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Jennifer Shaw, an editor at the legal news service, Law360, said about Shtisel, “It’s like having a bunch of ultra-Orthodox Israeli cousins who are completely different from us yet just like us. And they probably are our cousins. We’re just like them... We have crazy moms who tell us who to invite to their surprise parties and think their TVs are broken when they are unplugged.”

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Susan Shapiro, a writing professor at the New School in New York and the author of the recent book The Forgiveness Tour, is passionate about Shtisel but has reservations about Unorthodox.

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“I love Srugim [an earlier and very popular series about the modern Orthodox community in Jerusalem] and Shtisel, which my husband, a TV writer who founded NYU Tisch’s TV writing concentrate, discovered several years ago. We’re more used to series like Unorthodox and the documentary One of Us, about people leaving the faith that vilify – or at least criticize – traditions that seem outdated in the modern world. As secular Jews, I think it’s exciting and important to also see that Orthodox and hassidic Jews are real people with real relatable problems. Especially now in the face of increased antisemitism and ignorant, dangerous behavior by the very religious during the pandemic (having crowded events with thousands of people not wearing masks or social distancing or getting the vaccine.) These shows humanize the haredim and it’s especially wonderful that none of the characters are trying to escape their traditions. They just want to be happier within their insular world. Of course as creative types from convective Jewish families, we over-identify with Akiva [Michael Aloni’s character on Shtisel], trying to find a balance between love, art, and trying to please his crazy relatives.”

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FOR OTHERS, th

What is behind the onscreen infatuation with haredim?

Shows such as 'Shtisel' and 'Unorthodox' have taken the world by storm.

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