 'older' mothers. Basically, she waited so long to have a child that when she finally gave births to a son, she was besotted by him. Her husband has another son from a previous relationship and Sara is anxious that her son maintains his position as the Favourite. If she had it her way her husband would have no contact with his firstborn.
Hagar is our third contestant and this is where our world reveals a web of connections. Hagar is the former partner of Sara's husband. She works tirelessly for her son to maintain a relationship with his father. Sometimes Hagar gets depressed as she fears for her son's future when he clearly lacks a positive male role model. She tries to do the job of two parents but this is sometimes to no avail.
Rebecca is the next candidate. Demure and poised Rebecca seems to be the young woman that others want to be. Kind hearted and with a generous spirit it seems as though Rebecca is wise beyond her years. She married her husband after a whirlwind romance and became pregnant with twins quite quickly. As a mother Rebecca changes somewhat as she cannot help but favour her youngest twin. He is studious and and respectful of her whereas her eldest son is much more of a boyish boy and has a great relationship with his father. Rebecca wants her youngest to be in favour with her husband and will Do whatever it takes for that to happen.
Rachel and Leah are sisters and although they get on we'll they have committed the crime of falling in love with the same man. This man cannot decide between them and although he loves Rachel more he maintains a relationship with Leah. He has over a dozen children with four different partners. He too has his favourites and this leads to untold jealousy and resentment and fighting between the brothers.
These women have a point of view and they stick to it. These women want the best for their children (some of them anyway) and like any Jewish mum will do whatever it takes to help their children progress in life. Although in some cases, their actions to some might be seen as deplorable but are they wicked people? Not really, just a little misunderstood.
In recent weeks many Jewish women across the UK have been both appalled and entertained by channel 4's 'Jewish mum of the year'. I have found it cringeworthy at times and like many others have questioned the wisdom of the Jewish news and the contestants in taking part in a programme that in many cases reinforces stereotypes, shows Judaism as a religion without depth and has taken the most extreme personalities and put them together and waited for the fireworks to begin. ( contrived TV more than reality TV me thinks). However, what the programme has also shown is the strength of Jewish women, regardless of their religious affiliation, their marital status and the number of children they have produced ad most importantly, all are proud of their Jewish roots (otherwise they wouldn't be on the show in the first place.)
Like the book of Genesis that we are currently reading on Shabbat, the show is like a soap opera with a balanced amount of tension, rivalry, laughs and tears. The protagonists might not be the role models that we are looking for in the Jewish community but then again Anat Hoffman, Laura Marks and Elaine Sacks organising a Jewish Care outing to West-cliff might not make compulsive viewing!
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