The editor of the weekly B'Sheva newspaper, Emanuel Shilo, writes the following:
My friend Eran Shternberg [pictured; the former spokesman for the former Gush Katif municipal council and currently the head of programming at INN-TV] was invited to tape an interview for a television program on one of the public channels to mark one year since the expulsion. In the waiting room, he saw on a TV screen the person being interviewed before him answering the female interviewer's questions. The latter was dressed unquestionably immodestly, and Eran informed the production team that it would be difficult for him to be interviewed by her under those circumstances.
The interviewer then reappeared in more modest dress, and began the item by explaining to the viewers why she had changed. She then turned to Eran and asked him what had so bothered him.
Eran explained that he had been invited to appear on the show as a representative of the public that is fighting for the Land of Israel. "This struggle," he said, "is part of a broader issue of our loyalty to our Jewish destiny and identity, of which the values of modesty are an integral part."
The interviewer then asked him if he does not think that this type of behavior on his part would actually distance the general public from his camp, causing him to lose the struggle. Eran responded that we must first be true to our faith and express it, and only afterwards try to bring the public towards us - and not try to "buy" them by suiting ourselves to their expectations and the unacceptable norms of the majority culture.
Afterwards, Eran told me that he had deliberated heavily as to whether it was right for him to risk having his appearance canceled, and allow the claims of the man who appeared before him [a yarmulke-sporting man representing the Disengagement Authority] to go unanswered. "But I remembered," Eran said, "that in the past, I had encouraged B'Sheva reporter Hagit Rotenberg when, right in the middle of a live appearance on the London/Kirshenbaum show, she refused to tolerate the foul language in her presence, and got up and left the studio. I said to myself that if I praised her then, I myself have to act the same way."
I recall, too, that I recently read about Channel Two female reporter Sivan Rahav-Meir, who has become the co-anchor of the morning program. The other co-anchor, Gidi Gov, complained that she refuses to shake his hand. But unlike Chief of Staff Dan Halutz in the case of the soldier Hananel Megged, it appears that Gov is accepting the situation with understanding.
This type of behavior is, I feel, not just allegiance to Jewish Law, but also a form of Jewish pride that we should adopt. We must not give in to the unacceptable dictates of the majority culture. As the bearers of a way of life that stems from a more exalted source, we must be assertive and stand up for our faith. This is the correct way to fight for our Land. This is the way to integrate into the media without being influenced by it. This is also the right way to fight for the spiritual and ethical character of the IDF.
My friend Eran Shternberg [pictured; the former spokesman for the former Gush Katif municipal council and currently the head of programming at INN-TV] was invited to tape an interview for a television program on one of the public channels to mark one year since the expulsion. In the waiting room, he saw on a TV screen the person being interviewed before him answering the female interviewer's questions. The latter was dressed unquestionably immodestly, and Eran informed the production team that it would be difficult for him to be interviewed by her under those circumstances.
The interviewer then reappeared in more modest dress, and began the item by explaining to the viewers why she had changed. She then turned to Eran and asked him what had so bothered him.
Eran explained that he had been invited to appear on the show as a representative of the public that is fighting for the Land of Israel. "This struggle," he said, "is part of a broader issue of our loyalty to our Jewish destiny and identity, of which the values of modesty are an integral part."
The interviewer then asked him if he does not think that this type of behavior on his part would actually distance the general public from his camp, causing him to lose the struggle. Eran responded that we must first be true to our faith and express it, and only afterwards try to bring the public towards us - and not try to "buy" them by suiting ourselves to their expectations and the unacceptable norms of the majority culture.
Afterwards, Eran told me that he had deliberated heavily as to whether it was right for him to risk having his appearance canceled, and allow the claims of the man who appeared before him [a yarmulke-sporting man representing the Disengagement Authority] to go unanswered. "But I remembered," Eran said, "that in the past, I had encouraged B'Sheva reporter Hagit Rotenberg when, right in the middle of a live appearance on the London/Kirshenbaum show, she refused to tolerate the foul language in her presence, and got up and left the studio. I said to myself that if I praised her then, I myself have to act the same way."
I recall, too, that I recently read about Channel Two female reporter Sivan Rahav-Meir, who has become the co-anchor of the morning program. The other co-anchor, Gidi Gov, complained that she refuses to shake his hand. But unlike Chief of Staff Dan Halutz in the case of the soldier Hananel Megged, it appears that Gov is accepting the situation with understanding.
This type of behavior is, I feel, not just allegiance to Jewish Law, but also a form of Jewish pride that we should adopt. We must not give in to the unacceptable dictates of the majority culture. As the bearers of a way of life that stems from a more exalted source, we must be assertive and stand up for our faith. This is the correct way to fight for our Land. This is the way to integrate into the media without being influenced by it. This is also the right way to fight for the spiritual and ethical character of the IDF.