Looking in at the other to see ourselves
What Shtisel may be telling us about ourselves
Do you ever find it hard to watch a TV drama? I do, too much evoking of emotions. I don’t watch TV much these days, I see enough dramas on life, but I have gotten into Shtisel.
Of course it is my connection with Jerusalem. I know the streets and the atmosphere having spent a week in it last summer. It also feeds my interest in seeing behind closed doors. When would I see behind the doors of a Haredi family. Well I may have glimpsed behind the doors in order to assist, on the Sabbath, the better functioning of a family’s air conditioning ( ask me if you want more details).
Truth be told humans are humans whatever we may think. Culture can deceive us into thinking there is uniformity but when is there ever uniformity amongst humans?
We can all give the veneer of a utopia whether we are Haredi Jews or me or even you.
There is the underbelly, the private that runs parallel with the public but it is not easily seen perhaps sometimes only by ourselves. That part of us that despite what we may say and believe does the contrary. Shtisel lifts the lid on what we outsiders think of a perfect religious life and shows us ourselves. Yes the contrast may be chalk and cheese perhaps only that we see it in our own lives.
Best day,
g
