Libi is making a BIG mistake in insisting Akiva give up his art completely. True, he needs a job and a stable schedule, but he could still paint on the side.
I think Akiva made a big mistake in agreeing (or maybe he never did agree? All we see is Nuchem saying he's giving them the apartment - maybe he jumped the gun?). He gave up his art once before when Elisheva rejected him?
The notebook Chanina showed to Lipa has chiddushei Torah and also I think he referred to his feelings for Ruchami as "ketzat Shir haShirim" - which you are NOT supposed to do (connect Shir haShirim to your personal relationship...)
I think Gitty softened after reading it, why else would she give it to Ruchami?
Libi is the one who told Akiva to go to Kaufman originally, so she really started him on the path of doing this professionally. I think she got nervous that since she convinced him to start, it would be her fault if he went OTD because of it.
Also, I think she wants to make sure that he really loves her and would marry her even if she didn't appreciate his art.
I can't imagine that once they're married, she won't relax the rules and let him do it as a hobby.
What I don't get is why she had to have her father do it. Nochum's speech was so nasty, practically verbal abuse! Why couldn't she give him the same rules in a nicer way?
I thought going to yeshiva might straighten Chanina out and he'd get a charusa, have a rebbi to oversee him, but he is as unhealthy as ever. I wouldn't let my kid marry him.
Libi is making a BIG mistake in insisting Akiva give up his art completely. True, he needs a job and a stable schedule, but he could still paint on the side.
I think Akiva made a big mistake in agreeing (or maybe he never did agree? All we see is Nuchem saying he's giving them the apartment - maybe he jumped the gun?). He gave up his art once before when Elisheva rejected him?
The notebook Chanina showed to Lipa has chiddushei Torah and also I think he referred to his feelings for Ruchami as "ketzat Shir haShirim" - which you are NOT supposed to do (connect Shir haShirim to your personal relationship...)
I think Gitty softened after reading it, why else would she give it to Ruchami?
I wasn't sure if Akiva agreed or not. We do see him canceling the trip to NY so maybe he agreed off camera? I'm not happy about the engagement, I think it's sad that Libby agreed to put those conditions on him and "told on him" to her father about forgetting one time to put on tefillin. Squashing his artistic dreams is not loving, and he doesn't even get a choice about where he gets to work (ironic that it's a travel agency and he's not even allowed to travel himself)
Is it paranoid that I think maybe Giti and Lipa added something to the little book they gave Ruchami to read? They had no qualms about lying to Chanina that Ruchami doesn't want him anymore, I'm sure they would do the same to Ruchami to get her to "come to her senses".
Totally not realistic and troubling that Akiva and Libi would have their engagement announced without speaking with his father Shulem. Also troubling that he was given conditions and then could not speak with her afterwards before he made this big decision. Weird weird. It gives the viewer less trust that the relationship will last and be strong.
And I don't get Gitty now. She manipulates on an impulse, doesn't discuss, then regrets it later. Yes to naming Zelig, then no. Yes to Yeshiva ketana for her son, then no. No to Chanina, then yes? Oy vey, lady!
Hi everyone I know I havent joined in this discussion till now, but I've been following it for a while!
So here is my take on this latest: nochum planned it in advance with Libby to find and change the will, because she insisted on marrying Akiva, and that was how he finally agreed to it- by securing the apartment. That's why she is sleeping there, and why she calls him immediately when she finds it. He covers himself by making sure everyone hears him tell her to leave it sealed.
She obviously wants to marry Akiva, which is why she is doing this, but she gets nervous after hearing about the tefillin thing, which she presumes is a result of his art, so she calls her father out to tell him about a 'glitch in the plan', and they come up with the additional rules. (some of which nochum may have insisted on to begin with) . That's why she doesn't want to tell him herself.
My opinion- Akiva will find out and break it off, because this is not an honest foundation to build on. Leaving him again alone and jobless!
Feel bad for Shulem, left feeling second to his younger brother, which he is already insecure about.
Gitty is acting very similar to her father, making decisions for her kids based on her own past experience rather than what is best for them, but she is learning. Very human.
Hi everyone I know I havent joined in this discussion till now, but I've been following it for a while!
