![]() ![]() In the course of my life, I’ve met exemplary good and bad parents on both sides of that religious divide. Here’s what impressed me: There is actually good parenting insight in this show, even if it comes from an unlikely source.īefore you get your comment fingers ready, I’m not going to get into the merits of parenting as a religious person versus parenting as someone who’s chosen to leave a life of religiosity. What I do want to talk about, though, is something that impressed me much more than the endless six-inch heels, the crazy outfits, the chauffeured Bentleys or, yes, even the chandeliered French sukkah on the grounds of a gorgeous chateau (and let’s note: I’m ALWAYS here for sukkah voyeur opportunities). That’s the kind of lazy thinking that brings you stereotypes, causeless hatred and endless Facebook debates with strangers. I also am not really excited about anyone even attempting to see one show, or one person’s experience, as indicative of the truth of a larger whole. Because, honestly? I’m not particularly surprised that a Netflix series that owes more of its origin story to “Real Housewives” than real life could possibly do the many, many nuances of Jewish observance a disservice. But when Kveller calls, I listen - in large part because I wasn’t asked to voice an opinion on the hot mess that is the “ hillul Hashem” debate of whether this show is a desecration of Torah Judaism. I wasn’t too excited to watch this show, as I binged on “reality” TV in the early 2000s to the point of triggering some serious antibodies to the genre. Haart, whose memoir, “Brazen,” about her exodus from observant Judaism, comes out next year, has many choice words to say about her former way of life, calling it anti-women and labeling Orthodoxy as “fundamentalism.”’ In response, many religious Jewish women have clapped back on social media using the hashtag #ThisIsOrthodox, they decry the broad brush with which the characters and the show paint Haart’s former world. Much ink has been spilled about the show’s protagonista, Julia Haart - a Jewish mother of four who left her Orthodox Jewish community to become the not-religious CEO of Elite World Group - and the implications of her words and choices for the larger Jewish community. (I think “reality” should always be in quotes when it comes to these types of programs, since in most situations, the reality bears no resemblance to any reality I know - and this show isn’t much of an exception to that bright-line rule.) So it was a given that my Facebook feed would start blowing up with posts about “ My Unorthodox Life,” a new “reality” series on Netflix. Fans want her to move on from the past, and have a very happy future.I’m an involved Jew with kids at Jewish camp and Jewish school. ![]() Hopefully, the immediate future will be kind to Julia. She is staying focused on achieving her goals. The My Unorthodox Lifestar has been through so many travails in the past year, and handled the difficulties bravely. In addition to spending time with her kids, Julia is also seeking new ventures, as she now hosts a monthly event tagged, "Paint 2 Power," and describes it as a feminist roundtable. Related: My Unorthodox Life: Batsheva Commends Miriam For Helping Her After Split Julia also spent time with her kids during Thanksgiving, and shared a cute snap of them on her Instagram page. In addition, a recent post by Julia showed her and Batsheva making Tzatziki. The mother-daughter duo also attended Moët & Chandon's 'Your Voices' Holiday Celebration. Evidence from Julia's Instagram page shows that she and Batsheva have continued going for therapy. ![]() Amid her marital issues and lawsuits, Julia ensures that her relationships with her kids are okay. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |