Non-Orthodox Jew Doing Research About Orthodox Jews Dabbling in Secularism

Shabbat Shalom!

Full upfront disclosure—I have never been Orthodox, and am here to research for a screenplay…

My backstory: I am 100% Ashkenazi, raised in the US by Ukrainian immigrants who—having, themselves, been forbidden from practicing Judaism growing up—did their best to instill a Jewish education in their kids (without being overbearing—essentially just lighting candles on Shabbat and going to temple on Saturdays and high holidays). After attending Jewish day school through 5th grade and following my Bar Mitzvah, I declared myself an atheist and stopped going to temple completely. Though I was always proudly culturally Jewish, my non-practice lasted 2 decades, and it wasn’t until age 34 (I’m 37 now) that I started attending a Chabad temple every Saturday, keeping kosher at home (no pork ever) and—post October 7–wrapping tefillin (around an arm completely covered in tattoos).

I am also a writer/director living in Los Angeles (which is on fire even as I type this—thank Gd my family and home are safe). I am currently working on a screenplay about an Orthodox Jew from NYC who moves to LA to explore secular life, and befriends his next-door neighbor, a Black lawyer. It’s an odd couple bromantic comedy about friendship, love, adulthood, and identity, in which I aim to not only truthfully portray both characters but also play against stereotype (ie the Jewish guy—David—is actually way better at basketball than his Black friend, Darby; Darby is far more bookish than David). My objective is not to denounce or demonize Orthodox Judaism in any way, but rather to honestly portray someone having a crisis of faith and finding his own way (spoiler alert—David comes full circle back to observance, but only after having his sort of “Rumspringa” and deciding that it was what he wanted, himself).

In the interest of honest storytelling, I am doing more research to inform my characters. And while I do have access to plenty of religious Jews I could talk to, I don’t know anyone who was formerly religious. I felt like this community might be a good place to turn, as folks here have experience with both religious and secular life, and can presumably appreciate the notion of questioning what you’ve always been taught and looking for your own answers.

I hope this falls within the regulations of this community, and I look forward to engaging in discussion with anyone who is interested, either publicly or via DM.

Thank you!