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I’m a little confused about this.
Why do some people feel that it is necessary to go public (tv, internet) with our halachos and our culture? Why are we looking for approval from the outside world? Is the approval from Hashem not enough?
Training in mitzvos and sensitivity for tznius etc. starts at a very young age. We spend an entire childhood training for our responsibilities to the torah on we reach of age. Then we go on tv and expect to show the beauty of it to the whole world, and they should also understand it and respect it. It makes no sense to me.
What do we stand to gain?
I’m a little confused about this.
Why do some people feel that it is necessary to go public (tv, internet) with our halachos and our culture? Why are we looking for approval from the outside world? Is the approval from Hashem not enough?
Training in mitzvos and sensitivity for tznius etc. starts at a very young age. We spend an entire childhood training for our responsibilities to the torah on we reach of age. Then we go on tv and expect to show the beauty of it to the whole world, and they should also understand it and respect it. It makes no sense to me.
What do we stand to gain?
Chabad Chassidim specificly feel it their mission to spread Yiddishkeit around, similar to the concept of “Tiukun Olam” everyone else degrades (which is why they have “Noahide Rabbis”, etc.). Otherwise, I don’t know if anyone else cares.
The reality is the biggest Media Market in the world in New York City which is also the home to probably the largest Chasidic communities in the world.
And the reality is seeing a chasidic person on the subway is considered a very normal site in the city. The BQE is the most crowded highway in the city and it passes right under Willimsburgh
People are curious about people who dress, speak and act different or unusual, there is nothing you can do to prevent that, infact being insular only adds to the curiosuity. especially since most have never met a Chasid except maybe at B&H Photo
Hi big deal.
I am guessing they see TV and internet as another way to reach people in addition to posting signs for people to show up at a location.
Also, I am not sure they are doing this for public relations to the non Jewish world, although if someone feels that is their place, then I hope they do that job well.
I recently attended a gathering for Project Extreme, where Rabbi Avraham Twerski spoke. While I am not saying Rabbi Twerski endorsed or did not endorse the use of those vehicles, he mentioned the staggering number of young Yidden from frum homes who are “out there” in non frum society.
When you add the numbers of non frum Jews in the world, it is safe to assume the numbers that need to be reached are over on the high side of the 90% range, and that maybe using these outlets is not such a bad idea.
Of course, that does not mean we should teach them about the details of our halachos…
2)R’ Moshe Feinstein writes that in our times we cannot afford to operate as much with tznius, we need to do the right thing publically for others to learn from us. (He’s talking about one’s children, but to a certain extent I think we can extrapolate to the general public.)
If they’d be doing a good job at it is one thing. Somehow, it’s often the wrong guys answering for us. If they really want to understand why we do things let them speak to a real Talmid Chacham.
How I cringed when it was told to the media that the Avel going around the block was to walk the soul to its place! Did you really think that is something a secular person relates to? Besides, it is a funny idea, that we have to guide a soul by circling the block, and I never heard that as the reason. It sounds like the ancient Egyptians.
Haleivi: So let more real talmidei chachamim write for these websites and give TV interviews. The biggest talmid chacham I know of who does (did? I think he stopped recently) anything similar is Rabbi Sacks and his programs were not geared towards kiruv. They were general Torah-based morality for the general public who was not necessarily Jewish or even religious at all.
If they’d be doing a good job at it is one thing. Somehow, it’s often the wrong guys answering for us. If they really want to understand why we do things let them speak to a real Talmid Chacham.
Truth be told this is a terrible idea. Look at Chabad. The Rebbe never went on TV himself he knew who to send.
You need people who speak ENGLISH very well on TV with an american accent, who have a nice personality and can really engage the audience.
Rabbi Boteach has this capability, regardless what you think of his idea, he does work on TV
Hi big deal.
Easy! Where was it said we were in the missionary business. We are not. But if someone even did want to be an “ambassador” for Judaism for public relations reasons, IF that was their motive, because they feel that is their thing, that is still not doing mission work.
Aside from that, I share your anti-TV view, but the fact remains, others are using it for Kiruv in a good way because TV is a big place to get the message across.
If there were no TVs in the world and people went out to do Kiruv in bars and pool halls to reach nonfrum Jews, I would applaud them for that.
Frankly, TV is a media force to be reckoned with and I have heard it said more than once that all the communication devices are here with a deeper meaning to them, Torah-wise, and to eventually communicate our halachos and culture when Moshiach comes.
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