Mordechai Shinefield - Lubavitch.com
Rabbi Yossi Mintz, Chabad representative
in Redondo Beach, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA — For a long time now, Chabad, along with many others concerned about the subtle and not-so-subtle influences of pop culture, has been unequivocal about television watching as a harmful, mind-numbing pastime. But that didn’t stop the medium from turning its focus on a Chasidic baal teshuva—a secular Jew who chooses to live a Torah-observant life.

According to Nielson Media Research, last Tuesday night’s episode of House, Fox Channel’s top rated medical drama, concerning a baal teshuvah with a unique medical disorder, was the most viewed spot of the evening.

Why Is Hollywood Calling Chabad?

Mordechai Shinefield – Lubavitch.com
Rabbi Yossi Mintz, Chabad representative
in Redondo Beach, CA

LOS ANGELES, CA — For a long time now, Chabad, along with many others concerned about the subtle and not-so-subtle influences of pop culture, has been unequivocal about television watching as a harmful, mind-numbing pastime. But that didn’t stop the medium from turning its focus on a Chasidic baal teshuva—a secular Jew who chooses to live a Torah-observant life.

According to Nielson Media Research, last Tuesday night’s episode of House, Fox Channel’s top rated medical drama, concerning a baal teshuvah with a unique medical disorder, was the most viewed spot of the evening.

The episode opened with a wedding officiated by California Chabad House representative Rabbi Yossi Mintz, and the singing of a Chabad style Chasidic melody. Richard Kaplan, a cantor from East Bay, sang the niggun for the episode.

Kaplan, who was contacted by the music department at NBC Universal, says that he is “not formally connected with Chabad, but [I] have great respect for Chabad and derive great benefit from Chabad teachings.”

Actress Heather Joy Sher played Tova, a recent returnee to Judaism. As the episode reveals, she was a music executive who was inspired to become a religious Jew. As is de rigueur for a House episode, her multifaceted symptoms were too esoteric to diagnose immediately, including several physical symptoms, and, according to House, altered mental states.

Article continued (Lubavitch.com)

3 Comments

  • Isaac

    Is this really news or worthwhile. Chabad in the media is getting old already. Neil Diamond was once in a movie about a Bar MItzvah, who cares? I don’t glamorizing Chabad in the secular media is a positve teaching for our children. Our kids will want to be TV stars instead of developing a pinimyusadik connection to the Rebbe and
    Chabad teachings

  • Menach

    actually, the episode was mocking the baal tshuva and religious ignorance… i watched it, and it’s not something worth bragging about.

  • what??????

    to #1
    how true you said it

    what the ………..

    The irony of it all the publisher of this article comes from lubavitch.com – i just dont get it please can someone tell me whatthe …. is going on

    weve lost the message