20 February 21 • 2019
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gion is why the show has so many fans 
among Israel’
s ultra-Orthodox. Many of 
them see their lives in the series,
” writes 
Lior Zaltzman in a Jan. 11, 2019, article 
for the Kveller website. Some haredi 
Jews watch streaming videos of the 
show on the internet.
Series co-creators Yehonatan 
Indursky and Ori Elon insisted that 
the insular ultra-Orthodox commu-
nity be portrayed accurately. The cast 
members, all secular, had to look 
and dress the part. Hours of coach-
ing helped them properly speak the 
Hebrew or Yiddish language dialects 
of their characters.
Indursky, from a haredi family in 
Jerusalem, and Elon, who attended 
yeshivah in Efrat, last year created 
Israel’
s first dystopian-future series, 
Autonomies. Not available in the U.S., 
it tells the story of a country with 
one secular state, its capital in Tel 
Aviv, and a Jerusalem-based religious 
autonomy.
Kaplan frequently recommends 
articles to the group that explain the 
appeal of Shtisel. In her opinion, “the 
show bridges the divide between sec-
ular and religious so brilliantly.”
While the Shtisels’
 haredi neigh-
borhood of Geula is “generally a place 
where I, as a secular Israeli human, 
would not really want to hang out,” 
said writer Zalzman, she is in good 
company with the other non-
religious fans of the series. 
For them, Shtisel provides a fas-
cinating entree into the lives of “the 
other” — ultra-Orthodox boys and 
men in black wearing side curls, the 
married women covering their hair. 
Yet, despite their adherence to strict 
rules, the Shtisel characters occasion-
ally show weakness and behave badly.
The show is subtly changing 
ultra-Orthodox perceptions. “People 
are people, regardless of the religious 
or cultural milieu in which they live 
and navigate,” Kaplan said. 
Shtisel group members obsess 
about the show’
s depictions of Jewish 
customs and domestic life. Certain 
scenes or episodes prompt mem-
bers to share details about their own 
upbringing and religiosity. When 
good-hearted widows bring Shulem 
homemade soup and meals in plastic 
containers, some fans express yearn-
ing for a nostalgic past they may not 
have known personally. 
The analyzing of characters on 

Shtisel begins with Kive and his 
beautiful green eyes. He obediently 
cooperates with the time-honored 
traditions of matchmaking, but his 
heart has its own desires. Unlike his 
yeshivah scholar brother, Tzvi Arye, 
Kive prefers making art, which makes 
him a less desirable marriage partner. 
Giti, their sister, struggles stoically 
to support five children when her 
husband, Lippe, deserts the family. 
She relies overmuch on her oldest 
daughter, Ruchami. Patriarch Shulem 
can be wise or self-centered. His 
unpleasant businessman brother, 
Nochem, occasionally visits from 
Belgium with his beautiful daughter, 
Libi. Bubbie Malka, the sons’
 pious 
mother, is enthralled by the television 
soap operas in her senior residence.
Group members also comment 
on the actors’
 real-life pictures and 
their projects, past and future; dream 
sequences involving the late Devora, 
Shulem’
s wife and Kive’
s mother; and 
the meaning of certain words and 
expressions heard on the show.
Markofsky, who understands some 
Yiddish, said she’
s loving all the con-
versations and is learning more about 
Jewish culture. “How cool is this!” she 
exclaimed. ■

Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman purchased 
the rights to adapt Shtisel for an American 
audience, but the project’
s status is uncertain.

JERRY ZOLYNSKY

Kaplan and Markofsky check in on their fan page.

A Sampling 
of Streaming 
Israeli Shows

The following series are found pri-
marily on Amazon Prime (A), Hulu (H), 
Netflix (N) or YouTube (Y). Google the 
titles for further details.

• A Touch Away, romance: A
• Beauty and the Baker, romantic 
comedy: A
• Bnei Aruba (Hostages), drama/
thriller: A, N
• Fauda (Chaos in Arabic), drama 
about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: N
• Hashoter Hatov (The Good Cop), 
Israeli police comedy: N
• Hayeh udim Haba’
im (The Jews are 
Coming), politically incorrect satirical 
humor: Y
• Hatufim (Prisoners of War), drama: 
A, H 
• Kfulim (False Flag), espionage 
drama/thriller: H
• Mekimi (One Who Lifts Me), drama/
romance: A, H
• Mossad 101, action/humor: N 
• Srugim (Knitted), Modern Orthodox 
 Friends-like dramedy: A 
• When Heroes Fly, thriller about Israel 
Defense Forces vets starring Michael 
“Kive” Aloni: N

