Second seasons

January 18, 2010 - 10:55 AM by

Last week’s heavily anticipated start of the second season of “Srugim,” the Israeli TV show about religiously observant singles living in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem hasn’t been without its own stops and starts.

Fans — myself included — had to wait many months to find out the fates of Yifat and Amir, Hodaya, Nati and Reut. It was hard. We were impatient. Would Yifat and Amir get married? Would Hodaya, the show’s datlash (acronym for dati leumi lesheavar, that is, a formerly religiously observant person), finally lose her virginity? Would Nati, the selfish med student, come to grips with his ego? Would Reut, the successful accountant, find herself in India? At this point, one show in, some questions have been answered and I’m eagerly awaiting last night’s second episode. (Didn’t get to it last night and non-Yes satellite TV subscribers can watch Srugim online at Walla!)

But what’s also been hilarious about this surprisingly popular show is how it has caught the attention of some unusual groupies. One Arab blogger, Mohamed, writes that he can identify with many of the show’s issues, from attempting to date someone from a different background to equating love and marriage. Surprisingly, Mohamed likes Srugim.

Of course, not everyone feels the same. A group of ultra Orthodox rabbis have complained about the Srugim billboards which have been plastered throughout the country, because they use religious scriptures as part of the advertising campaign, a play on words whose irony was lost on this particular special interest group. Supposedly the billboards are now going to have to be buried in a geniza, because they contain holy words.

To edify, the billboard says “Paamayim ki tov Srugim, back for a second season.” “Paamayim ki tov” is translated as “Twice, because it is good,” referring to the words spoken by God on the third day of creation. Clever, but not acceptable to some. Maybe they’re just afraid of the buzz generated from a television show about religious singles.

Tags: , , , , • Category: Art, coexistence, General, Israeliness, tv 

Comments

5 Comments on Second seasons

  1. Michael P. on Mon, Jan 18th 2010 7:28 PM

    2. The problem for fans of Srugim outside of Israel is that non-Israeli IP addresses can’t access the episodes online. Most of the episodes get posted somewhere, but there are lots of people abroad who would love to also be able to watch the show.

  2. Mo-ha-med on Sun, Jan 24th 2010 4:40 PM

    3. Why is it surprising that I like Srugim? It’s a brilliantly done show! I even emailed the director – Laizy Shapira – to tell him so.. Many concepts and ideas – as you well summarized – are common to all religious people living amongst a secular majority..

    I’m just waiting to find a functioning (and virus-free :) link to watch the first episodes of the new season!

  3. Jessica on Mon, Jan 25th 2010 11:48 AM

    4. No, it’s surprising in a great way. Glad to hear from you.

  4. Mo-ha-med on Tue, Jan 26th 2010 3:24 PM

    5. Thanks. :) Hope you’re well!

  5. Simon Holloway on Tue, Jul 20th 2010 10:29 AM

    6. I’m a bit late, but I wanted to say (for what it’s worth) that “datlash” stands for “dati lesheavar”, and not “dati leumi lesheavar”. Eh, it’s a minor point, but I’m a pedant, so what are you gonna’ do.

    :)

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