Faith

Racy Israeli Photo Shoot Targets ‘Anti-Women’ Sentiment Among Ultra-Orthodox Jews

Haredim Ultra Orthodox Jews Targeted by BelleMode Magazine

BelleMode, an Israeli fashion magazine, is catching some attention for a provocative photo spread featured in its February issue. To protest against what it sees as anti-women sentiment, the photo shoot showcases women and men in scantily clad (i.e. see-through) garb. The action has been taken, apparently, in a show of protest against attacks and actions that have been taken by ultra-conservative Orthodox Jews in Israel.

As the Blaze reported in December, a television crew was was attacked and an 8-year-old girl, who now says she’s afraid to walk to school, was purportedly spat on and cursed at by ultra-Orthodox (Heredim) Jews in Israel. Here’s what we initially reported, via AP/The Blaze:

Naama Margolese is a pony-tailed, bespectacled second-grader who is afraid of walking to her religious Jewish girls school for fear of ultra-Orthodox extremists who have spat on her and called her a whore for dressing “immodestly.” [...]

…[the] ultra-Orthodox population has erected street signs calling for the separation of sexes on the sidewalks, dispatched “modesty patrols” to enforce a chaste female appearance and hurled stones at offenders and outsiders. Walls of the neighborhood are plastered with signs exhorting women to dress modestly in closed-necked, long-sleeved blouses and long skirts.

Haredim Ultra Orthodox Jews Targeted by BelleMode Magazine

Image Credit: BelleMode

The BelleMode photo shoot, which features women and men in clothing that is favored by the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews), will likely cause some angst among the already on-edge cohort.

Gawker has more about the clothing being worn by the models and the setting that was chosen for the images:

The spread features a number of scantily clad men and women posing provocatively (and sexily!) in outfits that resemble the clothing favored by Haredim, except with some minor differences. Like, some of the shirts are see-through. And some of the models have forgotten to wear their pants.

Adding to the provocation, all of the photos are set inside a bus, a cheeky nod to the ultra-Orthodox community’s rabid efforts to maintain a strict separation of sexes on buses that pass through their neighborhoods. Additionally, in one of the photos the female model appears with tape over her mouth, but no one ever accused fashion industry types of getting their point across in a subtle manner.

Here‘s a behind the scene’s video (in Hebrew) that shows the photo shoot being conducted (caution: photo shoot includes some provocative poses, but no nudity):

A translation of the video, via Gawker, corroborates its aim:

The subject of a woman’s appearance is very bothersome in the media. My feeling is, that in the fashion industry, women have a lot of power, they are at the center. We took that power and decided to centralize/funnel it into a fashion production – that‘s both inspired and against a woman’s appearance, to bring all the stuff that’s most irritating to us — the bus banishments, silencing of singing – to bring it and make a production that walks a fine line between being very closed and modest to ripped wide open and sexy. As long as it‘s being done in good taste and doesn’t harm the woman, I don’t see any problem, that there will be fashion productions. Even if it’s a little sexy – it only attracts and is interesting. When there is a subject like this – it’s worth it to be even more cheeky and provocative. So the message is heard through the power of a woman.

Considering the intense debate between mainstream Israelis and the Heredim, there’s no telling how much drama these images may cause.

(H/T: Gawker)

Comments (48)

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  • txmike
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 11:28pm

    What I see is the photographer attempting to make orthodox Jews look like predators.

    Himmler would have loved this guy.

    Report Post » txmike  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:58pm

    NIce photos.

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • PCKaz
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 6:04pm

    I’m not sure that offending a religious sect – and likely many other people as well – makes their point. Certainly, throwing rocks at children, etc., is unacceptable and needs to be addressed, but could someone tell me how something like this helps at all? I think that the photoshoot was designed for one thing, really – to get a reaction. Any publicity is good publicity, as the saying goes. This got them quite a bit.

    Report Post » PCKaz  
  • BnaiNoach
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 6:04pm

    How sad to see those who have lumped all orthodox Jews together. Every faith has its fringe as does othodoxy. To apply the excesses on a small fringe to a large group is unjust. The orthodox Jew has preserved for the world the Torah over thousands of year which is the foundation for the righteous of all generations. Shabbat Shalom

    Report Post »  
  • Ella
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 5:26pm

    Disgusting. If you don’t understand something you have no right to make fun of it. People are so disrespectful. Those Jews who do not observe their religion according to the oral and written Torah will have h—- to pay.

    Report Post »  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 5:23pm

    So the answer is to get some pretty models, and try to sex up othodox judism? I guess it works???

