‘Unclean’: Ultra-Orthodox Newspaper Draws Outrage for Blurring Young Girls’ Faces
- Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:15pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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This advertisement printed in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspaper in Israel prompted fury for blurring the faces of the young girls, but not young boys, pictured.(Image source: Ynet news)
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspaper in Israel has prompted outrage for blurring the faces of young girls, but not young boys, pictured in its advertisements, Ynet News reported.
The newspaper, Hadash BeBeit Shemeh, is a Haredi Orthodox publication: Haredi Jews were recently accused of attacking an Israeli news crew and of spitting on an 8-year-old girl on her way to school and calling her a “whore” for dressing “immodestly.”
The ads in question were for the Red Pirate toy store chain to promote its children’s costumes for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim. According to Ynet, the first person to protest the advertisements was Hadassa Margolese, the mother of the girl targeted on her way to school.
Margolese posted pictures of the censored ads to Red Pirate’s Facebook page and wrote, “Although I like your store here in [the Haredi neighborhood] Beit Shemesh, I will not shop in a place which agrees to blur little girls’ faces in advertisements. I find it shocking.”
She explained more of her decision to protest to the Jewish Daily Forward: “The store and the company needed to be told that we don’t believe in blurring female faces and anyone who wants to put their advertisements in our mailboxes in our neighborhood with blurred faces would lose our business.”
According to Ynet, others quickly joined Margolese on Facebook, writing their own messages on the company’s page, including: “How disgusting…Do you also spit on little girls? That’s the fashion now in Beit Shemesh“ and ”I am a woman with a face. Now I’ll know not to buy from your store!”
Following the outcry, Red Pirate issued a statement clarifying that it did not make the call to blur the girls’ faces, and that it was not consulted on the decision.
According to the statement, it was the newspaper’s kashrut — or Jewish law — supervisor who made the decision to blur the ad, and it happened shortly before the issue went to print. The chain vowed it would “prepare accordingly” the next time it runs an ad in a Haredi area and “put an end to this phenomenon.”
“On behalf of the Red Pirate chain and the Beit Shemesh store, we apologize for the offense and discomfort cause by our advertisements in the local papers of Ramat Beit Shemesh. Unfortunately, their publication was not under our control,” the statement said.
But Hadash BeBeit Shemeh is standing by its decision to blur the faces, claiming in its own statement that it was “not a case of women‘s exclusion or girls’ exclusion.”
“The ads were blurred by the advertising company, at our request, out of respect to our readers – both men and women – who want to receive a paper which matches their worldview and lifestyle,” the newspaper said. “The attempts made by people who are not part of the Haredi public to meddle in the desires of a different public are pathetic and doomed to fail, as Haredi readers will not bring an unclean newspaper into their home.”
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Comments (48)
RagingJudge
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:41pmI agree that women tend to dress too immodestly nowadays (though not in that picture!), however, that does put anyone in the right for spitting on them or calling them “whores”. That’s called acting like Muslims.
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 1:33amso does that mean instead of saying, Hey dont be an a$$ hole,” we should now say, ” hey dont be a muslim?” BE PREPARED COLLECT, FOOD, WATER (FILTERS), AMMO!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA
Report Post »larrylarrylarry
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:31pmwow those orthodox Jews are just as stupid as Muslims.
Report Post »Esteban74
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 10:48pm10,000 percent agree
Report Post »Maji
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:35pmEsteban,
Report Post »are you the guy that sales the cheap guitars??
Esteban74
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:51amMaji:
Report Post »No
:)
Noahide Ron
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:23pm“According to Ynet, the first person to protest the advertisements was Hadassa Margolese, the mother of the girl targeted on her way to school.”
Yeah, no agenda there. . .seems like a pattern’s forming here.
It’s a common practice with this group to blur out the faces of girls.
Don’t like it? Don’t read their paper. ;-P
“The ads were blurred by the advertising company, at our request, out of respect to our readers – both men and women – who want to receive a paper which matches their worldview and lifestyle,” the newspaper said. “The attempts made by people who are not part of the Haredi public to meddle in the desires of a different public are pathetic and doomed to fail, as Haredi readers will not bring an unclean newspaper into their home.”
And that’s it in a nutshell.
