ANT KATZ
A number of Jewish Report readers registered their displeasure at the “half-naked” girl on the front page of the print edition last week.
Julia Lipnitskaia was
appropriately clothed
Julia Lipnitskaia, a 15-year-old Russian skating prodigy, took home Olympic gold with a routine set to John Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List. Lipnitskaia skated in a red costume evoking the iconic “girl in the red coat,” who briefly appears in the movie Schindler’s List to enhance the pathos of a scene of liquidation of Krakow’s ghetto.
As is the case with all skaters, she wore a bodysuit (which can be clearly seen tucking over her boots) and was in no way inappropriately dressed.
This image is from a video of Lipnitskaia performing this routine at the 2014 European figure skating championships, which preceded the Sochi Olympics. “Schindler’s List on Ice”, as one member of the Twitterati called it, was, for some, another strange element in an already bizarre Olympics that has been plagued by malfunctioning snowflakes, toilet troubles and political unrest.
In the humble opinion of this scribe (who had no sight of the picture prior to the printed edition appearing), it was one of the nicest front-page pictures ever on the SAJR, sub editor Paul Maree’s title, “Poetry in motion” was perfect and it was by far the best world Jewish news picture.
Even if it did give some readers the shivers at first glance…
Gary Selikow
Feb 26, 2014 at 8:02 am
‘How ridiculous-its ice skating gymnastics-sport-not pornogrpahy-this is the Iran/Hamas type of mentality that should not be appeased. their should be no place for such narrow minded bigots.
Do not apologize to them and do not let it guide your policy on whyat to publish in future issues of SAJR’
Gary Selikow
Feb 26, 2014 at 8:03 am
‘all the pictures of men in football shorts didnt offend them-Genuine sexism that is’
Janine
Feb 26, 2014 at 10:41 am
‘I think it is absolutely incorrect for people to impose their religious viewpoints on anyone else and to limit what can be published in a non-Frum paper. This girl is beautiful, the story is awesome and if Frum Jews cannot control their animal impulses by looking at a girl in a less dressed state than a long skirt and wig, then they should not be going out in public, going on holiday, reading anything secular, they should just lock themselves away in a room where the outside world is shut out. I respect everyone’s choice of how observant to be, but I don’t respect an imposition of their sexual insecurities and worries about their reaction in a public, non-religious paper. Just my opinion.’
Daniel
Feb 26, 2014 at 7:46 pm
‘Its not my opinion or your opinion that counts. Its Hashem’s. And Hashem says that for a woman to dress in such a costume, and for men to view such a picture is absolutely forbidden.’
Julian Pokroy
Feb 26, 2014 at 9:55 pm
‘I think the cover picture is in no way inappropriate. It is a great cover . Well done JR’
Gitl
Feb 27, 2014 at 9:08 pm
‘
It’s a beautiful cover, and she is a talented and lovely 15-yr old. It’s time that ‘religious’ men stopped blaming women for their own inability to keep their emotions in check.
‘
Gary
Feb 28, 2014 at 1:41 pm
‘Only a sick person could see that as sinful’
bijou
Mar 1, 2014 at 1:37 pm
‘loved your cover. beautiful girl properly dressed for a fabulous sport. well done JR.’
Akiva
Mar 2, 2014 at 2:01 pm
‘Daniel – where exactly did Hashem say this? Not you rrabbi, or an Artscrool book on your shelf – but Hashem. Where did Hasmen say this?’
Joshua Grigst
Mar 2, 2014 at 3:47 pm
‘I suppose it mst be hard to be one paper for the many schools of thout in our small community. I understand both sides but I agree you did the right thing. The questin is, if she wasnt wearing a bodysuit would you have published it?’
Gary
Mar 4, 2014 at 4:57 pm
‘Even if she want wearing a bodysuit, If she was in a bikini playing volleyball at the summer olympics, SAJS still has a right to publish it as SAJR is not a frum newspaper’
Robbie
Mar 5, 2014 at 10:39 pm
‘\”it was by far the best world Jewish news picture\”
ok, clearly i am stupid…. how is this picture \”jewish\” news? why is a picture of a nonjewish skater at a nonjewish event jewish news?
or if the skater is jewish why it didn’t say so anywhere in the story?’
Gary Selikow
Mar 7, 2014 at 11:16 am
‘Because she was doing a holocaust relatyed theme-that IS Jewish news’
Terressa
Sep 28, 2014 at 1:04 pm
‘Yes that is right Gary, it was a holocaust theme and so it was very much Jewish related. These people are so narrow minded and miss the big picture.’