H eadlines
Local Orthodox Jews React to ‘My Unorthodox Life’
her Orthodox community.

Haas was nominated for a
Golden Globe Award and a
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
Primetime Emmy Award for
THE NETFLIX REALITY “Unorthodox.”
For the most part, Jews in the
series “My Unorthodox Life”
local Orthodox communities
has an entire section on its
who spoke
with the Exponent
Wikipedia page devoted to
didn’t criticize
the shows as
the critical response from the
antisemitic or
anti-Orthodox. Jewish community.

Among Orthodox Jews Rather, they said the shows
in the Philadelphia area, the are superficial and specific
sentiment about the show, to the experiences of the real
which premiered in July, isn’t characters behind their stories,
Haart and Deborah Feldman,
much different.

Rabbis and community the woman whose 2012
members alike denounced the autobiography, “Unorthodox:
series based on the story of The Scandalous Rejection of
Julia Haart, a woman who left My Hasidic Roots,” inspired
her Orthodox community to “Unorthodox.”
Sensational stories and
become a fashion designer,
as well as “Unorthodox,” exaggerated portrayals of
another recent Netflix show communities perceived as
starring Israeli actress Shira rejecting modern values, like
Haas, about a girl who escapes liberation and unbounded
ROOSEVELT L OCA L
self-actualization, are more Harav B’nai Jacob, is nonethe-
likely to stand out in a crowded less familiar with the shows
content space, according to and the conversations around
local Orthodox community them.

Leizerowski said that
members. Shows like these
confirm secular values and women like Haart are part
otherize people who aren’t of the “miniscule percentage
that go off the path of their
secular. “It’s a very sensational story, Orthodox upbringing.”
“Every religious
and so they can portray a certain
element of Jews as backward, social group has exceptions,”
outdated, restricted,” said Leizerowski said. “They do not
Rabbi Yehuda Shemtov, the represent the group.”
Jacob Oslick said portrayals of
The rabbi pointed to a May Orthodox
executive director of the
Jews in popular culture
Lubavitch of Bucks County. “It 2021 Pew report as evidence are too often stereotypical.

Courtesy of Jacob Oslick
just fits their narrative.”
that the Netflix shows didn’t
Several local rabbis said capture the story of modern
they didn’t watch either Netflix Orthodoxy. In the report, Pew to Haart. “We have been
show and don’t believe their found that 17% of Jews between increasing at a faster rate than
congregants have, either. Some the ages of 18 and 29 identified any Jewish group.”
added that they don’t even as Orthodox, a number that
Gevura Davis, a Bala
Bulletin rose
Print in the Ad past decade.

Cynwyd resident, grew up
watch television.

“The Orthodox community Reform but transitioned to
One rabbi who fits into that
Judaism as an adult.

is not
about this this
lady,” ad Orthodox
group, Yitzchok Leizerowski
It's simple to worried
customize for your
location. of Congregation Bais Medrash said Leizerowski, referring She views the Netflix portrayals
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