PS: Just in case you care, the Forward has a long, established Socialist/Social Justice history.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/303579/Jewish-Daily-Forward
Jewish Daily Forward
The Forward was founded in 1897 by the Jewish Socialist Press Federation
Yeah, no agenda there either. . .
Report Post »JRook
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:56pmWhile I appreciate the pro Israel and support for Israel stance. There is really no broad based interest in Israel news or how similarly extreme they can be to Islamics. In short who cares.
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:51pmHey…, it’s their paper, they can do what they wish. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Start your own paper. Sheesh…what a bunch of whiny cry babies
Report Post »Esteban74
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 11:39pmDeeper and complicated than you think pal…and it is not about the news papers, this is happens in the streets of the towns and cities where the orthodox are mayority…
Report Post »Extremists are a serious problem in every society that should not be taken lightly, and have NOTHING to do with faith.
By the way: Did you know that here in Israel we have no constitution because a little group of ‘ultra orthodox’ did refuse the idea that men and women are equals?
Fortunately, this is not the vision of most of the Israeli population, but we take the politically-correct attitude on this, in the near future we could find ourselves stoning our women to death…as you know who.
(:P)
Peace
blackstone22
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:41pmThe views of the Haredi regarding women are indefensible and disgusting.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:37pmYou people can‘t even name the countries that begin with the letter U and you have opinions on some religion you don’t understand.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:54pmToss around ignorant opinions and insulting overgeneralizations of complete strangers much? Go to hell, you obnoxiously self-possessed internet troll. You should fit right in with the caliber of character there.
Report Post »larrylarrylarry
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:33pmUturdistan
Report Post »ConservativeCanucklehead
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:30pmAh, fundamentalism. Doesn’t matter what flavour it comes in, it’s always oppressive. (With a tip of my hat to LOCKED)
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:13pmI am appalled also, the girls shouldn’t been allowed to even be in the picture. Women you don’t rule the world, you never have and you never will, if you don’t like it tough, get over yourselves.
Report Post »AmericanBumpkin
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:39pmdude, if you dont like women fine. but if you are the type who beleives only men should have any say in anything in the world, look what a terrific effing job that mentality has done.
Report Post »ask PETA to send you a goat for christmas or hannukah or ramadan or snooberry day or whatever.
midwesthippie
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:10pm…who cares???…who really gives a lumpy-poo what fundamentalists do halfway around the globe…OY!
Report Post »Black Conservative
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:34pmYeah i thought only Islamists were whacko Fundamentalists. looks like it truly does come in all flavors.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:04pmAh, fundamentalism. Doesn’t matter what flavor it comes in, it’s always nutty!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:01pmIf girls are so unclean, how does this Sect live past one Generation.?? No sex with unclean women , Right??? No sex, no progeny.
Report Post »Kerri g
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:57pmWhat is unclean in this picture? Are they saying that little girls are unclean? Don’t get it.
Report Post »Joker50
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:56pmOne more thing, I thought Israel was a democracy and had Freedom Of Speech and Press. Am I wrong??
Report Post »Joker50
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:55pmI would like to know who gives these groups the right to force their ideas on everyone else. If they choose to live that way , fine but leave everyone else out of it. Everyone seems to be against segregation but you know what, this crap would be under control . Most races self segregate anyway but they can’t be FORCED to. That should change in order to “keep the peace”.
Report Post »The Giver
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:53pmIt looks like the ad was placed in a very conservative Jewish paper which probably does this all the time. What’s shocking to me is that the Haredi jews would actually spit on a little girl. Seems like the world is on fire. God, please heal our land. If there are 50 righteous, would You spare us?
Report Post »PATRIOTMAMA
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:53pmOk you just said that the Haredi people will not bring an unclean newspaper into their homes. You’re just as bad as the people that believe these little girls are unclean by standing by it and respecting this belief. You are supporting it. You and all those who perpetrate the mistreatment of girls and women around the world, including those in radical Islam and all the abusive husbands, sex slave owners, pimps, and pedophiles will answer to God one day for the disrespect and mistreatment of those that are His children and bear His image. Mark my words!!!
Report Post »Freedom Keeper
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:43pmhttp://oleglorynews.com/ THE TRUTH
Report Post »GuatemalaGlennFan
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:40pmAll fundamentalists of any religion are wierd, just a matter of degree.
