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Someone gave me tickets to "Disney on Ice." The theme was "Princesses," so naturally I brought my two little girls, Bracha Leah and Malkie to the ice show.
The arena was filled with families and little girls, waving their magic wands, wearing their princess costumes, and sporting sparkling crowns. My girls were thrilled and could not wait for the show to begin.
Lights go out, music goes up, and the magic begins.
The producers of the show chose about five different Disney princess stories, ranging from the classic Snow White to the more recent Little Mermaid. The young maiden of each story came out, and the story line of their fable was played out in a short version, all gliding gracefully on ice.
A pattern soon emerged. Each story had a young, pretty girl tempted morally by some evil being, and each time she blew it, falling into peril. And each time, of course, she was saved by the handsome, brave young lad.
Yes, some day my prince will come...to save me.
My girls were mesmerized, sitting on the edge of their seats. I was incensed.
Because it was a synopsis of each story, being played out in quick succession, the pattern and message were blaringly apparent. Don't worry girls; if you get into trouble, the prince is on his way.
My girls were mesmerized, sitting on the edge of their seats. I was incensed. I looked around, hoping to find other mothers at least agitated by this Disney propaganda. It was too dark to tell. I wanted to climb out of my seat, find the gondola with the announcer, grab his microphone and announce:
"Is there any other mother here upset at what we are seeing?!"
The show ended after the grand finale with all the princesses of the story skating around the rink with their prince heroes to great applause.
As we were leaving the stadium, my girls asked to buy a princess souvenir. "It's late," I said. "Tomorrow is a school day." But what I really meant was, "Over my dead body."
We got home; I tucked them into bed as memories of musical princesses skated in their heads and I told my husband what happened. We could not think of any similar theme in Tanach -- in the Torah, Prophets or Writings. If anything, it's the exact opposite. The story of Chanukah is a perfect example.
There is a Jewish law that says that after lighting the Chanukah menorah, women are not allowed to do any work for 30 minutes. They are supposed to bask in the glow of the lights. Why? Because it was a Jewish woman who saved the day and turned the tide of the war against the Syrian Greeks, resulting in ultimate victory for the Jewish people.
The stuff they never taught you in Hebrew School.
Her name was Yehudit, or Judith. She was a young widow, the daughter of Yochanon, the High Priest. Her town was under siege by the Syrian Greek general, Haolfernes. They were starving out the Jews and the men were ready to surrender. She tried to stop them, telling them not to give up, that they are God's people and they must have faith.
And that was not all she did. She snuck out of the walls of the town with a basket of salty goat cheese and pure wine, covered by a cloth. She approached the enemy camp and, using her "womanly ways," was able to enter the private tent of the general himself. Offering him the homemade cheese, he ate heartily and washed it down with the wine.
Yehudit waited, and once the general had passed out drunk, she took his own sword and chopped off his head. She placed the bloody head into her basket, covered it with the cloth, and calmly left the tent.
Upon returning to the town, she showed the men the general's head. Shocked, they displayed it in the town square for all to see. After getting over their embarrassment that this young widow had acted with such bravery while they were preparing to surrender, the men were galvanized into action.
Yehudit told them the time to act was now, for when the Greek soldiers discovered their general's decapitated body, their spirits would surely fall.
The Jewish men attacked, and won. Word spread throughout Israel, and the Jewish people were inspired to stand up and fight.
It took time, but victory was eventually ours, all because of a young Jewish woman who didn't wait for the song "Some Day My Prince Will Come." Instead she looked to her King, the Almighty, stood up, and was "Takin' Care of Business," every day, in every way.
+(english).jpg "Chanukah Coloring Pages")
_(english).jpg "Chanukah Quiz")
(98) JOHN , February 5, 2009
Fairytales
How childhood stories of fantasy can be miss interpited as real life amazes me. And trying to compare it to Religious Doctrine is just foolish. Last I knew there is no mention or Disney characters in the Torah. If we as parents have not learned to teach our children the differance between Religious Doctrine, real life and fantasy. We have failed our children and are doing them a great injustice for not preparing them for this world.
(97) sarah naomi , December 14, 2008
Not Just Disney...
I appreciate the comments of the author of this article. But more and more in Judaism, the emphasis is getting a "prince" one who will study Torah while the "princess" takes care of "Kuchen und Kinder". Disney's ideas are dated, and should be used as a teaching tool to remind daughters that "princesses" can and should do more that "wait" for their "prince". Judaism seldom appreciates the "takin' care of business" woman (who are not appreciated in many Orthodox areas), for women are reminded constantly to concentrate on marriage and children. You see,it's not just Disney...
(96) Joy , December 2, 2007
Older Disney Princesses a little outdated
Some of the older Disney Princesses are a little outdated. We have all the Princess DVDs or at least most of them. I decided to censor them early on due to the violent content. We use only the scene selection option now. I stay in the room when my daughter is watching TV or a DVD in case she has a question or there is something to explain. You really have to be vigilant about what your children may be viewing.
I have a copy of Snow White and I couldn't help but think how creepy that whole story is. Snow White is the victim of child abuse and attempted homicide. What happened to her father? I think the stepmother took him out fairly early.
Sleeping Beauty is attacked as a baby and is take away by the fairy godmothers for almost 16 years. She is forced to use a false identity and not know her parents.
Cinderella is also the victim of child abuse and I wonder if her father met his end at the stepmother's hands.
Ariel, the Little Mermaid, makes a bad deal with Ursula because she wants something very badly (i.e. Eric).
Jasmine is not believeable to me even as a Disney character for some reason. In some situations she is very strong and in others she is weak, which is not consistent.
I think Beauty and the Beast is the least harmful to me except for where Belle forgets her promise and tells Gaston and the villagers about the Beast, showing them the mirror. Belle is also portrayed as an intellectual who likes to read and is a non-conformist in the village.
(95) Heather , November 29, 2007
Women in the Bible are remembered for their brutality
Check out how many women are remembered in the Bible and how many of them of remembered for brave - but often brutal acts - against the enemy. Or - using their womanly ways to get their (or G-d's) way. Think Devorah, Yael, Tamar, Dina. Even Rivkah and Rachel did dodgy things for the right reason. Interesting isn't it? Jewish women never were passive wilting creatures! Rock on!
(94) Tseruyah , November 28, 2007
My daughter's no Disney princess
I read with interest your remarks about an arena filled with hopeful, excited girls and the underlying message of salvation through men.
Granted, this Disney business is just that, business based on fantasies and age-old, worn-out, ridiculous ideas of women's inability to survive the challenges and dangers of Life without a man to do the heavy work.
My daughter has seen many of the Disney "princess" videos (loves Beauty & the Beast best)but I am confused by your comment that these women all fail a moral testing.
It seems to me, when my daughter retells the stories of the movies, that the wickedness of the villains and their deaths is a moral lesson about the rewards of doing evil.
I'm not saying these are timeless fables of good versus evil, but they are the beginnings of some interesting discussions about what it means to be a friend, to be innocent, to be falsely accused and hunted, about jealousy and anger and pride, about love and loyalty and compassion.
I have a background in literature and am very comfortable with discussing themes in literature and film and my daughter will not grow up to believe in fairy godmothers, mermaids or the power of the Wicked Witch of the West.
She WILL grow up believing in her G-d, her heritage and future and the transformative power of real Love(mitzvot).