Sports is a important staple of the American culture, professional teams play all sorts of games followed by ardent loyal fans. As the country gears up for super Sunday, many in the frum community have been following or getting swept up with superbowl fever. Especially this year as the Superbowl is taking place in the NY/NJ area at Metlife stadium, there is even more coverage about the game in the frum media. Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning will be standing on the field were many celebrated the Siyum hashas. The NFL has been marketing the big game more than ever, and for 2 full weeks it dominates the airwaves, advertising and other media. This culture has impacted many in the frum community, by hosting parties and watching the big game, be it for the commercials, the half time show, or the actual game itself.
Major Frum papers and magazines have decided to buck a new trend, not advertise any super Sunday related advertisements by Frum establishments. Super bowl related ads have dominated the frum media lately as the great American culture blends and seeps into our camps. The Big game no matter how big it may be, is not our culture and not an event we as frum yidden mark on our calender.
On the other hand, the Orthodox Union has announced, for the first time there will be a Superbowl "kosher half time show" sponsored by the OU hosted by a local frum network. "We are proud to be providing a quality, kosher alternative that will entertain Jewish audiences and maintain a family-oriented vibe even during halftime."
Rabbi Steven Weil, OU Executive Vice President said “ The Super Bowl half-time shows seem to get more over the top each passing year and those who believe in entertainment that the whole family can share need an alternative.The OU is catering to a more Modern orthodox crowd, or using it as a kiruv tool reaching out to the youth of NCSY.
Regardless, many continue to draw chizuk from a major event at Metlife stadium learning the current machzor of Daf Yomi, many will be making a Siyum on Maseches Yoma next week and begin Maseches Sukka.
Even somehowfrum blogs are posting on the superbowl. Chaval.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you realize the goal isn't to kosherize the superbowl, but rather to eliminate the halftime pritzus.
ReplyDeleteIt's not only a half-time problem.
DeleteAmerican/Western culture has a pernicious effect on even the most insular religious communities. It is INEVITABLE that the tragic degeneration of the values of American society that we are all witnessing will effect all of American Orthodox Jewry and drag them down as well. When even the President of the United States and the Supreme Court give the nod to destructive behavior such as "giluy arayot" and it is forbidden for the government to say that a normal family structure (father-mother-children) is preferable to a harrassed single mother raising children or homosexuals doing the same, it is only a matter of time until there is a total collapse (read David Goldman's [AKA "Spengler"} book on the collapse of civilizations). No one will be immune. Time for American Orthodox Jewry to wake up and draw the logical consequences!
ReplyDeleteisraeli secular culture is much worse and much more empty and decadent. so the logical conclusion is not moving there. europe is also worse, so there's out too. i guess you mean we should all move to sudai arabia.
DeleteNo, Israeli secular culture is NOT worse that of the US. There was an attempt to pass "mishkav zachar marriages" and the Bayit Yehudit blocked it. Israel has all Jewish marriages and divorce under the Rabbinate. Does the US have anything like that? I get the feeling that anytime Israel is mentioned, you have to come out with some sort of knee-jerk reaction like this one. The fact is that the Orthodox religious center in the US happens to be in the US city that is in the forefront of all the most decadent trends in Western society , which is where the media and business is centered. Do you really think American Orthodox society is immune to this?
DeleteKosherizing the superbowl.
ReplyDeleteSatmar Dayan is mashgiach???
ReplyDelete