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November 5, 2010
by Leah Berkenwald
Link Roundup
  • Alina Treiger is the first Jewish woman to be ordained in Germany since WWII. The first woman rabbi in Germany, Regina Jonas, perished in Auschwitz. [eJewishPhilanthropy]
  • "A Close Look at the Bigotries of Reality Tv": Sarah Seltzer interviews Jennifer Pozner, author of the new book Reality Bites Back. [Sisterhood]
  • "Keeping Jewish Boys Involved": Lilith asks, "Are Boys the New Girls?" [Lilith blog]
  • New study confirms that women give more than men [Feministing]
  • "Ruth Hater Ginsburg" and "Mazel Tov Cocktail" - What's your favorite Jewish Roller Derby name? [Tablet]
  • Jewesses Discuss the Tea Party, Breast Cancer Awareness and More: The Salon Episode 08 [Jewess]
  • Hilarious or horrifying? -- "I was Anne Frank for Halloween." [Heeb]
  • "Patti Stanger's Real Talent Isn't Matchmaking" - the Millionaire Matchmaker's real talent it's telling it like it is [Jezebel]
  • A too-high tolerance for hate speech against the obese? [Sisterhood]
  • Joan Rivers attacks Whoopi Goldberg for defending Mel Gibson on The View [Gawker]
  • Gender Outlaws: A new book from trail blazing, gender-bending authors Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman [Feministing]
2 comments

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Fri, 11/05/2010 - 17:08 — lberkenwald

Let me start by saying that I absolutely understand why you, and others, would find dressing up as Anne Frank to be offensive. However, there are plenty of people who appreciate edgy, offensive humor.

Jewish women have a long tradition of pushing boundaries and making trouble. Look at Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers (and the other funny Jewish women of Making Trouble), not to mention Sarah Silverman.

Just last year, Roseanne Barr posed on the cover of Heeb Magazine dressed as Hitler taking a tray of "Jew cookies" out of an oven. I wrote about the issue of "Holocaust humor" last year on Jewesses with Attitude. I suggest you read my post about it, but to summarize, I explain that Holocaust humor is nothing new, and that it has always been controversial. In the end, it's a matter of taste and humor - and on that, I would argue there is no "right" answer.

I am the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, and personally I do not find it to be threatening or insulting to the memory of survivors and the Six Million. This is just my opinion, and I do not expect anyone else to share it or agree with me.

I am not sure I can explain why I don't find it horrifying or why I do find it funny. Humor, like one's taste in fashion, art, or music, is ultimately subjective and often based on irrational emotional responses.
I invite you to read my post on Holocaust humor and add your two cents in the comments.

Fri, 11/05/2010 - 14:44 — Anonymous (not verified)

I don't what is more horrifying. The family that created a monster to parody a child victim of the greatest tragedy to befall the Jewish people or the question you posed regarding the link.

Are you not outraged and saddened that a young Jewish woman views the Shoah as camp?