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:40pmI’m truly shocked. Huh? is the next step chadors or burkas? Not letting little girls go to school? Where is this coming from? What ?????
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:36pmWhen was the last time a Jew threw acid in the face of a Muslim?
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2012/02/mumbai-muslims-attack-hindu-girls-throwing-acid-in-their-face.html
Report Post »Locked
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:03pmProbably when the Israelis were attacking Palestinians using white phosphorous a few years back. That stuff burns.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:01pmThose pesky Jews . No matter how hard you try to get rid of them , they just keep coming back, Right Locked??
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:32pmThe various Sects in Israel have a serious problem… of actually attacking each other. The whole Middle East is a bag of mixed vipers!
Report Post »caleejr
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:42pmsounds alot like us christians. people who believe if you’re not reading the KJV – you can’t possibly be saved. Others who believe if you don‘t speak jibberish for show that you’re not saved because you don’t have the spirit – and so on.
Report Post »We have to STOP this Divisiveness – or we’ll all wind up gone.
Ben Franklin – hang together or hang separately
makes me think of a song called “I just know” – by a band called disciple.
barbhubley
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 3:39pmWe, as Gods children, have been living in Sodom & Gomorah type liberal state for many years now. It is natural for the pendulem to swing back to conservatism. Too bad it has swung too far.
Report Post »expatinontariocanada
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:25pmFirst thought I had while reading this post…sharia.
Report Post »democritusoilder267
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:23pmThere are somethings that are just confusing. As someone who is by birth Jewish I just do not see what many traditional Jews see in different genders. Maybe it is growing up in the Unites States where it is common interacting with all kinds of people. I feel tradition does need to be debated between Jews.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:21pmUmm…Have all middle-eastern type people gone completely mad?
Report Post »TheDM
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:39pmIt’s not just in the middle east. Everywhere you go, the ultra-orthodox and the heavy fundamentalists of all religions are the true threat to freedom and modern principles of democracy, equality, and independence.
Whether it’s fundamental Islam and Sharia law, ultra-orthodox Jewish faith and its own misogyny and messages of hate, or the doctrine of intolerance, damnation and hellfire preached by Christian fundamentalism, the threat is the same. All use fear and hate as weapons, all are terrorist in nature, and all are threats to America and any country that shares America’s ideals.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:40pmStop,look around,,,,
Report Post »It’s the whole world…………..
democritusoilder267
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 2:48pm@THEDM: I agree with you 100%
Report Post »pennswoods
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:51pmTHEDM… Left wing true believers put their faith in fundamentalist Communist teachings called Marxism – Leninism. In the last century tens of millions died in the USSR, China, Cambodia and other countries where this evil anti God and anti human concept ruled. As strange and as harsh as these Orthodox Jews and also some Fundamentalist Christian groups seem to modern secular people, nowhere in their teachings using the Bible, do I see that they believe God tells them to kill people or commit suicide bombings. We leave that to another fundamentalist cult called Islam which atcually DOES believe their Allah wants all non Muslims killed.
Report Post »TheDM
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 6:53pmBeing left wing and being Marxist are two different things. They‘re as different as being a fascist just because you’re right wing. Ad hominem statements as such do nothing but harm reasonable and rational discourse between differing ideologies. The US was built on the premise of such ideologies coming together and finding what works and what does not. It wasn’t founded to ensure one group of any ideology, minority or majority, would rule over all.
As for the reference to Islam being a cult, you are welcome and free to have your opinions, whatever they may be. However, the United States guarantees as its most basic right in the Bill of Rights that the right to practice a religion shall be respected. Many kill in the name of god, and not all are Muslim. There have been notable Christian terrorist attacks in recent years, and simply saying “they were extremists and thus do not reflect on Christianity” only works when you equally apply that logic.
I’m not here to defend either side, only to point out that fundamentalism, in any form, is the real threat to humanity. Fundamental fascism, fundamental socialism, even fundamental capitalism (laissez-faire) are all dangerous. We’ve seen the dangers of all these things, from Stalinist Russia to the late Kim Jong Il’s North Korea to the United States prior to unionization and the breakups of trusts and monopolies.
Report Post »