90210 Not Cool in the 11211

The utterly unnecessary return of 90210 to the small screen tomorrow means the arrival of giant billboards displaying the new cast. The Brooklyn Paper reports on one in which teens wear swimsuits and lounge in pools in the form of the 90210 numbers. The image can be seen from the BQE and hangs above Williamsburg--specifically in the Hasidic Jewish area. Rabbi David Niederman says, “In Jewish law, it is forbidden to see any part of a lady that is not dressed — and having men and women swimming together is also not permissible, even if they are fully clothed.” (In the past, Hasids have rallied against an H&M ad.) To be fair, though, that girl in the "1" pool isn't swimming with any boys, so she's only half offensive.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on September 1, 2008 1:20 PM

Comments [rss]

RDR105

Fuck 'em!

They don't run this place! wait, I think they kind of do.

robingee

glob's right - how about putting a Hustler Club billboard up there? That's better.

glob

Drive on the BQE and you will find plenty of more "offensive" material including strip club posters and sex tape shops. A bunch of attractive young people lounging in a pool is pretty alright in my book.

Sex sells - this is NY - if you don't like it move to Utah and set up camp along side the Mormons.

ANGRYGOD11

Otherwise, in order to not break "thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife" I'd have to get rid of my neighbor's wife.

Unless you fuck your neighbor's wife so magnificently, she won't stop bothering you and then you're not coveting the slut anymore.

robingee

Why is this one billboard an issue? There's a whole world out there that they live in every day. Is this just one rabbi making an offhanded comment?

takethecanoli

Another vote for 'Fuck them'.

Superstitious bullshit is what it is.

This crap gets us into wars.

Spirit of 76

To be fair, this is not strictly a Hasidic problem. Fundamentalists of all stripes get bent out of shape about things like this, including more than a few Christian churches.

breaknight

Fuck them.

I'm serious. Unlike the rigid, oppressive universe in which Hasids live in, this is a free country. Free enough that even a stupid poster for a stupid show has the right to exist above your neighborhood.

And I'd have similar lack of sympathy if this sign went up on Coney Island Avenue somewhere and some ultra-religious muslims protested.

ides_of_march

At least they're not running riot in the streets burning embassies down or threatening to behead people.

cucarachita

Yes, cmoney, I agree. Are we responsible for keeping everyone from sinning? If I walk through a Hasid community in a dress, am I supposed to assume responsibility for damning them to hell? That's ridiculous.

Isn't there some ditty that says something like "God doesn't send you any trials you can't bear?" Tolerance goes both ways!

babyhitler

“In Jewish law, it is forbidden to see any part of a lady that is not dressed" - WOW! it must suck to be a Jew.

Kojak

The only reason why these things are forbidden is to prevent your own desires from surfacing. Suck it up weaklings.

cmoney

And I forget how sin works, it's been a while since I cared, but isn't the onus on the individual not to commit the sin? So in that case, DON'T frickin look if it's a sin against your religion.

Otherwise, in order to not break "thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife" I'd have to get rid of my neighbor's wife.

cmoney

I know I'm gonna cause a ruckus with this one. But f em. My friend was offended when her orthodox coworker was hired and would not shake her hand. If it's ok to offend people in that manner, they're in America and have to put up with it.