The Rise of the Goldbergs began as a radio show in 1929, made the jump to television 20 years later, and lasted in one form or another until 1962. The mother, Molly Goldberg, was played by Gertrude Berg, who also wrote and produced the show. Her character was pushy and warm, indulgent and loving. Accused by her husband of meddling in the lives of her family and neighbors, she replied, "Not mixing is not fixing."

When Molly won a fur coat on a quiz show (by acing the cooking questions), she sold it and gave the money to friends and relatives. To some fans, she was a one-woman Golden Era for Jews on TV. "This series has done more to set us Jews right with the 'goyim' than all the sermons ever preached by the Rabbis," wrote a Jewish educator, whom Antler quotes. Berg gave Molly an abundance of the good traits of Jewish mothers and little of the bad.