National-religious circles have often employed the slogan
"religion and living" to justify their distorted and
compromising approach to Judaism. Maran the Chazon Ish
zt'l referred to this slogan in his letters over forty
years ago, using strong words of criticism. Yet they continue
in their folly and even try to refine it.
Recently we received promotional material for an organization
that calls itself "Beit Hamedrash HaMercazi Lechibur HaTorah
Vehachaim," partially funded by HaMercaz Lechinuch Dati
BeYisrael. The brochure included a shocking article penned by
Rabbi Mordechai Vardi, the rav of Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim (a
religious kibbutz in Gush Etzion), who also holds the title of
rav of the Ma'aleh School for Cinema in Jerusalem.
He writes about "the educational aspects of television
viewing," which is a contradiction in terms for every Torah-
observant Jew -- for how can any benefit be derived from a
device mainly used to broadcast ugliness and filth? But those
who tout "religion and living" have resolved this
contradiction as well.
In his introduction Rabbi Vardi offers some words for the
wary: "The summer break is characterized by growth. It is a
wellspring of free time during which children and adolescents
spend many hours at home. The television set is a highly
efficient time-guzzler and a funnel for the most destructive
cultural refuse." Then why is there any need to seek
"educational aspects" in such a device? Rabbi Vardi's
response: "Those who do not own a television have made a good
decision and are free from the dilemmas we are trying to deal
with here. This discussion is intended primarily for
households that do have television sets." For such households
he has found a peculiar solution. Instead of deriding
television he offers instruction on how to use it and even how
to derive educational benefits from it!
Rabbi Vardi makes the following recommendations to parents of
children educated in government schools who destroy themselves
and their children spiritually by bringing television sets
into their homes. "When young people encounter popular
culture, they need accompaniment that will help them locate
their world of values within the mindset and viewpoints of the
outside world, which is inundated by secular, Western culture.
The formal religious educational system has yet to assume this
role, and therefore parents must chaperone their children. In
fact the need for chaperoning applies not just in terms of
television, but in the religious child's exposure to culture
in general." He adds that "a parent who watches together with
his or her child should be aware that by sitting in front of
the TV screen a dialogue on the viewing material is already
taking place, for silence is a form of communication as well."
Therefore, says Rabbi Vardi, parents must initiate "active
viewing," for precise and directed responses by parents
regarding the material broadcast on the television screen can
open up a very important internal channel of communication
between parents and their children . . . While viewing movies
questions can be raised about identifying with the hero of the
story, the motive that drives the plot, identifying the
conflict, the director's fundamental assumptions, what message
lies in the way the conflict is resolved, etc."
In short, it's not enough just to watch rivers of mental
sewage flowing by; parents should analyze the images on the
screen and use them to extract educational benefits and to
bond with their children!
This advice on theoretical examination of film viewing is
accompanied by practical examples spread out across the other
pages of the brochure. Under the headline "Movie Theater
Midrash" (!) suggestions for "moralistic and value-based
analysis" of various films are offered. For instance: "Are the
main heroes of the movie positive characters? Negative
characters? Why? Are there any completely positive characters
in this movie? Who and why? What is the deeper meaning
contained in the conclusion? What does the movie have to say
about genius? Is this the only way?"
The framers of the Movie Theater Midrash are chock full of
creative ideas. They are so alienated that in their
discussions they have the gall to compare fictional movies to
Torah subjects. "How does a science-fiction movie portray
strangers and the `other' among us? How is our attitude toward
them similar in terms of good and evil? What mitzvot and Torah
values relate to our attitude toward such characters?" And a
further example: "What is the central conflict between the two
heroes in the movie? How does it apply to the life of a
religious person? Why did the filmmaker choose to place the
heroine in a convent setting at first? What is his message
regarding religion? Is this necessarily so? Does the movie
offer any evidence?"
In the case of an adventure movie that describes a journey by
a goy, he is unashamed to make the following
recommendation, "Compare this to other journeys such as
Bnei Yisrael wandering in the desert or Rebbi Nachman
of Breslov's journey to Eretz Yisrael."
Rabbi Vardi suggests applying this type of "educational
analysis" and "watching for values" to a long list of film
titles, and even makes references in citation form to ideas
presented previously.
Need any more be said?
