Do you think it portrays the community accurately? In order for the wider North American public to become educated about Jewish customs, viewers must learn about all aspects including the communities and traditions they may least understand. Do you know any MO directors/producers who would be interested? That is completely the motivation of why I wrote this and none of the motivation was to put down other groups or claim superiority. We do not, for example, stone adulterers to death. My main issues were hoping most viewers understand there is much more drama than any real life situation and that this is literally one of the most insular, extreme sects in the world and many of us who are deeply religious Jews find these practices and attitudes something we strongly disagree with. It can really only be in Jersualem, not even in Bnei Brak, he said, mentioning another Haredi enclave near Tel Aviv. Shtisel (pronounced Steezel) follows the life of Shulem Shtisel, the family's widowed patriarch, and focuses on three of his children and two of his grandchildren. So for all the art they preach, the wider audience isnt even understanding the basic premise and roots of this show. (though i have to admit that we have a shameful rise of anti-semitism, very rightwing and neonazi beliefs in our societey, there are at the same time more and more people aware and very sensitive towards anti-semitism). I wasnt sure when this was set as it travelled through the lives of this family, their neighbourhood and tradition. If somebody sincerely wants to know what religious life is like, they should at a minimum spend Shabbat in a Jewish community (or preferably, several). But it doesnt mean that my priorities dont exist. I was so sad at the end of season 2 then became so happy knowing there was a season 3. If you found this content meaningful and want to help further our mission through our Keter, Makom, and Tikun branches, please consider becoming a Change Maker today. Giti and Lippe, who are expecting a sixth baby, consider the possibility of naming him "Zelig", in return for a payment from a childless widow who wishes to have a child named after her deceased husband. Is that typical of some jewish communities?. Our husbands dont leave the delivery room when were in labor. Have pity for me. Season one followed in the aftermath of the death of matriarch Devorah, and season two, the death of grandmother Malka. She maintains a genial frenemies relationship with a neighbor. So I think its ok to say the show has caused some positive results and some less positive ones. is called Srugim about RZ singles in katamon. Having an insight in to a different culture and religion is eye opening. did anyone else have similar feelings while watching the show, or was it just me because of the awful history of the country i live in? Im just saying that Shtisel, while a wonderful piece of art and a great way to humanize charedim, unfortunately publicizes very strict practices which many people will conflate with Halacha. My son and daughter-in-law abide by Jewish law but are happy to dispense with parts of Jewish tradition that interfere with equal rights. It would be great to have a drama about life in Israel and in religious communities where positive and uplifting values are found useful in solving the issues brought out in Shtisel. I find it sad that so many wish to distance themselves from ultra orthodoxy when really were just Jews. . I agree! But she, an ex-Hasid who still maintains ties to her former community, says that with . This David guy talks sense. I am enamored with this show. We believe that after 2000 years of being expelled from Our Land and then miraculously getting returned to it is not a coincidence. I understand the show has no responsibility to be anything be entertaining and authentic which it is. You see, I am LDS and there have been plenty of shows that depict mormonism that get it totally wrong. I found many mistakes and things that are quite liberal, one may say. Shulem tentatively courts Nechama, but she becomes engaged to Nukhem instead, giving him a new lease on life. For five years I lived in New Yorks Hudson Valley near many Hassidic Jewish communities. (Four, to be exact!) The wider audience thinks they are actually seeing the real thing. Thats whats big about art, it tries to take moments from life and each moment becomes meaningful, he said. Id love to see a show like that get more attention. First remember that is a show, of a very small segment of the Haredi Jews in Israel there are many subgroups of Haredi people in Jerusalem the show describe Geula only. That penultimate scene becomes dream-like, with various dead relatives sitting at the table (Libbi, Devorah, and Shulem's mother, etc.) There are many communities that live like how I described. Our rabbis believe that birth controlhas a place within halacha. Is there a season 2 of When Heroes Fly? Your blog helps make that possible as well, by showing the differences as well as the similarities among us all. Well coming from a very British Protestant (Church of England) I have decided now to find a Jewish dictionary as Ive had to look up so many words! Akiva is now a widower with a baby daughter, Dvora'le. Rather than focusing on the dating system or the husbands