Nobody Wants This: The meaning of Shiksa in the Netflix rom-com, explored

Netflix's rom-com series, Nobody Wants This, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, dropped on September 26, 2024. Created by Erin Foster, this series is about an unusual relationship between an American Yiddish rabbi, Noah Roklov, and a podcaster, Joanne. The series garnered around 7.8 stars out of 10 on IMDb and a whopping 95% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also renewed for a second season. Nobody Wants This Season 2 is set to release on October 23, 2025, on Netflix.

It is more than a quirky love story. At its heart is a single word that carries big emotional weight: shiksa. It's tossed around casually, but its history and impact go much deeper.

What is Shiksha in Nobody Wants This?

The word shiksa is often used by Noah's disapproving mother, Bina, as a label for Joanne. Noah tries to call it harmless. He even cracks jokes about it. But the moment still stings. So, what is shiksa?

As per Kveller, the word Shiksa traces back to its Hebrew roots, sheketz, which originally means detestable or unclean. Over the years, it became a term for non-Jewish women, especially those involved with Jewish men, used mostly among the Orthodox communities.

In the show, Shiksha sounds flirty at first. But then it turns sour. Noah's family drops it casually, almost as an insult. In a conversation of Can We Talk? documented in Jewish Women's Archives featuring Nahanni Rous, Miriam Anzovin, Lizzir Skurnick, and Judy Gold, they talk about the term shiksa. While Judy Gold tags the term as,

"The ultimate not Jewish-someone who is so ethnically white."

Miriam Anzoin says that shiksa is to imply a lesser status and explains,

"I certainly would never use that word, nor encourage anyone to use that word towards a non-Jewish woman ever. It is very demeaning."

Even though there are several connotations as to how one perceives it, it sends a clear message that it's not used in a positive tone in the series.

Nobody Wants This was almost called Shiksa

Did you know that the creators of the series almost named it Shiksa? Adam Brody shared on the Armchair Expert podcast that Shiksa was the working title for some time. They changed it later to Nobody Wants This, which felt more inclusive. But the word shiksa stayed in the script and left several viewers confused over the repeated use of the term.

Why does it matter?

Nobody Wants This may not dwell on heavy themes. But the use of Shiksa cuts deeper than most audiences might expect. It points to real struggles between love and tradition. It shows how a word can change a moment. A flirt turns defensive, and a family dinner becomes awkward.

Nobody Wants This doesn't provide answers to everything, but it starts a vital conversation. And this is what makes it more than a rom-com.

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