    Report Post » flatbroke  
  • Gman992
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 2:40pm

    So guys looking at a beautiful girl…OMG kill them! How dare they do it!

    Report Post »  
    • Cause4Liberty
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 3:26pm

      @Blazers. Did you know Hitler had many “Half Jews (Mischlinge)” serving throughout ranks in the Nazi military? Did you know some helped Ultra-Othrodox Hassidic Jews escape to safety?

      See here: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f9e_1235836764

      Did you know that Hassidic Jews are denyers of Jesus Christ? Of course this is only one sect of Judaism. Much like catholics, baptists, and lutherans. Different sects, same religion. Not all Jews are bad. But who is to say that these ultra-othrodox hassidic’s didnt have something to do with their “racial purification” or “eugenics.” Protocol of _______?

      In the 1930s, IBM’s international subsidary “Dehomag,” indirectly provided operation systems to Nazi death camps. Could IBM’s first computer data base be credited for the tracking of victims in Nazi death camps?

      Jesus (Yeshua) is the messiah, son of God, Love, Peace, and Truth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBs6aAifNdE

      Report Post » Cause4Liberty  
  • spirited
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 1:41pm

    The dresses are beautiul… and so are the models.
    That midi-man-skirt may send a message of ‘equality’, but, is uG ga ly.

    Parents may be ‘frightened for their children’…., –and of change

    >But, (some) men must be terrified…

    Report Post » spirited  
  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:06pm

    30 years ago many people of the United States may have been insulted at these suggestive poses.
    That is how it starts. A little at a time. You become more and more desensitized. Until provocative becomes the norm. It is not only a matter of what the man see’s but what the woman alludes to.
    Sometime the lines become crossed that is up to the individuals to take the responsibility to respect each other and dress respectful of each other. Each must take responsibility for their attitudes.

    Report Post »  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:16pm

      In that same vein, we have a personal responsibility to set the parameters of the society in which we live. It’s not just the individual. Anything goes, 1960′s trash, was wrong and continues to be wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • JohnnyMidknight
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 2:42pm

      Still the actions of the Orthodox Jews is abhorrent. There is no difference between their actions and the Taliban when it comes to this. I understand and agree that the envelope pushing creates many society issues (which are plaguing the US today). However, the issue is at the home not for the Government. Nor should violence be the answer for such things. It is still a form of tyranny, submit or be scorned (or die).

      I pray the Orthodox Jews will find a way to teach through words on the importance to respect one’s self and others. When woman wear provocative clothing I personally feel bad. I know they are beautiful, but what really matters to me is the beauty of who they are on the inside. By wearing provocative clothing they are robbing themselves and the people they engage with from developing substantive relationships. This is why teen sex, marriage/divorce rates, and society has so much strife today. Still, people should be free to wear what they wish.

      Report Post » JohnnyMidknight  
  • COFemale
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:01pm

    Extreme religious belief from any side spells bad news. It is when someone reads more into the scriptures than that is really there is when the trouble begins. These Orthodox Jews who “hate” or disparage women because they see them as less than themselves, is where they are misguided. They are taking Satan’s stance; that they are above or equal to God. Let them get offended, they brought this on themselves with their extreme beliefs. Same goes for Muslims.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:13pm

      So, your truth is the real truth? You’ve spoken to Satan? Smut is smut and trash is trash. Animals lack values… define yourself.

      Report Post »  
    • Zenzazin
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:19pm

      same goes for extreme Christians who justify murders and acts of terrorism due to their beliefs (abortion-clinic bombings, the incident in Oslo)… basically, same goes for ANY religious extremist

      Report Post »  
    • wordsworth
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:42pm

      They don’t hate women. They’re just being characterized as backwards by a Leftist stereotype of traditional religious values in devout communities.

      Report Post »  
    • Athinkerinaseaoflibs
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:47pm

      @Zenzazin
      The incidents of extremely religious Christian groups using violence to prove the point is so rare as to be a statistical non-event. If one lists the most obscure cause of death–it will out number deaths by Christian groups. One’s chances of death by flesh eating bacteria is far more likely than any Christian. In general Christians are the victims of religious zealots.

      Are there deaths and murders that deranged Christians commit? Yes. However when this does happens they are called out by the rest of the christian population and typically sent to jail or an assylum. This is also true with the Jewish faith. However muslims and many other religious groups make them saints and elevate their stature.