So here is my take on this latest: nochum planned it in advance with Libby to find and change the will, because she insisted on marrying Akiva, and that was how he finally agreed to it- by securing the apartment. That's why she is sleeping there, and why she calls him immediately when she finds it. He covers himself by making sure everyone hears him tell her to leave it sealed.
She obviously wants to marry Akiva, which is why she is doing this, but she gets nervous after hearing about the tefillin thing, which she presumes is a result of his art, so she calls her father out to tell him about a 'glitch in the plan', and they come up with the additional rules. (some of which nochum may have insisted on to begin with) . That's why she doesn't want to tell him herself.
My opinion- Akiva will find out and break it off, because this is not an honest foundation to build on. Leaving him again alone and jobless!
Feel bad for Shulem, left feeling second to his younger brother, which he is already insecure about.
Gitty is acting very similar to her father, making decisions for her kids based on her own past experience rather than what is best for them, but she is learning. Very human.
Chiming in here for the first time but totally also been following. The thread.
We totally think nochum changed the will and so upset how they got Akiva to let it all go for her. Another thing is that I love ruchami and chanina and can't believe her father went through with it. Plus, I think ruchami' smother (name slipped my mind) edited something in that notebook, not that she was now feeling bad. I think she took the ooportuniy to say he sent this as a goodbye.
While I'm enjoying this series and mostly it doesn't come across as anti-Chareidi, after thinking about it for a while, I realized that it really does portray Chareidim as hypocrites. Shulem is constantly courting women secretly, Lipa is really only frum on the outside for his family (as per season 1), Akiva has come very close to crossing the line a few times and doesn't go to minyan or learn, etc. Even Gitty almost had an abortion in season 1 without consulting a rav. Nobody there appears to be 100% frum throughout. Even Bubbe became a TV addict in her old age. Only Tzvi Aryeh is truly frum, but he's portrayed as a weak person with serious shalom bayis issues and insecurities. So if you think about it, the show doesn't really portray frum people in a good light. I'm sure there are many people like that out there, but I would like to believe there are also people who are truly frum who try to follow the Torah privately and publicly and don't only act the part on the outside. I don't think this casts Chareidim in a positive light to the rest of the world.
Ok, so I am wondering about Libi. If she is a good charedi girl she never had any relationship with boys. Now that her and Akiva had a connection she fell for him . But is he really what she wants? I think she is buckling because Nochum wanted her to marry the shpitz of Brisk not the "defect" of Kaufman. So she has to kinda pretend for herself and her father that hes not who he is ..or at least he won't stay that way after they "change" him. In reality I think yes, she has feelings for him (which I think may be immature) but she should've pushed them aside instead of try to mold him into someone he's not.
I wonder how it'll proceed. Maybe dor yesharim will see they're not compatible (they are first cousins after all!)
I mean does she really think he'll completely give up art?
The gallery maybe-- but to squelch that whole channel? I think that's more Nochum than her. The tefillin divulging was really low of her ...
And I was surprised Lipa pulled through with Chanina but then he went to the opposite extreme. He could've been more gentle. As mentioned the whole story is weird. Maybe if they were having a physical relationship it would be easier to live together and be apart during the day. Chanina can't not think of her if they're never intimate. That is going with the opinion that they're not (which then why are they sharing an apt)
Too many holes in that story but poor Ruchami. Can't they just talk to her straight and not go behind her back?
And I don't like how they leave stories hanging. What about Tzvi Aryehs insecurities and kidney transplant?
Last point:
I don't see any point in analyzing how they are portraying charedim. I think they are doing a decent job of portraying them as regular people. Like all people there's good and bad. Obviously some stereotypes make creep in but who cares. It's still entertaining!
Last edited by WastingTime on Mon, Dec 28 2015, 2:26 pm; edited 1 time in total
Is there going to be a third season? If not, I can see them letting Akiva get married, but if there will be a third season, I don't think he will get married this season.
They do leave stories hanging. Remember the one with the Lubavitch sister up north? Do we ever hear of her again?
Question - who were all those people sitting around the table when they read the will? There were all these extra men who I didn't recognize.
