Page 90 - issue
P. 90
some time online, it becomes clear that ligious women and mothers who are not picks up a weekly mainstream Orthodox
dressing in a tzniusdik way is counter- in print to serve as fashion models but, magazine to learn more about contempo-
cultural to the outside world. For many, rather, are there to serve as role models. rary Orthodox Jews and culture. Among
that may pose a struggle. As the pendulum swings further in both the advertisements and articles, there is
directions, our communities struggle not a woman in sight. There is an article
The last thing we need is to add fuel with two extremes: modesty and flashi- about a family vacation with a father and
to the fire with the steady message young children, a tribute to a rebbetzin
that, even when we do dress modestly, As the pendulum swings with the picture of her husband, an ad
we should not be seen. Doing what is further in both directions, for a children’s book featuring a Shabbos
required of us according to halacha is table sans the Ima, and an ad for a ye-
monumental in this generation; girls and our communities shiva dinner honoring a couple but only
women don’t need the message that it is struggle with two extremes: showing the male honoree. Maybe the
not enough. They need images of tasteful potential baal teshuva might recognize
and refined women to show them that modesty and flashiness. that this is due to religious Jews’ sensi-
they have something to aspire to and be tivity to modesty. But wait – then there
proud of. And, inundated as we are by the ness. Imagine the effect if our magazines are the many advertisements featuring
world of print and online media, in-per- decided to combat these trends and offer luxury condos in Jerusalem, exclusive
son role models may not be enough. images of the inspiring, tsniusdik, To- real estate opportunities in Miami, ex-
rah-devoted women they write about? pensive vacations in the Alps, designer
With the pressures of externals evident Something powerful. clothing boutiques, and an assortment of
in our culture, and the unabashed con- high-end home improvement ventures.
sumerism that infiltrates even the most The Extremist Portrayal of Orthodox
religious of our communities, women, Jews The truth is, the absence of wom-
girls, men, and young men would ben- Imagine a potential baal teshuva who en in our publications looks absurd at
efit from having images of realistic and best and backwards and Taliban-like at
modestly-dressed frum women and role worst in the eyes of the non-religious. It
models available to them. When they flip makes religious men appear as if they are
through the pages of a magazine, they lacking a normal level of self-control.
should be seeing our unostentatious re-
82 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
dressing in a tzniusdik way is counter- in print to serve as fashion models but, magazine to learn more about contempo-
cultural to the outside world. For many, rather, are there to serve as role models. rary Orthodox Jews and culture. Among
that may pose a struggle. As the pendulum swings further in both the advertisements and articles, there is
directions, our communities struggle not a woman in sight. There is an article
The last thing we need is to add fuel with two extremes: modesty and flashi- about a family vacation with a father and
to the fire with the steady message young children, a tribute to a rebbetzin
that, even when we do dress modestly, As the pendulum swings with the picture of her husband, an ad
we should not be seen. Doing what is further in both directions, for a children’s book featuring a Shabbos
required of us according to halacha is table sans the Ima, and an ad for a ye-
monumental in this generation; girls and our communities shiva dinner honoring a couple but only
women don’t need the message that it is struggle with two extremes: showing the male honoree. Maybe the
not enough. They need images of tasteful potential baal teshuva might recognize
and refined women to show them that modesty and flashiness. that this is due to religious Jews’ sensi-
they have something to aspire to and be tivity to modesty. But wait – then there
proud of. And, inundated as we are by the ness. Imagine the effect if our magazines are the many advertisements featuring
world of print and online media, in-per- decided to combat these trends and offer luxury condos in Jerusalem, exclusive
son role models may not be enough. images of the inspiring, tsniusdik, To- real estate opportunities in Miami, ex-
rah-devoted women they write about? pensive vacations in the Alps, designer
With the pressures of externals evident Something powerful. clothing boutiques, and an assortment of
in our culture, and the unabashed con- high-end home improvement ventures.
sumerism that infiltrates even the most The Extremist Portrayal of Orthodox
religious of our communities, women, Jews The truth is, the absence of wom-
girls, men, and young men would ben- Imagine a potential baal teshuva who en in our publications looks absurd at
efit from having images of realistic and best and backwards and Taliban-like at
modestly-dressed frum women and role worst in the eyes of the non-religious. It
models available to them. When they flip makes religious men appear as if they are
through the pages of a magazine, they lacking a normal level of self-control.
should be seeing our unostentatious re-
82 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
