Questions tagged [popular-culture]

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Moshav leitzim and modern popular / Greek culture – why leitzanus is a core issue?

Avodah Zarah 18b is the Chazal source used by later authorities to forbid virtually everything which comes from Greek culture and is a heavy part of Western culture as well: theater, movies, concerts, ...
Binyomin's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
77 views

If dairy and meat come from the same Star Trek replicator, would it be Kosher? [closed]

Apologies for my limited understanding of Judaism, but as far as I am aware, Jewish dietary laws prohibit mixtures of meat and milk. I remember a friend's housemate requiring a second sink and set of ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
3k views

Fiddler on The Roof -- Sabbath Prayer -- Authenticity, History, Story behind it

In the movie Fiddler on The Roof, I cry when I see this part of the film, because God is so real to me, and because I long for my fathers blessing, but he is no longer on the earth. I am jealous of ...
MicroservicesOnDDD's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
107 views

Taking advantage of cultural customs: Stealing or not?

In Persian culture, there is a principle named taarof in which if something is being offered to you, you must decline it, even if you want it. The giver will ask again if you would like the object but ...
yogazefish's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
104 views

Is taarof allowed?

In Persian culture, there is a principle named taarof in which if something is being offered to you, you must decline it, even if you want it. The giver will ask again if you would like the object but ...
yogazefish's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
830 views

Candle processions in Fiddler on the Roof and Yentl weddings

In both Fiddler on the Roof and Yentl, the wedding scene includes the bride and groom being led to the Chuppah by processions wherein everyone carries a candle. All guests are also holding candles at ...
Galastel supports GoFundMonica's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
2k views

Source for quote - "Wherever you look there’s something to be seen"

In the film Anger Management, Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) says: “the Talmud says ‘wherever you look there’s something to be seen’”. Any ideas what passage this quote is in reference to?
Oliver's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
177 views

Is the profession of selling interview recordings, as depicted on Shtisel, ethical?

A man makes a living videotaping extensive interviews with nursing home residents, then selling them to the survivors for a high sum of money when the subject dies. If the survivors balk, he tells ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
113 views

Biblical ‘Noah’ & cinematic ‘Noah’

How accurate -or not- is the film ‘Noah’ according to the Jewish traditional version of the events and subjects? (I haven’t seen the film so I can’t offer any analyses.) I’d kindly request that any ...
Oliver's user avatar
  • 12k
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

What's up with answering questions with questions in this joke from Family Guy?

From Family Guy S12E12 (Outside synagogue) Stewie: So, where do they think they go when they die? Brian: Well, you should try asking the rabbi. Although, I should warn you, you might not get an ...
BCLC's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
55 views

Is there a historical, cultural, traditional, or scriptural explanation for the prevalence of Jews in the comedy business? [duplicate]

If you took the general demographic data for the U.S. and compared it to the demographics of professional comics and comedians in the U.S., I think you'd find that Jews are disproportionately ...
Wad Cheber's user avatar
  • 2,100
11 votes
1 answer
723 views

Would a space fish be kosher?

In the episode "TKO" of the science-fiction show Babylon 5, Lt. Commander Susan Ivanova, a Jew, has dinner with her rabbi and they have a discussion about the food that they are eating. ...
Thunderforge's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
426 views

What makes a movie "kosher"?

Several years ago, when my kid was in camp, I asked him what he did on a rainy day in camp. He said that they watch a "kosher movie". OK, I know that the word "kosher" is used generically in English ...
DanF's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the prayer uttered by Michael Ginberg's dad in Mad Men?

In the second last scene of episode 5x03 of Mad Men, Michael Ginsberg (one of the Jewish characters on the show) comes back home from the grocer's to be greeted by his dad. The latter encourages ...
jub0bs's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes
4 answers
4k views

Why is Edom considered to be "Western culture" and not southern Jordan? [duplicate]

I have a vague notion of hearing in various places that America or Western culture in general is Edom and that this final exile is called Galus Edom. Also as in reference to the blessings in Genesis ...
A L's user avatar
  • 2,547
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is Ahimsa related to Hamsa? [closed]

Is Ahimsa related to Hamsa (both the symbol and the name)? If so, does this lend credence to those who view Hamsa as being of non-Jewish (at best, or pagan, at worst) origin?
Seth J's user avatar
  • 41.6k
4 votes
0 answers
186 views

The "Sign of the Horns" and 'Avodah Zarah

Is the "Sign of the Horns" a manifestation or an act of 'Avodah Zarah? What if someone uses the gesture as a pop culture reference (eg., heavy metal), or just jokingly - or even mockingly about ...
Seth J's user avatar
  • 41.6k
7 votes
1 answer
234 views

American Idol and HaMalbin Pnei Ḥavero BeRabim

(Inspired by this question) Is watching televised talent shows, such as "American Idol", which are known to invite contestants to embarrass themselves in front of millions, and even have judges whose ...
Seth J's user avatar
  • 41.6k
21 votes
2 answers
5k views

Meaning of "bidi-bidi-bum"

In Fiddler on the Roof, in Tevye's song "If I Were a Rich Man," there is a line "all day long I'd bidi-bidi-bum." According to Wikipedia this is a reference to prayer. A repeated phrase throughout ...
John D. Cook's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
3k views

Halachic/sociological basis to support the split-apart beds for a nida couple?

I'd seen a clip from a TV show that's about Orthodox Israelis in which a married couple has a bed that's one big frame, upon which two mattresses can either slide together or apart, depending on the ...
Shalom's user avatar
  • 133k
3 votes
4 answers
382 views

"Law of Attraction"? [closed]

Are there any Jewish responses to the "Law of Attraction" or analyses of this idea in the context of Jewish thought?
WAF's user avatar
  • 23.7k
15 votes
6 answers
7k views

Do Jews believe in Heaven and Hell?

In yeshiva I was always told about gan eden and gehinnom, and how the good go to the former place while the bad go to the latter. However, in popular culture, Jews are always said to not believe in ...
Tzvi's user avatar
  • 5,695
11 votes
7 answers
2k views

A letter prohibiting television?

I don't have the book myself, but I believe it is called To Touch Kindle a Soul, on chinuch. It contains, in the endnotes a reference to a letter written by Rav Moshe Feinstein zt'l, Rav Shach zt'l, ...
Yirmeyahu's user avatar
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