By Debbie Schlussel DebbieSchlussel.com
The attacks on Jews–especially Orthodox Chassidic Jews–don’t just take place in Mumbai, India, or during a late-night anonymous act of vandalism on a synagogue in North Carolina.
The attacks on Jews have spread to ABC daytime talk shows, watched by millions of mindless, easily propagandized women.
On an edition of the anti-male hag-fest, “The View,” Barbara Walters and her fellow co-hosts engaged in a vile, anti-Semitic discussion with actress/comedienne Susie Essman.
The stuff they said about Chassidic Jews–calling the women ugly, saying they have bad taste in clothing, have “weird,” “bizarre” customs–would never be tolerated if they substituted the word “Muslim” or “Black” for “Chassidic Jew.” I am not a Chassidic Jew–but since most Chassidic Jews do not own TVs and don’t waste their time watching this mindless garbage, I am the only one who noticed apparently.
E-mail “The View” to let them know what you think of their vile anti-Semitism. Email the view here
Untitled from COLlive.com on Vimeo.
That will prove their point Lubavitchers are ugly-outside & inside. We have so many pleasant, beautiful, refined people who could represent us women.
This movie is unrealistic. It’s practically non existent that such a marriage (between a brother and his deceased brothers wife) ever takes place. There is the Jewish ritual of Yibum and chalitza – which exempts both parties from having to marry. Unlike in the movie, everyone follows that custom.
It’s clear that there is incredible ignorance and arrogance by the non-jews or non-religious Jews that host the ‘View’. They forgot that all the major western religions copy Judaism to a large extent. So their insults were demeaning to those religions as well. I would compare any one of the ‘View’ actors to any hassidic woman or man. The chosid would be dressed better and the woman finer, than any of them. Also, their fictional characterization of the habits of Jews and the reason behind them is just that – fiction.
As an Orthodox Chassidic (Lubavitch) woman I was disgusted by this clip. I wrote to the view and expressed my outrage…..Did you know at least two of the woman on the View are Jewish? FYI for you ladies! I was so angry….they wouldn’t dare say this about a Muslim woman wearing a hijab….they’d be too frightened! I hope The View got plenty of angry letters and emails!
Never be afraid to speak out, ladies, and voice your opinions! No more will our people sit by quietly and be insulted….STAND UP AND SPEAK UP!!!!!
Chava Docks
but somewhat i agree… when we dress all wanabe with the halter-top shirts and a long sleeve tee under it looks rediculous. especially those streched down necks trying to look just the same… and pencil/tight skirts right above the knee… satmar looks better, at least they dress like themselves
Are we finally convinced that ignorance is NOT bliss? The whole video clip is filled with ignorance and stupidity. Firstly, the overall premise of the movie is ridiculous. There is a simple way around the Yibum (Leverite?) law. Not some modern loop hole, but a work around that is clearly stated in scripture. In fact it’s been practically dormant for centuries. As to the “they’re not very good dressers” comment, that just shows how shallow this imbecile is. Is THAT all she learned from being around a new culture? Come on! Frankly, I think she’s just as dead wrong about… Read more »
Here my two cents about the ungracious remarks about Hasidic women, during the interview with the actress from “Loving Leah”. It is ironic that only days after America has risen above its history of prejudice to inaugurate its first African-American president, the panelists on The View remain mired in shameful ignorance and ugly prejudice, so long as the target is acceptable: Hasidic Jews. So much for celebrating diversity. Hard to say which is worse: the ignorance about Hasidic women, or the prejudice which gives license to its expression. In any case, ignorance is no excuse; especially for journalists and media… Read more »
yibum is currently forbidden. people must do chalitzah to absolve themselves.
I just emailed The View (see # 26 above for email address). I think it’s stupid to ignore this & I think that everyone reading this should complain loudly to ABC about this bigotry & anti-Semitic bashing of religious Jewish women. Let them know that we think that this is NOT ACCEPTABLE!
I like that coment about beis shmuel women
i totally agree!!
Really??? So what is it called what you said about more then half these comments??? I’m sure that’s not Soshon Harah…
I think and im not the only one who does so, they are too fashionanble and thats why, some people think twice if they go there with young kids, they might see half dressed women!!!you crownheightsers should get lessons about tznius!
you can be fashionnable but dont forget to also be tsniusdikely dressed!
