By COLlive reporter
Close to a year after American media mogul Oprah Winfrey presented a TV segment about chassidic life, opinions on its impact continue to vary.
“Was it a Kiddush Hashem or a missed opportunity?” will be the topic of a discussion Monday night at an event for single women in Crown Heights.
Filmed on October 2011 and aired as part of the “America’s Hidden Culture” series on the OWN channel, Oprah followed the daily lives and customs of Chabad families in Crown Heights and Boro Park.
Her visit to a women’s Mikvah in Brooklyn Heights was described as “a rare tour” and her discussion with 4 chassidic women was said to be “a first ever, no holds barred interview.”
But, as organizers of the upcoming discussion at the Nighlife club pointed out, “the show, watched by millions across America provoked radically different responses from the Chabad community.”
While Winfrey expressed high admiration for the community, some shared disappointment and said interviewees were “inarticulate, uneducated and (presented a) blind-eyed portrayal” and were missing the “intellectual prowess” of Judaism.
Attending the discussion will be Mrs. Shterna Ginsberg, the Boro Park Shlucha who hosted Winfrey in her home. Highlights of the show will be screened as well.
The Monday, November 26 event at 1511 Union Street (between Kingston Ave and Albany) begins at 7:00 PM with soup and salads. The presentation will be at 8:00 PM. $5 admission for single women.
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I agree with you whole heartily. I’m a BT and and 8 years ago my first time in CH I was so embarrassed because my level of tznius was not on par with everyone. Today I still don’t consider myself to be very tznius, I struggle with it. But going into CH for Tishrei I was shocked how much everything has changed. To my surprise I was the tznius one, even though I don’t consider myself to be. I grew up in a completely secular world, parties, college, dating. But when I came into ch I was so surprised at… Read more »
The ladies didn’t do too badly but when she asked about different kinds of children (if you get my drift)… wow, that was so embarrassing. Seriously? Don’t know people like that?! Never thought about it?! Or even better, the 21 year old niece who no one is pressuring to get married yet… oh common.
Ouch
It’s not the goals of every religious mom out there to be hip and cool. The truth is she wanted into the Satmar and Borough Park communities and they never would have let her in. She went to the Ultra Frum Lubavs instead. If her kids had known about Mickey Mouse and Shrek, she would have found someone else living more closely to what is in the Torah, and Jewish Values. IE no TV is what she wanted. No internet is what she wanted. The goal of many of us in Chabad is not to be super cool and wear… Read more »
I thought the women spoke beautifully, with dignity and embodied elegance and balanced personalities. Shame they didnt mention sheva mitzvos.
I think they represented lubavitch as the rebbe wanted us to live. Though I understand the bloggers views, why would oprah interview someone who is redefining what chabad lifestyle means instead of the families who are truely living it.i
Beautifully expressed point of view. I think that the BIGGEST problem was (and I only watched the Ginsburg family episode) how Oprah didnt ask so much what Judaism was all about and instead focused on her amazement at what SHMUTZ we DON’T involve ourselves in. By the way, I thought that Mrs Shternie G came across as someone put together, humourous, full of the “joie de vivre” and made a MASSIVE Kiddush Hashem. Kol Hakovod!!!
ps. If u go to the meeting tonight, keep it positive and focused. Thank you.
Looking at this flyer tells me, [-as the Rebbe has taught me], shows first line with omission how Jews write, yes, a prominently displayed BS”D of some sort, which its lack speaks volumes [-again how the Rebbe teaches us-from Shulchan Aruch].
Now with regard to this topic, we should each try and have a Mashpia who will guide how one deals with this ect.
and even went to her birthday bash in the early eighties.Never heard of her,she was just a friend of my friend. Never expect too much,and you won’t ever be disappointed. Nice enough lady,who told me her father named her after Harpo Marx (Oprah is Harpo spelled backwards) and she never forgave him.I think with her you must respect and suspect,as with politicians.
one second. There is boro park and then there is kensington. One city two very different places.
