Jan 29, 2009
Essman Apologizes for Remarks
Susie Essman has called Chabad.org to address the outpouring of anger that followed her statements ridiculing Chabad women on the TV show 'The View,' COLlive has learned. In a telephone conversation with Chabad reps, Essman was quoted as saying, "Sometimes, I can be a little off color, and I apologize." But Sara Esther Crispe, editor of the site TheJewishWoman.org says her apology "is not enough."
By COLlive reporter
Comedian and actress Susie Essman, who recently stirred up controversy by bashing Chabad women on the TV show 'The View,' called Chabad.org to apologize for her remarks, COLlive has learned.
In the interview, Essman and the View co-hosts call Lubavitcher and Chassidic women ugly, saying they have bad taste in clothing, have "weird," "bizarre" customs, and claim, "The way they dress, that's related to Islam, right?"
The interview, which was posted on blogs (on debbieschlussel.com and others) websites within days of airing, caused a flurry of angry responses and general outrage from Jewish women everywhere.
The Chabad.org team contacted the producers of the show after it aired, suggesting that the show host a Lubavitch woman who could answer the questions that were brought up during the interview.
Although the show's producers have not yet responded to their request, a Chabad.org representative did receive a phone call from Essman. She apologized for her remarks, saying "Sometimes, I can be a little off color, and I apologize if I offended anyone."
But Essman's apology by phone is seen by some as too little, too late. Many in the Chabad community are of the opinion that a public apology is in order.
"Her private apology does not help at all in terms of the public ridicule that took place," said Sara Esther Crispe, editor of the site TheJewishWoman.org, "The show is partially responsible as well. Susie's comments were offensive to all women, not just Lubavitch. Sadly, even on a show which talks about empowering women, they reduce them to being only about their looks."
Crispe adds, "There's no excuse - her remarks were ignorant, degrading and inappropriate. And what was most offensive was that no one - not the hosts or the audience - were bothered by them."
Shame on her.
Jewish religious women intimidate non religious women - because they want to be liberated of religion and feeling tied down. When they see an educated , with it , and professional Jewish woman ,who has a family as well and a committed relationship , and give to time to their communties doing charitable works- it scares them.
I have relatives like this.
They think it s" So, beautiful all those customs and everything, I
t takes great strength and a will and a serious commitment to go the whole way . It is difficult and a challenge and most of the time a real test.
But, as I remind myself " What is always easier isn't always better".
Being religious, is an on going thing and in this day and age, we can be the best that we can be, and be religious too. And be proud of walking down a street in a tznious and classy way.
time to go out there and rekindle YOUR spark
s for a fellow Jew.
They do need the Rebbes help...
As for me I am not condescending like them I only state the truth...
Ladies, your representatives will not make anything better by a public airing on national television, perhaps adding fuel to the fire. Orthodox Jews are an easy target for the secularists and nations alike, and quite frankly, any attempts at public explanation fall woefully short of every good intention. A modest and proper way to address this great wrong is to extend the poor woman a Shabbos and Yom Tov invitation, (Pesach, it should be Pesach) and let Hashem open her heart to Torah true Judaism. give her the opportunity to experience the beauty of her people without trying to address your tainas.
LOL!! You all should get your facts strait...
She is just ignorant.
In response to number 8, using the word "classy" is definitely not...
I don't know if or what should be done about it...
do you see what those women look like ? now that is still
bad but just to be accurate she did not say ugly, and she is not the one who asked if our dressing is similar to Islam dressing, that was the old hag in chief walters.
The only word I can find for this whole story is IRONIC
Some women in Lubavitch want to dress “modern’ to be with it etc..
Ha Ha – and now look they are still called wired, ugly and other disgusting remarks.
The lesson is soo clear – stop trying to “fit In” and to be with it, because at the end of the day – eisov sonai lyaakov and in the worlds eyes you still will be looked on as ugly crazies.
So the irony is your comment...
Susie Essman is ignorant, thoughtless, not too bright and even more unattractive and poorly dressed than the women she made fun of.
Sorry but a private phone call is not sufficient, she needs to go back on the show and apologize to the same audience who listened to her the first time.
to #28: shkoyach!