I think the major issue is not if Lubavitch or Jewish women beautiful or ugly, fashionable or not. the issue is that these women who probably think of themselves as liberal and cultural think nothing of making the most unacceptable vile anti-Semitic comments and think it’s “in good taste”! Our values are not in outter beauty, we are not to prove to this culture obsessed with “looking young” even if it involves 300 plastic surgeries. Let’s be more concerned with making sure these “beauties” know how ignorant, full of hate and bias they are!
I am the Leah who posted on the original site. I learned a while with my mashpia a sicha or maamer (I can’t remember which one). My mashpia was the one who brought out how a woman’s hair becomes holy when she gets married. I don’t understand how saying that it is holy would make it permissible to daven with it uncovered. I will ask my mashpia later and post back to you.
let them show what they have inside like the late Rivky holtzberg a”h, who cares about the rest? ichs
‘sheker hachen vehevel hayofi, isha yiras hashem hi tishalal’
Don’t worry about the insults. They are jealous of our values and success. Every Jew has a neshama that is a ‘chelek Eloka mimaal’ We we are so far ahead of the goyim.
SHE HAS NO RIGHT WHAT SO EVER TO SAY SUCH A THINGABOUT SUCH GREAT PEOPLE!
WE SHOULD GO AND SPEAK UP !
GO LUBAVITCHERS!!
WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF OURSELVES!!
It is truly unfortunate that following the moving and historic inauguration of President Obama, in our great country of freedom and equality, anti-semitism still has a voice. The View should be ashamed for allowing stereotyping, meanness, and hatred to find a forum.
I believe that the reputation of beautiful Lubavitcher women remains unscathed, while the reputations of Barbara Walters, The View, and Susie Essman suffer terribly from this clip. And I believe an apology is at hand.
Did someone really say about religious Jewish women “The way they dress, that’s related to Islam, right?” I am shocked at such ignorance in this day and age. We cover ourselves out of respect for ourselves and God. Would you dare make fun of how African-Americans or Latinos dress on your show? Barbara Walters, you are a JEWESS – SHAME on you for letting ANY kind of bigotry against ANY women take place on your show. This is America, “land of the free” – where women have the FREEDOM to dress however they want to – and your show should… Read more »
According to Halacha, a man is clearly and definitely allowed to see his wife’s hair. (Even Haezer 25). Moreover, the fact that Yore Deah 195 mentions that he shouldn’t look at covered places during Yemei Niddah as defined in Orach Chayim 88 (Tzemach Tzedek) which includes hair, shows that during Yemei Tahara he is allowed to. The Tzemach Tzedek on Brochos Perek 3 writes cleearly, “A husband is allowed to look at his wife’s hair, and a stranger should not go in between them” The sources qoted about covering her hair even in her house is saying that it is… Read more »
I have never seen such obvisous disrespect and anti semitism on a tv show before. If this had been an anti black comment on any subject, this would have raised an outcry far greater than the one we’re making now. This double standard is horrifying. It can only be ignorance and their own unattractiveness that would compel people to make such blatantly stupid and racist statements.
This Leah Assmen said “she garuantee’s that no man would go crazy by looking at her hair, no man or woman for that matter would go crazy from looking at her face! This woman is either very ignorant of frum Chasidic women or VERY jealous! or angry at herself for being a big NOTHING whilst these women that she knocks have made something of themselves without all the fanfare she obviously lives for.
what’s with all these comments. seems like we have a complex, when we really shouldn’t care about what people say about the way we dress. the torah dictates our mode of dress who cares what people say about it.
at the same time we must try and explain to people the virtue of our concept of modesty. but just to post comments on a chabad website which will not sway any previously held negative opinion is unfortunately telling of our veiw of ourselves.
In Kabbalah and Chassidus, it definitely does explain the holiness of hair. The holier and more special something is the more sacred and private it is held.Think of for example the Holy of Holies in the Temple, or any Torah scroll for that matter. And yes, it is because the hair is holy that it is a receptacle to spiritual defilement .
