Rave Reviews For New Israeli TV Show – A Frum Version Of Sex and the City

Jameel writes:

Israel’s internet chats, blogs and media gave a resounding two-thumbs-up to Laizey Shapiro’s “SrugimTV series which debuted last night on YES TV. To the religious viewer, one could laugh, squirm, and ponder at many of the oh-too-familiar scenes in the show — demonstrating the impressive quality of the acting, writing, and direction.

Normally, Israel’s “artsy media” with their traditional anti-religious bias would have a field day with a TV series about religious singles, produced by a religious director. Yet the series has produced rave reviews from “Achbar Ha’ir“, Maariv, NRG, and many others — attesting that this series appeals to both Israel’s religious and secular worlds.

Obviously, for the sake of the script, not every scene is typical of the Jewish “Bitza” (Swamp) Katamon singles scene, yet the familiarity allows for every scene to be believable — and if it didn’t happen to you personally, you know people that it could have happened to.

A guy’s “tefillin request” sends him to the next door neighbor, where an American accented Hebrew speaking young lady offers HER tefillin to him. Shocked, he returns to his girlfriend and angrily responds that he wasn’t looking for a Reform Lesbian’s tefillin…but for real tefillin. His girlfriend dumps him rather quickly…and you can easily imagine the scene in Jerusalem.

Everyone says the Shabbat meal scene is slightly uncomfortable to watch, because everyone’s been there. Anyone who’s ever been single in Jerusalem knows about singles Shabbat meals, where everyone tries and hopes to meet their intended life partner. Sometimes awkward and clumsy, the Shabbat meal is can be a neccessary evil in the Katamon singles scene.

Speaking to Srugim director, Laizy Shapiro today by phone, he told me that it was really an exceptional experience making the show, and that there was a special atmosphere with the secular actors when filming…and he said the show could be a bridge between the religious and secular. Judging from the favorable reactions of the newspapers, I believe he’s correct.

I wonder how the singles scene in Jerusalem will feel about being reflected in this TV series.

About Luke Ford

Raised a Seventh-Day Adventist at Avondale College in Australia, Luke Ford moved to California in 1977. He graduated from Placer High School in 1984, reported the news at KAHI/KHYL radio for three years, attended Sierra College and UCLA, was largely bedridden by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for six years, and converted to Judaism in 1993. From 1997-2007, Luke made his living from blogging. Living by Beverly Hills (Alexander90210.com), he now teaches the Alexander Technique (moving the way the body likes to move). Lessons cost $100 each and last about 45 minutes. In 2011, Luke completed a three-year teaching course at the Alexander Training Institute of Los Angeles. His personal Alexander Technique website is Alexander90210.com. Luke is the author of five books, including: » The Producers: Profiles in Frustration » Yesterday’s News Tomorrow: Inside American Jewish Journalism
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