#bubbe helen

Here are the things we can guess from what the show gives us, as to what denomination and movement of Judaism the Lewis family is. 

Of course, there is a part of it that can be due to the writers not knowing versions of Judaism other than the usually US-centric version that the media tends to work mainly with. 

Family Evidence:

- the Lewis last name has European roots, and is one of the anglicized variations of the Levi name. Lewis is a generally Ashkenazic version. 

- his grandmother is Polish (2x13), and is referred to as Bubbe Hellen, Bubbe being Yiddish for Grandmother. Yiddish is typically spoken by Ashkenazic Jews (Jews of Eastern Europe, France and Germany). 

Cultural Evidence:

- during the Yom Kippur breaking of fast meal (2x16), the family serves matzot ball soup, and kugel, those are both Ashkenazic dishes. 

Terminology Evidence: 

- Simon uses the word “Rabbi” when addressing his religious figure, in 3x09, “Rabbi” is used by non-Hasidic Jews. Simon and his family seem not to be Hasidic. 

- In 2x16, Bubbe Helen uses the word “temple” to refer to their house of worship, this could indicate they are from the Reform denomination. 

- However, a mourner’s prayer in Hebrew (2x05) could be evidence of them not being Reform, because - to my understanding - a lot of the Reform services and prayers are done in English.