This YouTube video hasn’t gotten many views since it was posted three months ago, but I like it. It also is telling in showing the age difference in how Jews react when asked to “act or talk like a; Jew”. Here are the YouTube notes:
Inspired by the viral “Like a Girl” campaign by Always, JITC (Jewish Institute for Television & Cinema) Hollywood Bureau’s new video challenges the entertainment industry’s harmful Jewish tropes by showing what being Jewish really looks like, through the voices of Jewish children.
They describe “acting like a Jew” not as being neurotic or greedy – depictions that we too often see on screen, but as living with kindness, compassion, justice, and a drive to make the world better.
Already praised by Mayim Bialik, Nancy Spielberg, and others, the video calls on Hollywood to portray Jewish pride, joy, and authenticity.
Read the story behind the video and join the movement to change the narrative >> (Go here).
The older folks act out the stereotypes of a Jew (I love the guy who swigs Mylanta and the one with the cigar who controls the globe), while the younger people evince the actual principles of Judaism (I like the little girl who lights the candles). Go to the site that explains this video to learn more.
I think this video was deemed necessary because of the rise of antisemitism and the attendant stereotypes of Jews. For example, lots of people, including Young Turks moderator Ana Kasparian has said that the Israeli lobby controls the US (see this enlightening video showing Bill Maher vs. Kasparian).
First, halleluyah! It’s about time! In addition to the neurotic and pushy shtick, i also have the sense that tv and Hollywood have for years portrayed marriage as a Jewish man and a gentile woman (the blonder the better). Okay…but shouldn’t it be possible to show a Jewish marriage of two Jews?
Second, the little kids are great. I suspect they are Orthodox. As a non-Orthodox Jew I wonder if our kids really learn such virtues (compassion, charity, sensitivity) in their exposure to Jewish education.
Yes, I think you’re right. The boys are wearing kippehs and one of them has a tallis under his shirt.
My wife and I recently watched the available episodes of “Nobody Wants This,” about a gentile woman (Kristen Bell) and a rabbi (Adam Brody) who fall for each other. I was surprised that a show dealt with Judaism so prominently and, in my opinion, positively. (The woman knows nothing about Judaism and the man tries to educate her, because he can’t marry her if she doesn’t convert.) It is very funny.
I’m Sephardic, so when friends and acquaintances talk about Yiddish, bagels and lox, matzo ball soup, klezmer music, etc., I point out that that’s Ashkenazi and I’m not Ashkenazi.
But David Ashkenazi Jewish culture is the one most people think about due to the power of Nth American (particularly NYC) and Euro culture. No disrespect.
D.A.
NYC
The power of Seinfeld?
Lovely!
But why did the Four Seasons song “Walk Like A Man” start playing in my head?
And why did the Muse push me to post this rough draft? The unconscious is often a mystery.
[I did manage to stop it at this point. And I apologise for the last line’s awkward scansion; normally I have a chance to edit these things more throughly.]
I like the contrast—with the children portraying Jewish values succinctly and clearly—but I can laugh at the humor in the stereotypes as well. Very well put together.
Not bad really, though Mayim Bialik’s endorsement works in reverse for me as I think she’s a phony. 🙂
There was a hubbub on Jewish/Zionist areas of X about the word “goy” which most participants noted and I agree – the word is almost never seriously used by Jews.
D.A.
NYC
Sorry I don’t know the “areas of x.” i am however familiar with the word goy. It is not always spoken kindly these days, but is it not used seriously? I use it sparingly though seriously. Maybe I’m an outlier?