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Over 4,000 Fans Flock to Meet Cast of Orthodox Drama ‘Shtisel’ in NY

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The stars of Israeli series, “Shtisel,” were stunned to receive such a warm reception in New York. The three secular Israeli actors who star as the charedi cast in a sheltered Jerusalem neighborhood, never expected their show to be such a hit outside of Israel. Since the show started streaming on Netflix in December 2018, however, the series has made a big, loyal following in the United States. Last Tuesday night, hundreds of people lined up outside Temple Emanu-El’s Streicker Center on East 65th Street to meet members of the cast — Michael Aloni, who plays Akiva; Doval’e Glickman, who plays family patriarch, Shulem Shtisel; and Neta Riskin, who plays Akiva’s sister Giti. The show, written by Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky, revolves around the lives of a four generation ultra-Orthodox family.

The synagogue, which partnered with The Jewish Week Media Group and UJA-Federation New York for the occasion, gave fans a chance to meet three members of the cast in a three-night event entitled, “Shtisel: Behind the Scenes of the Unorthodox Orthodox Drama.” As reported by the Times of Israel, the Tuesday and Wednesday night events in the Temple Emanu-El sanctuary attracted roughly 4,500 people. The Thursday night event at a Caldwell, N.J., synagogue attracted another 1,800 people.

Ethan Bronner, a Bloomberg News senior editor, moderated a question and answer session at the event. The show was praised for its complex and imperfect characters. Fans also said the series does a good job keeping the show interesting without adding any romantic scenes, as the characters act as religious Jews who should not have physical contact between men and women before marriage. Aloni, who plays a young artist trying to find a wife, said he loved the scripts but was surprised by its popularity despite the absence of violence, and sexual content.

Riskin, who stars as a woman dealing with her husband’s infidelity and departure, was full of praise for the writers of her character. She said her part empowers women, by making her an example of strength. “Instead of going with the man to Argentina, [following] his adventures and his lovers and his affairs, we stay with the one who is left behind, with the one who is sitting at home; the notion that this story is not less interesting was the thing that just blew my mind,” Riskin said. She said her training for the charedi part included coaching on how to sit and walk modestly, which speak volumes for ultra-Orthodox women. She was helped to practice to cross her legs while seated and walk meekly with her eyes cast down to the ground.

The show’s producer, Dikla Barkai, was also featured at the NY event. When asked about the current labor negotiations threatening Season 3 of the show, Barkai said: “We cannot confirm Season 3 yet.” “There are many reasons. Let’s hope. We are thinking positively. I would say it will,” she added optimistically.

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