Imus in the morning , a national syndicated radio show that had millions of listeners, was fired for making fun of a group of female African American basketball players HAIR and the View air heads can laugh at Jewish woman with impunity. It’s wrong and a double standard that we should not allow. I hope everyone will write and call ABC and all the producer and even more important the advertisers of the show. As we all know we are in the mitts of thought economic times no company can offered to affined of alienate potential or current costumers .… Read more »
It’s not about how many heads you turn, it’s about how many hearts and minds you turn.
how typical!
you probably agree with her statement. Or do you feel good about yourself thinking that she is reffering to the Crown Height lower class Lubavitchers, but surely not to you, the elite and emancipated Shliach.
i dont see what any of this has to do with chabad (based on the woman’s costume)
this is very bizarre– a sign of moshiach’s coming
PLEASE SEND THESE WOMEN INVITES TO THE BANQUET
or at least to a shabbat meal so they can become more enlightened/correct their opinion
maybe this can be a reminder for all Lubavitch girls and women to be more tzinius!!!!!!!
As you can see, dressing like the non-Jews just makes them more disgusted by us!! (note- they were referring to Lubavitch!)
WHH
She feels threatened by her own glaring inadequacies and feels the compulsion to slander, denigrate, and destroy that which pursues her in the night, in the dark alone, in the agony of memorizing her lines. Hashem should have mercy on her. Bless her that she should perceive the Tzelem Elokim of her own people. Pity her that she isn’t yet able….
Barbara Walters is Jewish. She should look in the mirror, she aint’ such a picture herself. and take away the plastic surgery, and she’d probably cease to exist.
ms sussman’s performance was poor and so unrealistic, stilited and saracastic , I wonder whom she was using as a model. Over all it was a poor excuse for filling empty time on an even emptier daily show-
Show us real women of substance, women who take an hour and help others and their families and make it mean something!
Women like Rivka Holtzberg in Mumbai India!
Women who move mountains, not just a makeup kit!!!
Very insensitive considering what happened just a month ago there!
The hair-covering was never intended to make a married woman look ugly. Beauty is a divine gift, and Jewish tradition encourages both men and women to care for their appearance and always look presentable. Jewish tradition also encourages modesty; not in order to detract from our beauty, but rather to channel our beauty and attractiveness so it be saved for where it belongs — within marriage. By covering her hair, the married woman makes a statement: “I am not available. You can see me but I am not open to the public. Even my hair, the most obvious and visible… Read more »
According to Halacha, Jewish law, married women are supposed to cover their hair. When visiting the Rebbe, many women who would not do so on a regular basis, would cover their hair with a shawl or kerchief out of respect for Jewish tradition.
All I can say is “Yichhhh”. This show really make me proud of who I am and whom I’m not! One of the reason’s brought for why Hashem made it that Eisav Sonah es Yaakov, is so that we remain a nation. When Daniel Perlman was killed in Iraq and his last words were I’m a Jew etc. one of his Jewish secular colleagues wrote something to the effect that from now on he will walk down the street with Jewish pride. “If they hate us anyway, might as well be proud of who we are!” I think some Lubavitchers… Read more »
i agree with number seven mirror i was very driven by her hear
why was this placed onto a chabad site in the first place — thats the most absurd part of it all. since when do we spend our time sifting thru tv shows for a word about ourselves? anyways crown heights definately needs help in their dress, so busy trying to look like the world that they do end up looking cheap. maybe this is a reminder to be who we are supposed to be.
Just find it ironic that it so happens the women on this talk show can all learn from us and would do way better wearing a good sheitel (and I’m not even going to comment on the clothes).
Bad acting , bad script and whoever wrote didn’t do their homework.
Some people will do anything for publicity!
Even BAD PUBLICITY!
The attittude we witnessed is basically a closed minded and surface one that is held by a great deal of jewish americans who are Ignorant of the facts and beauty of Judaism.
Its easier to be a Bigot then to educate yourself!
