Video: JTube: Kenny vs Spenny

Torah Reading: Balak

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Published: January 23, 2010

Can we really determine who is a "better" Jew?

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Visitor Comments: 13

(13) fourth grader atlana, July 26, 2010 6:21 AM

cute

it ws funy but are they aactng

(12) Pleasant, February 14, 2010 12:17 AM

Hey, cool! Finally!

My oldest son "who doesn't believe in God and isn't Jewish" has been following Kenny and Spenny. They can be a little embarrassing for the more reserved of us, but if it works as a tool to draw my son back in, todah rabbah Avinu Tameed!

(11) Fourth Grade, Atlanta, February 2, 2010 8:07 PM

Very funny, nice "acting."

This video is good if you are born Jewish, but you were never raised Jewish. Intentions are important.

(10) Shana, February 1, 2010 3:42 AM

A funny way to make a VERY good and important point. What makes a person a good Jew? (btw, this is not for you to measure other people with, only yourself) If you're a growing Jew, searching for Truth and doing G-d's will by following Torah as our Rabbis understand it, then you are a good Jew. Yeshivish or non-Yeshivish, black hat or knitted kippa, "in town" or "out of town", kollel or working, Chasidish or Litvish, Sefardi or Ashkenazi... all are irrelevant at the end of the day. If each of us just internalized the Torah way of life and thought before everything they did, asking themselves "what is G-d's will in this situation? Will this Bring me (or someone else) closer to Hashem or will it distance me (or s/o else) from Him? Will this make me a better Jew or a worse one? Ultimately, 'What do You ask of me?", then the world would be so much of a better place. We wouldn't care what color shirt the next guy was wearing or what nusach he davens, what she covers her hair with or what high school or seminary she went to. If I'm doing what Hashem wants and so is the next person, why should I care if we're doing it in the exact same way? Hashem created many DIFFERENT people. We are different on purpose, it wasn't an accident. As long as we're all going in the same direction - toward Hashem and Truth, why not let each person do it in their own unique way, using the strengths and talents Hashem has given him? If we all just try to do His will, then we will all be working toward the same goal; to bring the reality of G-d into the world, bring the Redemption and fix the world. In the words of my high school teacher we'd be able to "disagree and still be friends",live differently but still work together to achieve a common goal. Klal Yisrael! PLEASE! stop speaking against each other! stop putting down other communities!

(9) Anonymous, January 27, 2010 7:06 PM

This was so cute and funny

I found this short film to be a cute and funny look at a serious discussion. I enjoyed the humor, stories, acting and music. I like the ladder story but I might add aren't we all on the same ladder, no matter the rung?

(8) r, January 26, 2010 11:25 PM

Although I agree with the ultimate message of the rabbi, I found the video insulting and degrading to Jews.

(7) Phil, January 25, 2010 6:30 PM

the ladder

It indeed matters in which direction the people on the ladder are headed. But what if both people are headed in the same direction? In that case, I think it depends on where the people started. I could add that it might depend on the speed in which they're going, but in reality, its easy to say "not necessarily" to that.

(6) Jessica, January 25, 2010 2:14 AM

Be the Best you can Possibly Be

I think the Rabbi summed it up well, it depends which direction you're going in. As long as each person is trying to be the best they can be, they are being the "Best Jew", but not in terms of being the best compared to another fellow Jew, rather, the best in terms of being their best in the eyes of G-d according to their specific ability, G-d given talents being used for good, proper reactions to life challenges, dealing with deficiencies, family and educational background, etc. Nobody needs to worry about how they are measuring up compared to another fellow Jew. They need to look only as far as the mirror as well as within themselves to determine honestly if they are being the "Best Jew" they can really be.

(5) ed basak, January 24, 2010 11:23 PM

This Skit Is.........

This skit is was irreverant and insulting.....But OH SO FUNNY! It's great work!

(4) Anonymous, January 24, 2010 10:56 PM

Like the parable with the ladder, from external factors it seems "obvious" to us as to who is a better Jew when we meet people. But as it says in Pirkei Avot, we must judge "et kol HaAdam," the entire man, meaning we must have the knowledge of everything the person has experienced and lived through thusfar in order to be able to judge a person, which is impossible. Therefore, though certain things might point us to a certain conclusion as fa as "the better Jew' arguement, we can never really judge. In my opinion, we must be honest with ourselves, do the best we can, seek the guidance of Rabbi's, and never be fully complacent with where we are holding so that we keep growing.

(3) , January 24, 2010 9:48 PM

all jews are good

Every jew , no matter where he is holding in his judiasm, is good. every jew has a peice of hashem in him that makes him good. You dont judge by levels because one person might have a "stupid" issue about eating kosher, yet his evil inclination is much more stronger than your rightous Yetzer hara who only has difficulty doing this and this Hidur, therefore he deserves more credit than you.in short : you just cannot judge

(2) Akiva Crown, January 24, 2010 9:33 PM

Kenny is the better Jew!

Kenny knew the different deli meats...enough said! He was robbed!

(1) Anonymous, January 24, 2010 10:06 AM

Why the competition?

Why does it matter who's a better jew? Who says either of them are "good" jews anyway, it isn't up to any human being to decide. It's up to Hashem to determine who's a better jew. Or maybe no jew is better, perhaps there's no standard for who fits into a category of better jew. All jews should be considered equally good people. Some are more religious then others, some are more kind then others- either way a jew is a jew, and as long as they try their best to be good people, that should be all that matters and then it's up to Hashem to decide.

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