Video: Chabad Mohels' Association Angered By 'Anti-Metzitzah-B'Peh-Circumcision' Lottery Ad
"It's very unfortunate that people are
not taking this matter seriously. The City's meddling in our rituals
reminds many of Communist Russia. What's most ironic is that in Russia
today Jews are more free to practice this mitzvah than in Brooklyn."
The Chabad news blog COLLive reports:
A new commercial for the New York Lottery, using humor and exaggeration to portray what money can buy a lucky Powerball winner, might have pushed the line. The TV spot, [was] created by DDB New York ad agency…
…The City's Board of Health [along with hundreds of the top infectious disease specialists and other public health specialists, including the US Centers for Disease Control and two major Israeli studies, one released in the past few days – but COLLive tells readers none of that] says metzitzah b'peh (oral suction during the bris) can lead to fatal herpes infection. Rabbis and mohelim say there is no evidence to support that claim.
"This is no laughing matter and it's even frightening that the government is trying to regulate religious practice," Rabbi Levi Heber, the director of the International Bris Association [a party to the haredi lawsuit against the city and its new informed consent requirement for metzitzah b'peh], said in response to the Lottery commercial.
Speaking to COLlive, Heber said: "It's very unfortunate that people are not taking this matter seriously. The City's meddling in our rituals reminds many of Communist Russia. What's most ironic is that in Russia today Jews are more free to practice this mitzvah than in Brooklyn."
But what might be even more ironic is that the ad agency has mistakenly used the term 'herpetologist' which is the occupation of a zoologist that specializes in reptiles, amphibians, crocodiles and turtles, with no connection to the herpes disease.
When asked for a comment on Thursday morning, a representative of DDB New York told COLlive.com they will be responding by email. None has been received.
"The City's meddling in our rituals reminds many of Communist Russia. What's most ironic is that in Russia today Jews are more free to practice this mitzvah than in Brooklyn." So let the Holy Rollers all move back to Mother Russia. They won't be missed. The move will save American taxpayers a bundle in welfare handouts.
Posted by: Rocky | February 09, 2013 at 11:19 PM
After watching a few times, I fail to see what got Chabad's underwear in a collective knot. Much ado about nothing.
Posted by: winstonsmithinILSOC | February 10, 2013 at 12:04 AM
But what might be even more ironic
Not as ironic as their use of that word.
Posted by: Jeff | February 10, 2013 at 02:24 AM
how stupid...
because here in the united states we have codes and laws and are trying to protect the babies...
good morning!!!
are these people stupid...i mean, if I can figure this out.....
Posted by: ruthie | February 10, 2013 at 03:57 AM
The Jews remain unrestricted in the use of this practice as before. It's just limited to doing it to each other, adult to adult. And rightfully so.
Posted by: Henry | February 10, 2013 at 07:38 AM
sc--w them, always and nothing but furious, indignant outraged. yiikes!
Posted by: Yosef ben Matitya | February 10, 2013 at 08:13 AM
It was a brilliant commercial and a brilliant joke.
I think the ad agency knew exactly what they meant when they used "herpetologist". I think it is amazing that this got past the Lottery Execs, but good for the copy writers.
Posted by: danny | February 10, 2013 at 11:33 AM
I agree, danny, the ad agency knew exactly what a herpetologist is, but used it because of how it sounds. Brilliant!
Posted by: Flatbush Girl | February 10, 2013 at 11:54 AM
I think they knew that 'herpetologist' would have that reaction as well.
I remember a story about a political race in some southern state where one accused his opponent of shamelessly masticating in a public place.
Posted by: Gevezener Chusid | February 10, 2013 at 11:55 AM
If someone wants to get back at the New York Lottery, publicize the odds.
Posted by: John Nagle, Silicon Valley, CA | February 10, 2013 at 11:56 AM
big deal,,,its a satire commercial....levi heber take a chill...
Posted by: yoli the snag | February 10, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Rockey - "So let the Holy Rollers all move back to Mother Russia. They won't be missed"
What makes you think that anyone missed them there or anywhere? I can't count all those instances I have heard 'thanks God the're gone' ,...
Posted by: split | February 10, 2013 at 02:58 PM
Now I get it, thank you very much!
Posted by: spacedout BT | February 10, 2013 at 08:47 PM
How did Heber see the commercial if smiling waving mendy has assered television?
Posted by: Sholom | February 10, 2013 at 10:22 PM
Gevezener Chossid - Is this the incident you remember?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER0zKTGI2g8
Chabad's extreme reaction to the lottery commercial is because it reflects the true feelings and reactions of New Yorkers to their arguments to allow MBP- Complete Ridicule. The judge was too polite and respectful in dismissing their argument in a long and respectful judgement when she could have just dismissed the action with 'Are you fucking nuts?' which is what New Yorkers reaction is to MBP and which the lottery commercial taps into.
Ridicule is the strongest form of contradiction.
Posted by: Barry | February 11, 2013 at 01:46 AM
"I remember a story about a political race in some southern state where one accused his opponent of shamelessly masticating in a public place."
Isn't that the same guy who accused his opponent of being a thespian?
Posted by: Ray Kaufman | February 11, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Herpetologist, as in one who studies snakes, as in the serpent that tempted Eve. Chabad, get a life!
Posted by: Meir of Brooklyn | February 11, 2013 at 08:11 PM
Meddling in your rituals?
You're fiddling with a defenseless person's privates and reducing them for life! It's a shame the city didn't ban the cutting outright.
Foreskin feesREALLY good. Seriously, it's trhe best part.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23374102?dopt=Abstract
Posted by: Ron Low | February 11, 2013 at 11:48 PM
The trouble is that the politically correct card is being played too often. One word of criticism and some people believe they are being discriminated against.
Believe me, many of our own coreligionist feel the same but are afraid to say anything for fear of being labelled as bigots.
Posted by: Daisy Chain | December 08, 2014 at 08:59 AM