Fact: Here at Kveller, every day is a day to celebrate Jewish parents.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a few days a year to do something extra special. One such day, Mother’s Day, was on Sunday of course — and today we are absolutely kvelling over some of the tributes that Jewish celebrities made to their moms, spouses, and others on social media.
After a truly difficult year, these posts from some of our favorite Jewish stars made us laugh, smile, and even tear up a little. Read on to see how some of our favorite Jews paid tribute to the moms in their life, below.
Nick Kroll
The Jewish comedian, who became a dad in January, posted a loving tribute on Instagram to his mom and his two sisters. The post included a sweet throwback photo of his mom and dad, and a caption reading “Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and sisters who taught me to appreciate the magnificence and power of motherhood.” What a mensch!
Zoe Kravitz
https://www.instagram.com/p/COqZ-EZtgcq/
Jewish actress Zoe Kravitz posted this beautiful tribute on Instagram to her mother, actress Lisa Bonet. The post includes multiple photos of Bonet, including from decades ago to seemingly recent photos of the mother and daughter. The caption reads, “you’re just cooler than everybody else. #mama.” We have to agree with Kravitz there.
Max Greenfield
Sweet Jewish dad and New Girl actor Max Greenfield made a post on Sunday honoring his wife and the mother of their children, former Fox casting director Tessa Sanchez. He writes “No Filter. My ❤️#diadelasmadres @tesssanchezgreenfield.” Despite the very obvious sparkly filter on the photo, we love seeing Greenfield — who has hilariously chronicled what it’s like doing distance-learning with tweens — showing appreciation for his wife on his platform. Nice Jewish Dad status = secured!
Gal Gadot
Referencing her pregnancy, Jewish Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot shared this heartfelt Instagram post this weekend, reading “My first mother’s day as an almost-mother-of-3 and as always I look up to my mom and my mother-in-law, thank you both for the unlimited, unconditional, unbelievable love you give us ❤”. We’re so excited for Gadot and this post really makes us kvell.
Rashida Jones
Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones — who shares a son with her partner, musician Ezra Koenig — shared a throwback photo of herself as a young girl with her mother, late Jewish actress Peggy Lipton. She remembers Lipton, who passed away from cancer in 2019, with these poignant words: “Happy Mother’s Day. Get one of these hugs from your mom today. I wish I still could. Miss you mama.”
Ilana Glazer
https://www.instagram.com/p/COqlvySlArM/
The Jewish comedian, Broad City star, and mama-to-be posted an adorable photo of herself as a baby with her mom in the pool. We hope to see this photo recreated one day soon with Glazer and her baby!
Carole King
Happy #mothersday to all the moms and mother figures who take care of us.
Carole & her mother Eugenia
📷 CK Family Archives pic.twitter.com/4lz1upgrDp— Carole King (@Carole_King) May 9, 2021
Jewish songstress and icon Carole King tweeted a lovely throwback photo this weekend. Honoring “all the moms and mother figures who take care of us,” King posted a photo of herself as a child with her mother, Eugenia. (King herself is a mom of four.)
Amy Schumer
In honor of Mother’s Day, Jewish comedian Amy Schumer posted a clip from an episode of “SNL” that she starred in, “The Day You Were Born.” The funny video shows Schumer as a mom, explaining to her young son in euphemistic terms what his birth was like. This tender moment is interspersed with far more realistic (read: graphic) scenes of what childbirth is really like. Check out this video for a good laugh.
Jason Alexander
I’ve been lucky enough to be loved by two of the best moms ever. The one that bore me and the one that married me. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms. Hardest, greatest gig in the world.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) May 9, 2021
Seinfeld actor, dad, and all-around mensch Jason Alexander made a heartfelt tweet this weekend, noting his gratitude for two moms: “The one that bore me and the one that married me.” Awww. In the comments, fans were quick to add a third mom to this list: his TV mom, Estelle Costanza, played by Jewish actress Estelle Harris.
Douglas Emhoff
Cole and Ella are so blessed to have an amazing Mom and Momala.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) May 9, 2021
Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff continues to live up to his menschy reputation with this Mother’s Day tweet, honoring both his ex-wife — the mother of his children — and his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris. He writes, “Cole and Ella are so blessed to have an amazing Mom and Momala,” referencing the kids’ loving Yiddish-ish nickname for Harris.
Mayim Bialik
Mom of two Mayim Bialik used her platform to acknowledge those for whom Mother’s Day is more complicated. “Mother’s Day can be a mixed bag for a lot of people,” she wrote. “Not everyone has a perfect or ideal relationship with their mother and there are many who feel motherly, but haven’t had the opportunity to be mothers the way they want.” We appreciate the nuance in this post, especially as our social media feeds were flooded with images of seemingly “perfect” mother-child relationships.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Jewish actress Tracee Ellis Ross posted several glamorous shots of herself and her very famous mother, singer Diana Ross. Like Bialik and others, Ross acknowledged the complexity of the day: “A special embrace to those who need extra love today. I see you and send love to you. May we honor the mother within each of us.”
Judy Gold
Renowned comedian and Jewish mom Judy Gold took the opportunity to share a sweet photo of herself and her boys riding the subway while wearing masks, noting in the hashtags of her post her pride to be a #boymom.
Alex Borstein
Jewish actress, mom, and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Alex Borstein offered two iconic Instagram posts to our Mother’s Day feeds. First, she posted a very Mother’s Day-appropriate meme of Lois, the “Family Guy” character that Borstein voices, urging everyone to get vaccinated so things can get back to normal. Second, Borstein shared a video of her amazing Hungarian Holocaust survivor mom, placing, uh, a complicated order at a restaurant. Maybe we are related?
Ben Stiller
I had a fantastic Mom. Miss her every day. #HappyMothersDay pic.twitter.com/LwSvGMgFB3
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 9, 2021
Jewish actor Ben Stiller made this emotional tribute to his mom, actress Anne Meare Stiller — who was, of course, one-half of the prominent 1960s comedy team with comedian Jerry Stiller, Stiller and Meara. Stiller tweeted, “I had a fantastic Mom. Miss her every day.” So sweet.
Shira Haas
Last but certainly not least, Unorthodox and Shtisel star Shira Haas shared this heartfelt photo of herself hugging her mom. Noting her gratitude, Haas called her mother “My rock, my person, my biggest supporter, through thick and thin. My first and biggest love.” What a beautiful description. Happy Mother’s Day to all!
Header image by Frazer Harrison/Staff/JB Lacroix/Getty Images/Noel Vasquez/Condé Nast/Getty Images for CHANEL