Your Welcome. You can always count on us to be in the public's attention!
That is what you wrote in comment #24
Eisov is not Jewish and Susie Essman is a Jew.
So you quoted a bad quot.
I rest my case.
It is ironic that only days after America has risen above its history of prejudice to inaugurate its first African-American president, the panelists on The View remain mired in shameful ignorance and ugly prejudice, so long as the target is acceptable: Hasidic Jews. So much for celebrating diversity. Hard to say which is worse: the ignorance about Hasidic women, or the prejudice which gives license to its expression.
In any case, ignorance is no excuse; especially for journalists and media professionals.
Your panelists have a responsibility to get their information straight before they cast aspersion on an entire group of people.
Hassidism bares no similarity to Islam, it is based on Torah – which precedes all religions. And, while we Hassidim dress modestly, (though nicely) it is not: “cover up, cover up” out of “ fear of turning a man on” but rather, out of our personal dignity and self-respect, and out of reverence for our bodies, which we consider holy. To boot, the entire premise of the movie, “Loving Leah” is incorrect, flawed and incompatible with the application and practice of Jewish law today.
Finally, like Joy Behar sanely stated: Just like with any group of women, some of us are pretty, some of us are not. Guess what: some of us are downright beautiful. In fact, not only are many Hasidic women - including myself- much better looking than the panelists and actress you had on that segment, it seems we are also a lot better informed and educated, more tolerant and less crass.
Hassidic and proud of it.
He is completlyt right.
Some women want to dress etc.. to fit in - we want to be and act and dress and talk liek the secular world.
It aint gana work - you see how ever hard you try you will still be labled as crazy, wierd ugly R"L
What did you say??
Thanks!!
However, this is not enough - more damage was done by Ms. Essman's comments and implications than we can imagine. This show is seen across America. What is truly needed is for a Lubavitch woman to be given the opportunity to come on the show in person and talk about some of the issues raised on this episode. NOT to apologize for frum women, but rather simply to CLARIFY and EDUCATE.
And someone like Rivkah Slonim - a true modern feminist and amazing public speaker - would be just the person for the job. Someone who could explain in a clear and meaningful way the true, deeper reasons of why we cover our hair; or the real reasons and benefits of dressing in a modest way; or perhaps the true role and infinite value of the Jewish woman.
This is an opportunity for America to learn the truth about yiddishkeit and the amazing beauty of our Torah! If The View would give us the chance....
But more importantly - so many of these thousands of people BELIEVE what they see & hear on TV. And that is the problem - orthodox Judaism was ridiculed and misrepresented, and people believe that these women discussing "lubavitch" are speaking the Truth. That is a chilul Hashem, and must be addressed and hopefully rectified. B'ezrat Hashem.
How come not one off the comments have commented that the biggest chilul hashem here is that the show that they were prmoting was making fun of our holy Torah.
It was making fun of yibun and chalitza
This my friends is the gretest outcry
happy yud shvat
Never write off a single Jew. Never be cynical of the cynics. Every Jew is a ray of light. All we need do is make the environment a little more conducive, and the inherent light will shine forth.
As to the “they’re not very good dressers” comment, that just shows how shallow this imbecile is. Is THAT all she learned from being around a new culture? Come on! Frankly, I think she’s just as dead wrong about that comment as is the other bimbo’s comment comparing Hasidic women’s dress to Muslims. Lubavitch women dress just fine, thank you very much. I don’t know who consulted them, but it smells like they’re getting the same intelligence that told us Iraq had WMDs.
(Topic Jewish woman don’t dress nice)
Why don’t we open a new topic called Jewish woman dress beautiful how they do it with out showing so much skin?
Fact: Jewish woman have a hard time finding clothing sometimes because they have to wear non revealing clothing in the summer time, Tell me which store sell that?
Take a walk down 13th ave. in BoroPark and you might want to swap that little skimpy thing you call a dress for something classy, graceful, pretty, and last more good looking then what you have on.
A Lubavitch husband, who believes in giving everyone a chance to fix their mistakes.
this one is ACHING for torah
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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And who cares anyway about how someone dresses or looks. Its what is in their heart. Essman needs to figure this out and publicly retract her comments in front of those women from the view.