Just Finished Watching A Show About An Orthodox Jewish Woman Finding Mr. Right

Phew that was a long title. Frankly, I’m surprised, and extremely pleased that al-Hijrah aired it. My surprise is clearly from my own ignorance of the general religious Malaysian Muslims’s perception towards Jews. 

Once, when I was little, I wondered out loud why can’t I be friends with Jews. They are such a mystery to me, I’ve never met one before and if I were to stay cooped up in M’sia I probably never will. I was curious, and I wanted to know. Well, my muses weren’t very well received by a younger sibling. As I grew older and got into university, it seemed to me that this general view has not changed much among the Malaysian Muslims. And they didn’t seem interested in actually getting to know a person who so happened to practice Judaism. A friend of mine would often get teased for liking Benjamin from MGMT, and we’d call her ‘Jewish’ for that.

I don’t think this is anti-Semitism though. I think it’s ignorance in all its cruelest forms, and I get pulled in it because I’m an ignorant prick as well.

My classmates can be extremely thoughtless and insensitive, to tell the truth. I should know. My legs are bowed, which means even if I’m standing straight with my back against the wall, my legs will never touch each other because they arch away from the midline. They used to call me ‘rickets’ because of this, and they still do sometimes because they think that being friends would let them get away with it. It doesn’t. 

Anyway, back to the topic of discussion at hand. I didn’t get to pick up the title of the series, but as the series progressed (I only managed to watch bits and pieces of two episodes though), there were quite a few information on Orthodox Jewish culture, and the main character was even best friends with another Muslim girl. Such a friendship isn’t a new idea to me (thanks, Internet), but to see a depiction of this beautiful friendship being aired on Malaysian TV is extremely pleasant. We’re not that averse to Jews as I thought we were. We’re not that close-minded against the possibility of such relationships after all. 

I have another friend who constantly picks at the way religion is being run here in Malaysia. She’ll think devout Muslims are anti-Semitic for sure. But I’m happy to know that this is not the case. More people on the Internet would probably scoff at me for getting myself so excited about something that should be taken for granted. ‘Jews are still human beings you know,’ ‘How can you be so silly,’ etc etc. Well, good for you who find these things to be a social norm. You’re lucky. And instead of thinking it ridiculous as to why would anybody be so stupid as to believe that a Jew and a Muslim couldn’t possibly understand each other (ie my classmates), I would appreciate it if you could try to understand where they’re coming from. Understanding their ignorance is the first step in getting to know how to teach them something better. I’m naive, yes. That’s why I’m still getting picked on for my legs. 

Oh and, btw, about the ending of the show. They both found Mr. Right through formal wedding interviews (well, the Jewish girl saw hers in a library but only met the guy through a third family party, not so sure how the Muslim girl met hers actually but apparently her parents were with her whenever she met the guy so I’m assuming it’s through the same thing), got married with children and presumably lived happily ever after. Cliched, conservative, the end. 

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

@1 year ago with 1 note
#Am putting it in full view because I actually want this to be read #text #Thoughts #jewish muslim interaction #eh #that's a rather sad tag 
Just Finished Watching A Show About An Orthodox Jewish Woman Finding Mr. Right

Phew that was a long title. Frankly, I’m surprised, and extremely pleased that al-Hijrah aired it. My surprise is clearly from my own ignorance of the general religious Malaysian Muslims’s perception towards Jews. 

Once, when I was little, I wondered out loud why can’t I be friends with Jews. They are such a mystery to me, I’ve never met one before and if I were to stay cooped up in M’sia I probably never will. I was curious, and I wanted to know. Well, my muses weren’t very well received by a younger sibling. As I grew older and got into university, it seemed to me that this general view has not changed much among the Malaysian Muslims. And they didn’t seem interested in actually getting to know a person who so happened to practice Judaism. A friend of mine would often get teased for liking Benjamin from MGMT, and we’d call her ‘Jewish’ for that.

I don’t think this is anti-Semitism though. I think it’s ignorance in all its cruelest forms, and I get pulled in it because I’m an ignorant prick as well.

My classmates can be extremely thoughtless and insensitive, to tell the truth. I should know. My legs are bowed, which means even if I’m standing straight with my back against the wall, my legs will never touch each other because they arch away from the midline. They used to call me ‘rickets’ because of this, and they still do sometimes because they think that being friends would let them get away with it. It doesn’t. 

Anyway, back to the topic of discussion at hand. I didn’t get to pick up the title of the series, but as the series progressed (I only managed to watch bits and pieces of two episodes though), there were quite a few information on Orthodox Jewish culture, and the main character was even best friends with another Muslim girl. Such a friendship isn’t a new idea to me (thanks, Internet), but to see a depiction of this beautiful friendship being aired on Malaysian TV is extremely pleasant. We’re not that averse to Jews as I thought we were. We’re not that close-minded against the possibility of such relationships after all. 

I have another friend who constantly picks at the way religion is being run here in Malaysia. She’ll think devout Muslims are anti-Semitic for sure. But I’m happy to know that this is not the case. More people on the Internet would probably scoff at me for getting myself so excited about something that should be taken for granted. ‘Jews are still human beings you know,’ ‘How can you be so silly,’ etc etc. Well, good for you who find these things to be a social norm. You’re lucky. And instead of thinking it ridiculous as to why would anybody be so stupid as to believe that a Jew and a Muslim couldn’t possibly understand each other (ie my classmates), I would appreciate it if you could try to understand where they’re coming from. Understanding their ignorance is the first step in getting to know how to teach them something better. I’m naive, yes. That’s why I’m still getting picked on for my legs. 

Oh and, btw, about the ending of the show. They both found Mr. Right through formal wedding interviews (well, the Jewish girl saw hers in a library but only met the guy through a third family party, not so sure how the Muslim girl met hers actually but apparently her parents were with her whenever she met the guy so I’m assuming it’s through the same thing), got married with children and presumably lived happily ever after. Cliched, conservative, the end. 

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

1 year ago
#Am putting it in full view because I actually want this to be read #text #Thoughts #jewish muslim interaction #eh #that's a rather sad tag