The movie makes several references to "Fiddler on the Roof," which was written by Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick. Bock and Harnick also wrote "She Loves Me" with Joe Masteroff. "She Loves Me" is based on Miklós László's 1937 play "Parfumerie," the original source material for "Hanukkah on Rye" and three other movies.
Julie Sherman Wolfe, the screenwriter, is Jewish herself. The actors Yael Grobglas (Molly) and Jeremy Jordan (Jacob) are also both Jewish in real life.