role in delivery, the viewer is forced to see that the human aspect exists in a way that may surpass the romance and love that many of the viewers experience in their own lives. Its yet another telling sign about Shtisel, the show created by two screenwriters with Haredi roots, which has appealed to such a wide audience from secular Israelis to the very ultra-Orthodox community it is portraying. BUT I dont think Yerushalmim even shave their heads (these are not hasidim, but rather charedim) so honestly, I have no idea! Look closely and you will see. It takes a person who intimately knows the neighborhood, to see the subtlety and nuances, that make this show and the storylines of this show outrageous. Two shekels worth. True. Could they not have also been cast into the drama as elements of strength, happiness and stability? But I think this is a case of baby steps. Im curious, Allison. Maybe you should have left it there too. I think the way it was filmed, especially the dream sequences, give it away. [16], In May 2019, Shtisel was renewed for a third season. I had a totally different mindset after that= all I saw were religious superstitions taught by dictatorial rabbis that are basically mind control that encourages them to be a parasitic society, with no remorse whatsoever for being leeches. Grandmother Malka, Shulem's mother, lives in a nursing home, and is exposed to television for the first time in her life, which Zvi Arye and Shulem find abhorrent, and they come up with many ways to prevent her from viewing it. I love how Hebrew is so much more nuanced than English, and was happy at how much of the Hebrew I understood. Release Dates But I do believe that never being exposed to less insular or extreme forms of orthodoxy means that Jews and non-Jews alike have no way of knowing the diversity that exists. Its to show that the stringent approaches shown in popular media is not what is required by Jewish law.. There are so many things that would just never happen or they would be carried out in a different fashion. Instead, perhaps be an example of respect for people who may be more conservative than you are. But it still represents a tv version of charedi life and is different in many ways to modern orthodox life (even though most of the world lumps Orthodox Jews together). Being late to the show, and on this site for the first time, I just want to say it was a joy reading the civil and thoughtful discussion and comments here! In Shtisel Season 2, Shulem's brother Nukhem and his daughter Libbi visit Shulem and his family. Our Akiva, on the other hand, sits under a tree, chatting to his mate about . Click the link in that email to complete your registration. We are religious Zionists. But for good drama they give these characters like 10 big problems at once. After two seasons, the shows creators announced last month that the series is currently filming its third season. One more very important comment; the Shtisel family depicted on the show is by far a dysfunctional family and represents only that. On more of a positive note, One of the things that had me constantly laughing is the presentations of opposites, and the anticipation of what that schemer Shulem would do next. Its ridiculous whom is considered nebech! The show had the best drama that I have seen in years on television, and had no sex or uncouth language. Recently, my children reveled in a long-awaited snow day. In other words, Shtisel can be a powerful force to change negative views on Jews among the non-Jews, especially those from traditional conservative societies. We're curious. Our community has a warmth and closeness that exists in Shtisel,although, to the Haredi worlds credit, a positive side of insularity is that there are so many relatives around, someone is nearly always there for you. [22] At the ceremony, held on 24 January 2014, the series won 11 awards: for Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Dov Glickman), Drama Director (Alon Singman), Drama Screenplay (Uri Alon and Jonathan Indursky), Design Costumes, Make-Up, Photography, Original Music (Avi Belleli), Soundtrack, Artistic Management, and Editing. Ori, who is 38, is my fourth child. The point Im making is that my husband and i throughly enjoyed binge watching 24 episodes sun titles and all and that was hard going believe me. Thanks for your comment, Shay. Yes. But for the Jew considering exploring observance or a possible candidate for it, the vast differences I think may it so unimaginable. Why Im Not The Biggest Fan Of JITC Look for meaning where it exists, not on Netflix or Sitcom TV. Countless articles have been written by secular Jews and non-Jews describing their love for the characters, the storyline, and their surprising discovery that Haredim (gasp!) My Indonesian friends that love Shtisel also strongly feel that Shtisel is an Indonesian Family Drama with European faces. Orthodox Jews? Also, the actors didnt become Hasidic for much the same reason Chris Hemsworth doesnt go around in real life swinging a giant hammer after playing Thor theyre actors playing a role. Id really LOVE for jewinthecity to write about the Marvelous Mrs. Meisel! Its still over the top for anyone real and still depicting one of the most insular orthodox communities in the world.