The 100 Greatest Jewish Movie Moments

In preparation for this over-indulgent list, our crack group of the nerdiest movie buffs we know has created Heeb’s official list of the 100 Greatest Jewish Movie Moments. Credit goes to Heeb humor editor David Deutsch, contributing editor Eric Kohn, dreidel hustler Brian Abrams, publisher Joshua Neuman, writer Rafi Samuels-Schwartz, horror film scholar Aviva Briefel, historian Leonard Maltin, and that intern of ours who can’t seem to make a decent cup of coffee, but knows an awful lot about the oeuvre of Adam Sandler. Lights, camera, action—let the countdown begin.

100. Where’s Poppa? (1970)

Gordon Hocheiser (George Segal) is head-over-heels for Louise Callan (Trish Van Devere), the demure nurse of his senile mother (Ruth Gordon), but mom can cockblock with the best of them. When Mrs. Hocheiser bites her son’s tushy in front of Callan at the dinner table, it’s the last straw for Hocheiser, who finally checks mom into an old age home. Ruth Gordon’s somehow sympathetic portrayal of this demented, overbearing Jewish mother makes Hocheiser’s decision all the more poignant.