March 13, 2007
Even Billboards Celebrate Purim
An excellent Hasidic outdoor advertising update: Back in January, we noticed that an East Williamsburg poster of an Orthodox Jewish boy had been been updated for the boy to look more Hasidic - and it was splashed with some Hebrew graffiti. It turned out the graffiti was part of the ad, which is trying to encourage the Hasids in the neighborhood to donate cars to Oorah, a children's charity.
Will at Razor Apple took this recent photograph and writes:
We’ve checked again, and it looks like the boy has given up on the old look, and peeled off the digitally altered, more Hasidic looking face like some sort of party trick. According to a local, the new text in Hebrew reads “Happy Purim.” Somebody in Williamsburg is having too much fun in Paint Shop Pro.Even more hilarity, clearly. And now we're hungry for homentash.
Wikipedia on Purim.
Update: Orthodox Jewish blog Voz Iz Neias had the scoop two weeks ago, noting that Oorah has apparently been saying "freilichen Purim" "behind their backs for the last few months already."
Photograph by Razor Apple
|
Advertisement: Gothamist Continues Below!
Post a comment (Comment Policy)
I'm not doubting the authenticity of the billboard but it looks photoshopped into the image. Is that really hanging on the side of that building?
That has to be one of the most hilarious (and mysterious) advertising stories in NYC. What's the 411 behind it all? Who's responsible. Is it just some whacky hasidic kids?
Dudes, that's Yiddish. Which, as always, is written with Hebrew letters.
I don't get it, so the purpose of the boy not looking so Hasidic is what? What are they trying to encourage? "Hey, look more like regular Jews"?
Attention all goys -- here is why that ad makes sense:
Because Purim is a dress-up holiday. Costumes and such. So it's Purim humor.
Thanks for the explanation hebe.
Yeah, It is Yiddish. Tough the spelling for "Purim" is the same in both Hebrew & Yiddish (apparently...)
I was always under the impression that a lot of the Hasids in Williamsburg shunned Hebrew as a conversational language because they are parts of sects like the Satmar Jews (who don't believe the State of Israel should exist).
Saw this sign on Saturday. I was soo confused.
It keeps getting better
check out chaptzem's blog at chaptzem DOT blogspot DOT com