(1) Sharona 12/21/2007 3:41:00 AM

This story takes place in the 40's. Danny is chassidic and Reuven is modern orthodox. I like how eventhough they started off with a bad experience, they became good friends. the book sequel "The Promise" is also interesting


(2) Shushannah 11/28/2007 6:10:00 AM
The Chosen
I just recently saw the play, and it was wonderful in its entirety.


(3) Huvie 11/27/2007 9:21:00 PM
What does religious mean?
That depends on how you measure religious. If I am totally frum, i.e. shomer shabbos and kashrus and keeping the mitzvos, does that make me any less frum than a chassid? Or, if I wear a black hat, but he wears a shtreimel, who is frummer? What if I wear just a yarmulke, and he wears a hat, than what?
Who can measure what frumkeit means?
Only Hashem can do that.
All we can do is keep the Torah as best as possible and keep our minhagm and mesorah.
And be careful not to judge other Jews, ecause that is a mitzva more than wearing a hat or having curly peyos.
P.S. I do not believe that there is anyhing wrong with a hat, a shtreimel, or curly peyos. But the important thing is not to lose focus.

(4) Harold 11/27/2007 4:24:00 PM
Don't judge the movie by this 2-minute clip!
Please, Rivky and Mrs. D. and anyone else who is bothered by this 2-minute clip -- see the movie. Or, if you don't watch movies, read the book. The title of both the book and the film is "The Chosen", and one of the themes is that the Modern Orthodox narrator comes to spend time with the chassid and appreciate him as a person and as a friend.

DON'T generalize or judge by a 2-minute clip.



(5) Mrs. D. 11/27/2007 12:27:00 PM
how inaccurate can you get!?!?
Anyone who knows the basics of early NY history can attest to the fact that there were none of these organized groups of Chasidim parading around Wmsbrg or almost anywhere else at the outbreak of WWII. THese communities slowly evolved after, as a smattering of survivng Rebbes tried to rebuild both Torah and their flocks in a new and daunting environment, after experiencing near total destruction. And p.s., having been part of these communities myself for decades, this portrayal was so poorly done, right down to the silly table-pounding ay-yay-yay's. (You wanna see a Tisch? There are even views of them on YouTube! Key in Bobov or Satmar and feast your eyes on a truly moving sight) There is no question that Chasidim have zealously guarded their children in an insular fashion from the surrounding host-culture. THey learned long ago in frightfully threatening Eastern Europe how vital that was. Sometimes this earned negative repurcussions, but who can blame any of them, when you consider the bigger picture?
If anyone would take the time to learn about the true character of these folks, there would be none of this prejudicial nonsense being perpretated upon naive viewers. THere are none more devoted to helping the sick, the poor, the ailing, and encouraging material and spiritual growth throughout the extended community (not only for their "own."). And who makes up ZAKA in Israel, the most involved rescue workers, but the Chasidim and Chareidim. There are no differences to them between jews of different levels of commitment. They must be rescued (or, sadly, buried)all alike.
AISH has had past articles (the one about the Shabbos Goy comes to mind) that exemplify the chasidic character much more accurately and wholesomely. THat would include the amazing comments that filtered in on the articles, that came from non-jews.
FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANT: HOw do these ignorant movie-makers think they can get away with this negative protrayal of very lofty ethical and sprirtual people!? Just let them try a parallel portrayal of "liberated", modern, Arab kids on a Ditmas Ave. Playground trying to outstare and ridicule their Kafiyah-bedecked devout brethren as they may march past on their way to pray at a mosque. How OUTRAGEOUS. IF THERE'S ONE THING ALL OF US jEWS SHOUD DO It would be to raise a unified outcry against this film and its misrepresentations. We have enough gentiles out there harboring negative attitudes, can't we at least cleanse our own? We've gotta stick together. And the fact that there a few ignorant Chasidim out there tell others they are not Jewish if they shave or whatever, must be excused. THey are absolutely out of the norm, and embarrass the rest of them. But at least they don't make propaganda movies to circulate horrible representations of the good Jews out there who may not yet be attached to Torah.


(6) Rivky 11/27/2007 10:09:00 AM
Horrible movie
This movie bothers me, both in the way it portrays Chasidim, and in the way it shows Modern Orthodox Jews in America. Reuven is supposed to be an Orthodox character, and he is as "frum" as Danny, in a different way. However, the movie shows him as someone completely bewildered by halacha and torah. Horrible.


(7) Allan 11/27/2007 7:41:00 AM
YES I'VE INTERACTED!!
Because of my profession (sales) I interact with many other Jews of a far more observant life style than mine(different Chassidic sects, Orthodox etc..) I have found with a few exceptions that when I tell these folks of my Jewish heritage and background they are almost always receptive to me. I did have the unpleasant expierence several years ago when dealing with one member of a large Chassidic group and telling him of my lifestyle... he declared me NOT to be Jewish...I know that he or anyone else has no right to do that but he defended his position stongly if not correctly. To say the least that wasn't a very good meeting.


(8) John Castle 11/26/2007 6:52:00 PM
Read the Book
Before you judge the look of the chasidim in this video, you need to understand that this is a small piece out of an excellent movie. Read the book and see the movie. Then you'll understand that they are just being portrayed in a "martial" sports attitude.


(9) Anonymous 11/26/2007 3:19:00 PM
Poor imitation
This is a very inaccurate picture of Chassidim. I've had the pleasure to live near a few Chassidic communities in the past and I miss their lively, happy atmosphere that they created. These guys look like they're going to war. They look tense and mad and that is a very false picture of Chassidim. Sorry to see this in public display.


(10) cliff 11/25/2007 8:10:00 AM

It is easy to be a pacifist when you have somebody to do the fighting for you.


(11) Rosen 11/25/2007 6:59:00 AM
a Jew is a Jew
When one is born as a Jew thru his/her Jewish mother, then that individual is always a Jew for life, regardless of being moderate, secular, or orthodox.

Even so, it's always helpful for Jews to study their roots, which the orthodox Jewish community happens to teach.

The Jews who were either moderate or more religious always persevered thru time, because they did not submit to any kind of dark idolatry over the past 2000+ years.