Seriously, sometimes we are our own worst enemy.
As satirical as the clip featuring Mr. Gottesman is, it still reflects the orthodox community poorly, and fails to explain exactly what an eruv is and what its significance is.
In a world where orthodox Jewry is seriously misunderstood to begin with, one (Jewish) man's ignorance will perpetuate more misconceptions and misled ideas.
Because we don't have enough problems...
I agree that this isn't the best PR but it wasn't attacking the orthodox Jews, rather the close-minded assimilated ones. I don't think it portrays the orthodox community poorly, the Rabbi understands the interviewer is joking and in their interview the tone seems to be jovial. It's the other man who is made to look foolish.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the only thing that shows the orthodox in a bad light is the definition of "eruv meaning loophole", though it really is one...
I'd be interested what else made you feel uneasy about this clip.
Helen,
ReplyDeleteAs "jovial" as the interviewer's tone was, the bottom line is that the clip discussed the eruv out of context, portraying Orthodox Jews as strange and idiosyncratic.