Is nihyeh k’chol hagoyim such an obsession in our community that people are upset that the people portrayed were not quite as “cool,” “hip,” “modern” and “with-it” as they imagine themselves? I have a secret for you — the people who hold themselves to be oh-so worldly and intellectual actually come across as phony, arrogant, and foolish, while the temimusdike types come across as sincere and real. And bottom line, that is what people value in others — that realness and humility, not your so-called sophistication (which in reality is anything but). Sorry, but one of the blogs criticizing her… Read more »
Agree with #23. While watching it I was cringing and saying to myself Oy vey. But then on two separate occasions I bumped into two non religious ladies who said they were incredibly inspired and moved by the portrayal of religious families.
Maybe they dont know micky mouse cause it’s old. I wonder if she asked about something popular from this century.
At first, I was so disappointed in the show. To me it looked like we as frum Jews were portrayed as the aliens people think we are. I even was ready to check for my own horns, and hook nose. Then this summer, I had an interesting experience. I was on line at a childrens attraction in Pennsylvania. There was a non Jewish lady next to me, and we were waiting. Both of us had nothing to do, and so a conversation was started. I told her I was an orthodox Jew. She told me she watched a segment about… Read more »
I don’t think 4’s intention was to say that it’s good for kids to know about it – the point is that most kids do know about it. Take me for example, even though I don’t really know anything about these characters, I see pictures of them around, I’ve been to disneyland as a kid etc. I’m not saying it’s a good thing; it’s just a fact.
some of us are very proud to say that: “no, my kids have no clue what disney and mickey mouse is!”
and trust me, they-re not ‘deprived’ , or ‘lacking’ anything… they’re into better stuff than that!
Baruch Hashem.
I had just that discussion with someone. She insisted that Orthodoxy was portrayed very unrealistically. I am the mom of a very regular Lubavitch household, born and bred in CH and currently live out of town. During the discussion with my above-mentioned friend, I called over my 9-year old daughter and said, “Shprintza (alias), what’s donald duck?” She shrugs. “How about mickey mouse?” Shrugs again. “Ok, what about big bird? Ernie?? Bert?? No?” It proved my point. Yes, many (most?) DO know, but perhaps Oprah is exposed to enough of that world, she wanted to see the world of people… Read more »
Thank you Rabbi and Mrs Miller!
This is greatly appreciated!
Great for working girls who want a night filled with fun and inspiration!
I go every week and i have a great time 🙂
what was done was done- there was definitely a lot of positivity about it- so why spend an evening trying to bring out negative aspects about it?
i really dont get this!
i think one should not be too eager to please the interviewer, and especially not to initiate the answer before the question is asked…
i think oprah should have been forced to submit the questions before the interview,as to give the shlucha time 2 prepare the answers.
Tip for interviewees: Don’t keep talking over your husband and interrupting especially if its something very intelligent!!!
go back, watch it and you’ll see what I mean
Will Bronya Shaffer be part of the discussion? I agree with #6 , only she was normal. At least one chassidic woman came across as intelligent and high class. At least she seemed to know who she’s talking to!
It is single women. It’s nightlife.
but unfortunately major miss.. i thought the wedding part was really strange
Nightlife is a program for single girls and women.
i dont think its for single women but its saying that you shopuldnt come with kids or ur husband.
I know someone who went to an African American medical college and he received many positive comments after the episodes.
It could have been a lot better.
and would like to see how they explain this one.
only mrs schaffer was normal.
If when giving the interviews, the women would have spoken the way one speaks to a non-frum Jew, they would have had a better effect then what we saw. Of course the TV show does a lot of editing so you can’t always tell what went on but it seemed like some of the things would not have been said to a non frum Jewish woman interested in Yiddishkeit but more for shock value. One thing I didn’t get was when she asked what they would do if they found out a kid was “different” they made it sound like… Read more »
i think they made jews soud extremley out o it! most people know who mickey mouse is! THEY MADE IT sound like we r living in a diffrent age!WE KNOW WHAT DISNEY IS!
Not sure how to tactfully give an honest opinion without insulting Mrs. Ginsburg (which is not the intention).
why exclusively for singles?
If Rebitzen Ginsburg had any thing to do with it, it was most definitly a GREAT kiddush Shaim Shamayim..
Way to go Shternie G