      Report Post »  
    • Zenzazin
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 1:35pm

      @Athinker… – I am not trying to make it seem like we should only focus on Christian extremists, but discounting the number of terrorist/violent attacks just because they are lower in number doesn’t really acknowledge that there is a problem with it (and yes, there is also a problem with the extremist from other religions, too). seeing how many bombings the IRA did, how many abortion clinics have been bombed, any murders committed by the KKK, completely ignoring the fact that christian extremists can ALSO commit horrendous acts is naive

      Report Post »  
  • KAdams
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 11:40am

    Hebrew = Habiru = ‘one who is from across the river (usage Egypt, pre-Moses) Habiru was only paired with ‘sagaz’ meaning cutthroat. (Hebrews = cutthroat bandits from across the river) In the Bible, Habiru was only used when in reference to thieves. Just remember, God never called his own people Hebrew, or Jews… those are what the world named them.

    These people are disgusting, and they should be exposed.

    Report Post »  
  • schroeder123
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 11:32am

    Ma Ma Mia………

    Report Post » schroeder123  
  • richard bensen
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:51am

    ‘OY VAY”…..lovely lady…..

    Report Post » richard bensen  
  • Mrs. Bowers
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:30am

    I really hate high fashion. It just doesn’t impress me. Never has and never will.

    Report Post »  
    • moreteaplease
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 11:03am

      I could never see the fascination in it myself. My wife loves to watch those reality, fashion design shows on Bravo; I absolutely abhor them! To each his own I guess.

      Report Post » moreteaplease  
  • SpaceRaider
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:10am

    I’m not particularly fond of these photos.

    Report Post » SpaceRaider  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 10:02am

    A lot of bullcrap about nothing. Good looking woman. though.

    Report Post »  
  • rdk
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 9:55am

    Good looking woman.

    Report Post »  
  • justangry
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 9:34am

    unst unst unst unst… Israeli techno sux as bad as ours.

    Report Post » justangry  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 9:09am

    .
    That guy on the right in the second picture. The one with his hand in his pocket, sniffing an armpit is having to much fun……..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • vaman
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:39am

    Fundamentalists of any religion are a major problem. Their religion blinds them to the real world and they refuse to accept change. They usually hate anyone not exactly like them, claim their god will be punishing everyone but them and have a particular type of arrogance, as if they have some secret knowledge given to them by their god. It must be nice to live in your own little word, devoid of common sense and common decency. Fundamentalists would drive society back a thousand years if they could.

    Report Post »  
    • Chana
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 5:16pm

      Actually your types are driving it back to sodom and Gomorrah. That’s even farther back.

      Report Post »  
  • nelbert
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:31am

    Can‘t say I’ve ever seen much terribly sexy about Hasidim (and that’s not intended as a slight).
    And I can say that seeing these photos wouldn’t cause me to associate them with anti-women sentiment among ultra-Orthodox Jews. The only impression it made on me was who thought this was a good idea?

    Report Post » nelbert  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:40am

      The only impression it made on me, I hope she isn’t a guy

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:23am

    Most people fail to understand a important key component of faith between a fundamentalist and a fanatic of any religion.

    Fundamentalists who choose to live their faith, and try to share it by living up to those standards often have respect for the beliefs of others, they may not agree with them; they will acknowledge that you have the right to them.

    Fanatics though, weather called radicals, extremeists, ultra orthodox or however you name them are the same on this much “My way is the only way, convert or you will not make it; and if you dont convert violence will be met out until you do.”

    Extremists see any dissent or disagreement as proof in their eyes of their ‘holiness’ and ‘rightness’ of their cause; even when their own actions destroy the very stuff of society they want to protect.

    Look at our nations own Westborough Baptist church and the constant attempts to disgrace the funerals of the fallen for their own agenda.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • democritusoilder267
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:11am

    I cannot stand fundamentalist of any religion; let alone Judaism. Does G-d care about all our personal and social issues? I believe HaShem would want us to reclaim our humanity and find peace within ourselves.

    Report Post » democritusoilder267  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:10am

    All Jew, all day, everyday, goes the propaganda. What else elevates this non-American story about a very miniscule minority in this country? And, if you’re really interested in who is mostly responsible for bringing smut and filth to America, it was/is Hollywood. Who’s Hollywood? The same people: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-stein19-2008dec19,0,4676183.column

    Report Post »  
    • Zenzazin
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 12:22pm

      @the-Jerk – your anti-semitism is really really sad. i feel very sorry for you. it must be unpleasant feeling so much hatred everyday towards a group of people I seriously doubt you have much direct interaction with.

       
    • Chana
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 5:14pm

      You are immature with your name calling. You need to grow up and stop using terms that do not apply to jews such as semitic. Most jews are not semitic and which by the way includes arabs so it’s hardly anti-Semitic remark. Yawn.

      Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:06am

    So…Israel starts the slide down the toilet. God will be here soon…It’s a good thing, Satan is inside the walls…

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
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