Holy hair?! Leah above – I have never heard this: “Her hair becomes holy when she gets married” — ? If so, how come a woman is forbidden to pray with her hair uncovered. page 93 Further note that in many observant circles the rule is to cut the hair close to the scalp, or even shave it off. Many rule that a woman must, or should, keep her hair covered at all times, even in her own home. Sorry, but a married woman’s hair is not viewed as holy. It is viewed as being the receptacle of spiritual defilement.… Read more »
I think now that the lubavitch women see that even with trying so hard they still dont fit in they can go back to dressing like frum women should!!!
Thank you to the view for helping out lubavitch in this terrible problem that they have!
If you do email them, run it through spell check first.
if you ever watch them they make fun of everyone so this is not new so if you email them your just going to make a bigger fool out of yourself!
we dont want to come across as vague either, so whilst everyone is soooooooooooooooooo angry because of these stupid statements, a better way, would be to see this woman like any other typical american fryer woman, that has not yet stepped into a chabad house shes not evil, shes not mean, shes just not yet exposed to true yiddishkiet and the fresh challas of the beutifull shlucha or average lubavitcher woman.
lets answer with class and dignity.
get all the woman of the view to the banquet next month
I THINK THEY ARE CONFUSING LUBAVITCH WITH SATMARE OR OTHERS. I THINK IN GENERAL LUB WOMAN DRESS WELL.
before she goes and says those vile anti semitic comments maybe she should learn the values behind them. its insulting to whoever holds their beliefs sacred. and where in her right mind is it ok to put another down just because she doesnt understand them!!!
How can 5 fat ugly ladies sit there and talk like that about frum women.
Do we need to put down others to raise ourselves? If you are trying to send the message that Lubavitcher women have class ,dignity and beauty. You definitely ruined that image! Beauty is not just an external quality, but it is very much internal. As someone writing and representing Chabad, I think it is important to portray our beauty within and without which we most definitely have!
This is the link to send the View your comments. I also noted that is was remarkably insensitive to say such things so soon after Mumbai. I am sure that will get their attention. Having worked in the Media, I know what pushes their buttons.
http://abc.go.com/daytime/theview/ask
In order to email them you need to go their website which is http://abc.go.com/daytime/theview/ask.
What has the world come to?! We need Moshiach!
they show all the pretty jews on the view
1. “Ignorance is bliss” yes we know that, but do you have to show it? Did you do any research when you interviewed your ‘good friend’ sussie essman? (no, her name does not deserve to be capitalized) First of all I think that sussie is jealous because Lubavitch woman, as a whole are ten times better looking than her (she’s REALLY ugly) and better dressers. The woman she portrayed in her movie is not how a typical Lubavitch woman looks, dresses or acts. In the movie, she acted like a real nerd. We are not nerds
Bizarre taste in clothing? Most of these women and a lot of women on the streets these days think it is stylish to dress with a lot of their chest exposed.
beis shmuel al the way …. that is definetly one of the funniest comments hahahahaahhaahah
I think Susie should be invited to the ladies convention and experience what is inner beauty
I think we can teach that Susie whatever a thing or 2 about dressing in style.
Molly Resnick has a background in TV. She is the perfect person to represent Chabad women in this…she understands the TV personality & knows to whom to complain. So…Mrs. Resnick, please use your inside knowledge to address this issue.
They should cover their hair and their face.
She obviously didn’t visit Bais Shmuel….
Why doesn’t a female representative from Chabad go on the the show and eloquently explain to the world the real “View”?
my personal weird opinion is chabad and its policy of rennesaince judiasm and the like is too uncomfortable for the general european secular establishment we have become to powerful in the public sphere 2nd point is we are headed in the right direction the mumbai terrorists have realized as have the view that the talk gets around the person to person contact has finally gotten big we are the future of yiddishkeit and its undeniable representation and they hate it be careful of leftys! and dont underestimate the jewish presence in media as well and theyre response to their over… Read more »
Did u email it? If ya where to??
BTW SHE IS SO SO SO UGLY!!!
I wrote into the View to tell them what I thought. I suggest more people do so too
how could they be so ignorant and stupid?
Shame on you
I guess Susie Essman has no mirrors in her home….
i agree with number 1
Unbelievable! This is UNREAL!
i just think it’s hilarious how COL cropped this video so as not to offend its audience.
ugly ******