"The View," Mass Media, and Judeophobia

With Jews worldwide facing an outbreak of anti-Semitism unprecedented since the days of the old Soviet Union, the trivial prattle of a gaggle of silly “yentas” on the daytime talk show “The View” is very low on my list of “stuff to be outraged about.” I do not watch this program, or television altogether, and when “The View” broadcast a program featuring actress Susie Essman promoting her new movie while repeating the most obnoxious and grotesque stereotypes about religious Jews, Chabad Jews in particular, I was asked by fellow blogger Debbie Schlussel to post a link to this program on my blog, which I did.

On this program, Susie Essman and the regular celebrities who appear on “The View,” described Chabad Hasidic women as, “ugly,” they dress funny, they have “weird and bizarre” religious customs, and they are all “ugly.” Ugly! Ugly! (Speaking of ugly) Whoopie Goldberg once appeared on the Chabad Telethon program, so she at least should have been aware of the community works they do in California, for Jews and non-Jews, but for whatever reason, maybe short term memory loss brought on by drug abuse, remained silent during Susie Essman’s ignorant rant except to nod and grin and appear to agree. This is the same Whoopie Goldberg who thought that John McCain, if elected, would re-institute slavery and send her "back" to some plantation.

Ms. Schlussel was outraged by the vicious characterizations of Chabad Jews made by the panelists on “The View,” justifiably so in my opinion. I have been asked to describe my personal reaction to this program.

The Chabad position, when faced with this type of bigotry and prejudice, is to respond by shedding light, responding to ignorance with education, and to hatred with love. Some people would like to reach out to Susie Essman and invite her for a Shabbaton, and give her some tips on makeup and fashion. It’s insulting enough to be called “ugly” and “dressed funny” but especially insulting to be called so by someone who really is unattractive and wears hideous clothing. However, Ms. Essman and “The View” crew did not compare Chabad Jews to Nazis, as other media celebrities have done recently during Israel’s incursion into Gaza, so being called “ugly” and unfashionable is relatively mild as insults go.

What is disturbing is that none of the panel on “The View” objected to this stereotyping as they would have objected if someone described Muslims, Hispanics, or African-Americans in such derogatory terms, nor did the discussion go beyond the most shallow ridicule of external appearances, and making fun of observances which they obviously know nothing about.

Don Imus was fired for making an insulting comment about African-American female athletes, and Michael Richards was forced to attend rehab after getting into a cussing match with some homeboys who heckled him at a comedy club. It is just unfair that Susie Essman should go scot free, even if Don Imus is more famous and Michael Richards has more talent.

My real concern is, how many regular watchers of “The View” program, who have never heard of Chabad Jews and their good works, are influenced by the ignorant, casual bigotry displayed by the “celebrities” on this show? Are there really people out there who take the opinions of these shallow creatures as words of wisdom? In the world that I inhabit, “The View” is dismissed as the ramblings of silly, self-absorbed and not-too-bright semi-talented has-beens. “My world” is by no means a sequestered ghetto. I have a college degree in mathematics, and have worked in the automotive industry for many years with people of many different religious and social backgrounds.

“The View” on the other hand, is populated by a sub-class of minor celebrities who are monolithic (with Elizabeth Hasselbeck as the token “Conservative”) in their airheaded, politically leftist, whatever-is-the-popular-trend opinions. It is doubtful they have ever been challenged or made to think, that is if they are even capable of deep thought.

I understand that “The View” is not interested in presenting opposing opinions as part of the “Fairness Doctrine” or even acknowledging errors of fact if it means apologizing to “politically incorrect” folks they have offended. All I can do is point out they are wrong; if they choose to ignore me it is not because I have remained silent.

As a final rebuttal to Susie Essman, I present the eloquent words of a Chabad woman: Rivka Holtzberg HY”D.

 

UPDATE: Susie Essman has called Chabad.org to address the outpouring of anger that followed her statements ridiculing Chabad women on the TV show 'The View,' COLlive has learned. In a telephone conversation with Chabad reps, Essman was quoted as saying, "Sometimes, I can be a little off color, and I apologize." But Sara Esther Crispe, editor of the site TheJewishWoman.org says her apology "is not enough."

If you slander a whole group of people on national television, in front of an audience of millions, making one telephone call won't "make things right." An appearance before the same audience that heard the slander is required.

Comments

[Netmilsmom]

I just looked up the view on Debbie's site.
The whole thing made me want to cry. What horrible hags!!!!

[Dave]

I have nothing to do with Chabad, but your view of the women on The View is pretty much the view everyone with an IQ over 80 has of the women on The View.

[Nachum]

Just beautiful. Thanks for posting this video.