‘Careful, Beauties Ahead!’ chronicles author’s one-year return to his charedi world in Israel.
In September, noted Israeli author Tuvia Tenenbom sat down at Teaneck’s Congregation Bnai Yeshurun (CBY) with CBY’s Rabbi Elliot Schrier to engage in an “armchair” discussion about Tenenbom’s latest book, “Careful, Beauties Ahead! My Year With the Ultra-Orthodox.” In CBY’s old main shul, the rabbi and the author discussed and took questions from the audience about Tenenbom’s experiences living in Mea Shearim for nearly a year and what did and didn’t end up in the book.
Over the course of an hour, the entertaining, high-energy and funny Tenenbom, a professed secular Jew who grew up in a charedi home in Bnei Brak and spent many years in the U.S. and Germany, described his experiences and his “return home” to the charedi world in overall glowing and positive terms. He enjoyed speaking Yiddish and declared that speaking the mama loshen was essential in getting to know so many of his neighbors in Mea Shearim, and in getting them to trust him.
Wearing his trademark red suspenders and colorful glasses, Tenenbom made the audience laugh often as he talked about eating in the local restaurants, visiting yeshivas, participating in siyumim, eating Shabbat meals in people’s homes, and building relationships in the charedi community. He explained that his goal was to try and understand what makes them tick and what they fundamentally and deeply believe. He noted with envy the rock-solid faith, no-questions-asked type of commitment he saw there.
He pointed out that the Litvishe charedim are similar today to chasidim in their way of rabbi worship, and have created their own rebbes and don’t question anything. He concluded one response by saying, “There is no difference between the two groups—chasidim and Litvishe charedim—except for the humor that the Litvaks are still lacking.”
Although he criticized some of what he observed on the graffiti-filled walls and expressions such as “Zionists are not Jews,” he stated his belief that the anti-Zionist charedim are just full of talk and not serious in their threats. His admiration and affection for the charedi world shone through, he made clear that he loved many aspects of charedi life and beliefs.
He described how powerful and positive it was to see the little children of Mea Shearim who wore white kippahs with chupchiks (pom-poms) on top, white shirts, curly peyot and incredible smiles. “I won’t ever forget those.”
Tenenbom pointed out humorously that the most important engine for the charedi community is fourfold; simcha/happiness, music, rebbe, and kugels. He noted that the charedi world is a bubble filled with “kind, pleasant, warm and funny” people whose minhagim may not always make complete sense.
All in all, the crowd at CBY enjoyed the evening program, which was punctuated with laughter and good humor. The repartee between Rabbi Schrier and Tenenbom was punchy and engaging, which left the audience a good feeling and flavor for the author and his appreciation for the charedi world.
