Dressing up as an Orthodox Jew has never looked cooler! Courtesy of ChaiFlicks.I was on a plane back from Israel in 2019 with my friends when I found a little show called Shababnikim on my large El Al TV screen. At first, it almost looked like an action thriller, the image being four formidable-looking Orthodox men dressed in their typical clothes – suits and ties, black hats, tzitzit, etc. – walking on the sidewalk with solemn expressions like James Bond. I was curious, indeed, mainly because as Program Director of PJFM, I always hear about the latest Israeli shows and movies, but this one was totally new to me. Unfortunately, when I pressed play for episode one, there were no English subtitles. I forgot about the show, and for the next two years, as a pandemic dominated every aspect of my life everywhere I turned, Shababnikim really escaped from my memory.
Four years later, the show, known in the US as THE NEW BLACK, is now one of the biggest, if not the “most Jewish” Jewish series you’ll ever watch on TV. Thanks to ChaiFlicks, the “Jewish Netflix” that I so often call it, the popularization of this show has perpetuated across the globe. Pre-COVID, and even before my trip, this comedy series, created by Eliran Malka and Daniel Paran, was already a colossal hit in Israel, winning four Israeli Television Academy Awards and receiving praise from The Forward¸ Haaretz, Tablet Magazine¸ and tons of other Jewish publications. Like many other Israeli shows, it’s now finally reached the States where it has delighted viewers with its simple yet oddly heartwarming story. I confess that my expectation of this show was VERY wrong. Oh no, it’s not an action thriller. It’s an Israeli comedy set in a yeshiva, and it’s hilarious, unpredictable, fast-paced, witty, and one of the most enjoyable shows you’ll watch.
I mention this is the “most Jewish” Jewish show on TV. Oh yeah. There are Jewish jokes, Jewish prayers, Torah quotes, yeshiva students, matchmakers, blind date setups in hotel lobbies, gorgeous shots of the city of Jerusalem, Israeli characters speaking very fast Hebrew, etc. I could go on. Nevertheless, if you’re a non-Jew reading this review, I guarantee that THE NEW BLACK is bingeworthy. It’s just a fun, frivolous, but not overly ridiculous comedy. How else can I say it? Where else will you watch a show where a group of Haredi men play football against a group of bulky, prejudice American players? Or jump on an inflatable bounce house? Or bathe in a mikveh because the hot water has been turned off in their showers? You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy this. With two seasons and 30-minute episodes, THE NEW BLACK is the light, sunny entertainment we’ve all loved since the birth of television.
The show is essentially about four young, twentysomething yeshiva roommates and the difficult lives they navigate, like trying to live alongside secular Jews, appeasing their teachers, and finding their true beshert (“destiny” a.k.a. loves of their lives). It’s a relatable story for anyone. Anyone who has lived through their 20s knows how rough life gets. It’s such a strange, oftentimes agonizing time, and THE NEW BLACK demonstrates those years with scintillating Jewish flair. What I love most about this show is that it doesn’t go balls-to-the-wall outrageous with its humor. I mean, of course, there are a few silly moments. (In episode one, a chandelier falls on a rabbi during his davening…) Besides that, Malka and Paran have crafted a real story with lovable, three-dimensional characters just trying to balance a “modern” life with their religion. THE NEW BLACK could have easily turned into offensive camp, but its actors maintain a sense of professionalism in their performances. These aren’t archetypal stereotypes of Orthodox Jews. They’re portraits of people.
These “shababnikim,” which is Hebrew slang for yeshiva dropouts or students who go “off the path” from their religion, are originally three roommates at a prestigious yeshiva in Jerusalem. Avinoam (Daniel Gad) is usually the head speaker of the group of friends, a Mizrahi Jew who is the son of a member of the Knesset’s finance committee. Sweet-faced Meir (Israel Atias) is Sephardic and just can’t catch a break. His Torah skills are lacking, including his setups with potential ladies. Dov Laser (Omer Perelman Striks) is a pretty quiet guy who evades a certain insecurity. In one episode, he comically finds himself in a landmine after urinating in the bushes. When an IDF soldier offers to carry him safely to the road, he refuses out of embarrassment. It doesn’t matter that his life is in danger. What matters to him is that his dignity would be questioned unless he rescued himself.
Gedaliah (Ori Laizerouvich) comes into the picture after a disastrous date with a potential lady. Before I explain how, let me preface by saying that Gedaliah is, well, VERY different from the other fellas. To simply put it, he’s the most religious of the guys, stating Torah phrases not just once a day but literally once every minute. While the other guys may occasionally break rules like watching shows on a computer when they should be studying Torah, Gedaliah is the first to reprimand them anyone misbehaving, in his opinion.
“I won’t ever use Waze,” he says. “Because it was developed during the Sabbath…”
Gedaliah is undoubtedly a little over-the-top and occasionally offensive, such as the moment when he offends Dov’s sister by saying that women shouldn’t be allowed to study Torah. He’s a bit much, but you can’t help but feel for him a little bit. This is just how he was raised. He loves Torah, but he just needs a little help in the social interaction department. He’s like that one adorable friend we all love but need help teaching to.
Anyway, Gedaliah gets involved with the guys when Rabbi Bloch (Dov Navon) recommends the student room with Avinoam, Meir, and Dov Laser to better socialize himself. The guys are incredulous, especially Avinoam, but they never bully him. The sweetest thing about THE NEW BLACK is its strong sense of camaraderie. These guys may have differences, but they’re always there for one another. Dov may drive them crazy by not getting rescued by an IDF soldier, but they’re still there for him. Gedaliah’s interactions with women are positively cringeworthy, but they just laugh it off. Overall, this show is a buddy comedy. Who doesn’t love a good show about friends?
The main conflict of season one of THE NEW BLACK is when Rabbi Spitzer (Rotem Keinan) steps into the yeshiva as the new “guardian.” Appalled by his students’ increasingly modern activities, he initiates a strict new set of rules for the yeshiva, like turning off the hot water and installing a “signal jammer” so no one can use their cellphones during Torah study. Spitzer isn’t depicted as a rabbi with horns, per se. He’s not the most likable person, but his intentions are just ill-mannered. We know that he’s a good guy deep down inside, but his job – including his substantial love for Judaism – has only driven him to extremes. He’s only doing the best he can for Hashem.
THE NEW BLACK has everything you could want in a comedy show; laughs, friends, affable characters, sunny Israeli weather, a hip soundtrack, groovy opening credits that give the series a 70s vibe, etc. Subjectively speaking, there’s nothing to “not” enjoy about it. EVER. I’m so glad I finally started watching it, and I can’t wait for whatever next hit Israeli show hits the United States next! These shows just get better and better.
THE NEW BLACK is now available to stream on ChaiFlicks.