- From the Simpsons
to the Sopranos representations
of Orthodox Jewish communities in film and television have
until recently been mostly stereotypical.
♪ Tradition! ♪
- But the 2010s saw dramatic uptake of Orthodox Jewish,
specifically Haredi, TV shows,
with even more currently in development.
After the success of shows like "Shtisel"
and "Unorthodox".
Shows like these attempt
to authentically portray what life is
like for these insular communities.
So get the popcorn ready, or maybe a bowl of cholent
because here are some of the best TV and movie picks
about the Haredi community that are totally
binge-worthy.
Set deep within the Haredi community of Jerusalem.
"Shtisel" is a family drama centered around the relationship
between father son duo, Shulem and Akiva Shtisel.
Haredi if you don't know, is another term
for Ultra Orthodox Jews and is actually the preferred term.
While the majority of dialogue in "Shtisel" is in Hebrew
as it was originally made
for an Israeli audience, multiple scenes
in almost every episode take place completely in Yiddish.
The lead actors actually took three months of Yiddish
to prepare for their roles.
Even while speaking Hebrew, you hear Yiddish words
and sayings peppered into the conversation.
This is true to how most Ashkenazi Haredim speak.
The creators of "Shtisel" actually grew up in a Haredi
community and wanted to portray it both authentically
and empathetically.
And it does a fairly great job at both.
Though some critics believe "Shtisel" inaccurately conflates
all Orthodox Jews with Haredim and makes them seem more
insular than they actually are.
Nevertheless, "Shtisel" has opened many people's eyes
to this way of life.
The creators came up with the idea for the series
while sitting in an Ashkenazi style restaurant
in Jerusalem bearing the same name.
It's no wonder because food plays
a central role in the show.
We see them nosh on Ashkenazi cuisine like cholet and kugel.
Through these dishes,
we get to experience what a slice of life is like for them.
That's our guy Kive, through his many missteps in dating
we get an insider glimpse of the shidduch process.
Shidduchs are arranged meetings
between men and women in Haredi communities.
For the purpose of finding a match for marriage
We see the ins and outs of this process and the importance
of the "shadchan", or matchmaker, within the community.
Through shidduchs and weddings, brisses and shivas
"Shtisel" gives us an intimate look
into the major life events of this Haredi community.
Judaism is a genuine part of their lives that offers them
community, guidance and purpose.
This brings us to "Unorthodox".
"Unorthodox" is specifically
about the Satmar community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
and stars, Shira Haas, a.k.a. Golden Globe Nominated Actress
Shira Haas.
Similarly to "Shtisel",
some may perceive the show as representing all
Orthodox Jews, but it's important to remember
that Satmar is just one part of the Hasidic community,
which is itself just one part of the Haredi community,
which is a part of Orthodox Judaism, which comes
in all different shapes and sizes.
Founded in Romania in 1905,
the Satmar movement made its way to America
after the Holocaust establishing a community
in Williamsburg.
Today, there are about 75,000 Satmar members.
This series is based on a memoir by Deborah Feldman
a former member of the community who left in her twenties.
Unlike "Shtisel" the show often portrays Orthodox Judaism
as an oppressive force, and one that the protagonist
must leave in order to live freely.
Even still, this show offers glimpses into Jewish customs
that don't typically get the spotlight - like the eruv.
According to Jewish law, carrying objects
outside of one's house on Shabbat
like keys or even pushing a stroller is prohibited.
So, observant Jewish communities often put up an eruv.
A symbolic boundary usually made up of wires
around their neighborhood to technically extend
their homes' boundary.
Many areas of New York, including Brooklyn, Queens,
and most of Manhattan are surrounded
by an eruv that many folks pass by
without ever noticing.
This show definitely helped to spark conversations.
When it comes to better understanding the eruv
and these communities.
There are so much more to say, and if you're interested
in learning more about these types of subjects,
take a second and hit subscribe.
Next on our list is "Fill the Void"
which takes us back to the Haredi community of Israel.
Helmed by filmmaker Rama Burshtein,
who is herself part of this community.
The film offers intimate access
into the private lives of Haredi women.
For instance, the wedding ceremony.
Here we see the lead character Shira praying from her siddur
as she prepares to marry.
And that's her aunt asking Shira for a blessing.
In Judaism, the wedding day is seen
as a mini Yom Kippur for the bride and groom.
That's all about starting newlywed life with a clean slate.
Because the bride and groom are thought
to have extra spiritual powers on their wedding day,
they offer blessings of good fortune to those around them.
This isn't an extensive list, but it's more attention
than the ultra Orthodox world has ever received before
in popular culture.
And it's only the beginning,
we may be on the brink
of the golden age of Haredi film and television.
Israel's "Autotomies", a mini series by the creators
of "Shtisel", deals with Haredi versus secular tensions
and is rumored to be getting an American remake.
And Marta Kauffman, the creator of "Friends" is set
to executive produced the American version of "Shtisel"
which, like Unorthodox, will take place in Brooklyn.
And Haredi content doesn't just have to be dramatic.
"The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch", a film
about a Haredi man, falling in love with a non-Jewish girl
at his university is a romantic comedy.
- In the past, Orthodox Jews
were usually represented as caricatures.
Now, we have the opportunity to see them
on screen as nuanced relatable people.
Shows like "Shtisel" even act as a bridge
between the polarized Haredi community
and the non Haredi community of Israel.
That's because filmmaking has a way
of connecting us even when we share different perspectives
and ways of life.
So sit back, relax, preferably
with a glass of Manischewitz and enjoy the show.