A movie case study of anemic Jewish education

Keeping Up with the Steins (2006) is the first Hollywood film to focus on the Bar Mitzvah ceremony in its family, congregational, and Jewish community context. The film demonstrates how popular culture reflects community values, but may also shape them. The hero is alienated both from the synagogue service and his mega-Bar Mitzvah party. In line with current sociological thought, the film shows his search for meaning in personal space, not institutional frameworks. What is being passed on from generation to generation are the infrequent rituals of secular folk religion, as spirituality (let alone God) is not mentioned at all.