Rabbis from across the religious spectrum have come together recently in something of a rare collaboration, with one aim in mind: Having a television show they have deemed "an affront to God" taken off the air.
Hayehudim Ba'im ("The Jews are Coming") is a satire that is currently seeing its fourth season air on Israel's public broadcaster, Kan. Each episode consists of several sketches on subjects ranging from Biblical facts, to Zionist history and Israeli current affairs, with occasional pop culture references.
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The show has met with both critical acclaim and scathing criticism from day one, with some religious figures accusing it of showing "gross contempt" for Jewish tradition and practices.
Several ultra-Orthodox lawmakers have called on Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit to order the public broadcaster to remove the show.
Shas MK Moshe Arbel accused it of "severely offending the religious feelings of many" in Israeli society.
Several weeks ago, National Union leader MK Betzalel Smotrich even went as far as to state that the show has "no place in the world," and called to end Kan's government funding over it.
The rabbis' protest followed a video by Rabbi Zamir Cohen, founder and chairman of the Hidabroot ("dialogue") organization, in which he castigates the show for what he called its "disgraceful contempt" of Jewish tradition.
The video went viral and protest among religious circles grew to a point where the Education Ministry was forced to remove from its website several clips of the show that were featured as a visual aid for teachers.
Dozens of rabbis have so far signed a petition urging a public boycott of the show, including influential religious leaders such as Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, formerly the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, and Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, head of the Ateret Kohanim Yeshiva in Jerusalem, to name a few.
The show, the petition states, "Has made a mockery of Jewish tradition and practices. … It is inconceivable that Israel, the national home of the Jewish people, will allow for such desecration of everything we hold sacred. The majority of the public condemns this gross contempt of Jewish tradition. We are duty-bound to protest against it."
Rabbi Zvi Thau, dean of Har Hamor Yeshiva in Jerusalem and one of the most revered leaders in religious Zionism, said the show was "another attempt by a tireless, brazen minority, which works with foreign entities, to disrupt the Jewish public's thoughts and try to make us forget who and what we are by disgracing all that we hold sacred."
The rabbis called on their followers to stage demonstrations outside of Kan's headquarters in Jerusalem until the show is canceled.
Kan said in a statement, "Hayehudim Ba'im is a satirical show and should be viewed as such. Freedom of expression and freedom of creation are paramount to public broadcasting, as is self-deprecating humor. The protesters' right to demonstrate is equally important."
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