Satire show skit causes furor over denigration of tefillin
Skit on Eretz Nehederet portrays Education Minister Bennett donning tefillin on his head in style similar to Eurovision Song Contest winner Netta Barzilai's hairdo; 'Satire also has red lines that must not be crossed,' says Deputy Health Minister Litzman; 'Make fun of me as much as you want, but not of holies of Israel,' Bennett demands.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri of the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox Shas party was outraged, tweeting, "A deplorable, offensive skit was broadcast on the show Erez Nehederet this evening, making a mockery of tefillin, part of a mitzvah Jews have given up their lives to observe throughout the generations."
"If such a thing was displayed in any of the world's countries, everyone would be raising cries of anti-Semitism. But here, in the Jewish state, it goes by unopposed. Shame!" the minister concluded.
The object of the impression, Bayit Yehudi chief Bennett, responded as well, saying, "Make fun of me as much as you want, but not of tefillin and the other holies of Israel. I'm proud to be a mezuzah kisser and one who dons tefillin. I'm a proud Jew."
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, of the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, also lashed out at the program, saying, "I was appalled by the despicable use of tefillin as broadcast on this evening's satirical show. It is a grievous harm against Israel's traditions and I forcefully denounce it."
"Humor and satire must also have red lines that can never be crossed. The holies of Israel and the values of Judaism are not objects of ridicule and entertainment. Impugning the tefillin in a Jewish state on any official broadcasting platform is a disgrace," he stated.
Israel's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau was not amused by the video, saying, "Using ritual articles disparagingly, mockingly and offensively is abhorrent. It's inconceivable for it to be broadcast on Israeli television."
"This is not a work of entertainment or culture. It's outright mockery towards a ritual article and the trampling of the feelings of millions of Jews," Rabbi Lau said during a Shavuot event organized by the Israeli Bar Association.
The rabbi further added that he expected a show that made such a mockery of the tefillin to publish an apology and vow never to do so again.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also joined the chorus of condemnation, saying, "I have no problem with satire. We personally suffer blows from it quite a bit. But there are some things you just don't do."
The aforementioned segment drew irate comments not just from politicians, but also from regular viewers. One comment on the show's Facebook page said, "You don't have to be religious, or even Jewish, to adopt a modicum of respect. Very sad."
The show's production remarked on the controversy, saying the skit dealt with Barzilai's Eurovision win as well as the widespread public reaction to it. "Netta's recognizable hairdo was thus incorporated to the heads of some of the participating characters, in different variations," the network said.
"There was no intention to cause offense or denigrate," the statement concluded.
Kobi Nachshoni contributed to this report.
