A Response To The NYPost’s Holy Chic – JITC Unplugged

This is our new behind the scenes JITC spinoff: JITC Unplugged. The NYPost reported on some of the most extreme measures some Orthodox women have taken to make their makeup last on Shabbos in their article “Holy Chic” but it didn’t give the whole story. Here’s JITC’s response.

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Chaya says on May 25, 2013
Hi Allison,

I just watched your video and read the article Holy Chic and I had a very different take on the article. My initial reaction was that I found it a bit humorous, but when I really started thinking about it I felt it was truly a kiddush H’. Look at what these women are willing to do to keep shabbos! Mi K’amcha Yisroel! Sure, it’s extreme and most orthodox women aren’t as drastic, but I think it’s a beautiful that these women are not willing to budge one inch in observing shabbos and that they will go to such extremes to keep halacha. And assuming that these women are trying to be beautiful for their husbands, their “mesirus nefesh” is even more impressive. (However, I was disturbed to read that there are women who don’t let their husbands touch them in order to preserve their makeup and I do not condone that!)

When you read stories about our Gedolim, there is usually something “extreme” about their avodas H’ and klal yisroel is lucky to have leaders who go above and beyond. If the portrayal of Orthodox women in the media is one of unwavering commitment to halacha, even if you will call it “extreme”, then Baruch H’. And hopefully in the zechus of nashim tzidkaniyos like these ladies we will see the ultimate redemption b’karov!
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Chana says on February 24, 2015
Hi just saw your video on mikvah. I really felt the video was given in good taste, in both modesty and accuracy. I especially liked how you looked so respectful and modest too. Keep up the good work!
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Allison Josephs

Allison Josephs is the founder and executive director of Jew in the City has been involved in the field of Jewish Outreach for over twenty years and is the Partner in Torah mentor to actress Mayim Bialik. She was named one of NJOP’s Top Ten Jewish Influencers and one of the Jewish Week’s 36 under 36. Allison has been quoted or written about in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, People Magazine, NYPost, Daily News, TMZ, The Daily Beast, and Hollywood Reporter. She has appeared on numerous television and radio networks including CBS, ABC, Fox5, TLC, Associate Press TV, and NPR; her articles have appeared in publications including The Washington Post, JTA, Jewish Week, Jerusalem Post, The Forward, and Kveller. Pearson Education, the largest textbook company in the world, produced a video segment on Allison’s life for the Judaism chapter of their textbook. She is a sought-after international lecturer whose corporate clients include Con-Edison and NYU Langone and hosts a weekly podcast on the Nachum Segal Network. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in Philosophy and lives with her husband and four children minutes from the George Washington Bridge.