Ever since “Nobody Wants This” was announced in the spring of 2023, it’s been impossible not to compare lead actor Adam Brody’s hot rabbi Noah Roklov to his breakout role as nerdy teen Seth Cohen in “The O.C.” Both are certified NJBs that have to contend with interfaith relationships. And given the timeline of both shows, Rabbi Noah Roklov theoretically represents the kind of adult Seth Cohen could’ve grown into.
But will “Nobody Wants This” ever have Chrismukkah, the interfaith celebration of both Hanukkah and Christmas that was popularized by “The O.C.”? Adam Brody himself has thoughts.
When the 45-year-old Jewish actor was asked this question on the red carpet at the premiere of “Nobody Wants This” season two last week, he went back and forth. “Assume if [Noah and Joanne] continue, and if they have children, that might be a nice thing for the kids,” Adam offered, before immediately reconsidering. “Well, no, actually. I take it back because he’s going to need to do Hanukkah by the book.”
He concluded: “That said, might he be open to a Christmas tree, too? He is a rabbi. But I think, you know… I don’t hate that idea for him.”
It’s a response that captures the complexity of interfaith relationships, particularly for faith leaders like rabbis. (Though this author from an interfaith Jewish household will always scream from the rooftops that it is more than possible to have an interfaith upbringing and a strong relationship to Judaism.) It also gets at just how deep the conversation goes within the Jewish community about whether Jews can or should have Christmas trees. However, given that the Roklov family are Soviet expat Jews, it wouldn’t be out of character for them to have an evergreen tree in their home around Christmastime.
I’ll let Hey Alma contributor Michele Kirchanskaya, who comes from a Ukrainian-Jewish immigrant family from the former Soviet Union, explain.
Due to the Soviet Union’s state-mandated atheism, Michele writes, New Year’s or Novy God became the popular, gift-exchanging winter holiday for its citizens. “So — the fir tree normally associated with Christmas, which is referred to as yolka (literally meaning fir or spruce tree) or novogodnyaya yelka (New Year’s tree) has taken on secular significance, decorated to the nines for New Year’s,” she delineates.
“As for me, the tree has always represented one of my favorite Slavic-Jewish traditions,” Michele goes on. “Every year around New Year’s, my parents took the time out of their busy schedules to set up the tree with my sister and me, decorating it with ornaments from our travels, gifts from friends and relatives, and cartoon characters from our favorite shows. There have never been any Christian connotations associated with the tree — just a smorgasbord of memories with my own Jewish family.”
So could Chrismukkah ever happen in “Nobody Wants This” — assuming Noah and Joanne are together long enough to celebrate the winter holidays together? It’s absolutely possible! Your move, Erin Foster.
