has anyone seent he new Madonna video?

[Briar Rose 7457]

I haven't -- but it's supposed to have a lot of Jewish/Kabbalistic symbolism.

my Rabbi says she got it all wrong, by the way.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Maybe it is like her "Like a Prayer' from some years back.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

that's the impression I got from what the Rabbi said. but I haven't seen it yet.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

you may be right, Dan: http://www.madonnapolis.com/News.htm

In the DAD video, Madonna has a tattoo on her arm. Many people have asked what did it mean. Also questions were asked about the leather straps she wraps around her arm. Madonnapolis has been able to get an excellent in depth look at the answers.

Madonna's tattoo on her arm says 'LAV' in Hebrew letters. 'LAV' in Hebrew means “not”- representing the 10 commandments “shall not…” The tattoo represents all her sins. It’s a mark, like the Mark of Cain.

The leather band she wraps around her left arm 7 times is called 'Tefillin' (or phylacteries). Every Jewish man who reaches the age of 13 and a day has to put them on every morning during the Morning Prayer. It is important to stress that only men put them on, men and Madonna that is…

In the video there’s a struggle between the White Madonna and the Black Madonna- good vs. evil (just to get the point through that it is a James Bond theme song..). The Black Madonna seems much stronger in the beginning- but once she puts on the 'Tefillin' and thereby cleans her sole, the White Madonna takes over.
The White Madonna kills the Black Madonna right when the executioners turn the electric chair on. Her executioners walk in and see that she managed to escape from the electric chair. She got to a certain spiritual level in which she didn’t need to be punished anymore- her sole was clean.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

she's using Jewish symbolism, but it's got a very "Christian" message.

we don't use tefillin to "cleanse our souls", we use them to get closer to the Almighty.

and some women DO wear them, by the way.

 

[JAP]

Very interesting topic. I think it is kinda neat that Madonna tries to convey some sort of spiritual message in her videos. Very creative in my opinion.

I am a little confused Briar Rose, did she get most of the Jewish symbolism correct and just twist it to what she wanted to convey?

Jen

 

[Baboo]

My DD (11) was watching TV the other night and I just caught a glimpse of this video before telling her to change the chanel. I didn't see much of it, but just seeing her wrap her arm in a strap and then the electric chair set off alarm bells in my head. I just figured it was something she didn't need to be watching.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

without having seen it --


the good vs. evil imagery isn't what tefillin are about. teffillin are leather boxes that contain parchment on which are written passages from Deuteronomy. the concept is to bring the wearer closer to G-d's words. all adult males (and some females -- though that's discouraged in Orthodox circles) use teffillin during prayer. she got the use of teffillin correct but not the message.

the strap she wrapped around her arm was only half the package -- there's another strap she should have put on her head.

the tatoo -- the letters are "correct" -- and the Kabbala puts huge emphasis on letter and number combinations to achieve spirituality -- but that it's a tatoo is an affront -- Judaism prohibits the use of tatoos. it also is reminicent of the tatoos used in Aushwitz. did she really want to offend us here?

 

[caitycaity]

as soon as i read tattoo, i was about to say...how much does she really know about judaism, anyways?

 

[Poohbear123]

Oh, NO Not another MADONNA Video! Run, run for your lives...she's at it again! She is 44 years old nad needs to start acting like a 44 year old, give me a break!

 

[JAP]

Quote: "Judaism prohibits the use of tatoos. it also is reminicent of the tatoos used in Aushwitz. did she really want to offend us here?"

I did not realize the Judaism prohibits tatoos. I did not think about how offensive it would be to most jews if the tatoos used in the video are reminicent of what the Germans used in the camps. Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[caitycaity]

Jap, i don't see anything offensive from you here.

 

[JAP]

Originally posted by caitycaity
Jap, i don't see anything offensive from you here.

I said I thought it was "neat" that Madonna used spiritualism in her videos. If only SHE knew how she was offending people maybe she would not have used tatoos in the manner she did. I just thought the way I worded my original post may have offended. That was not my intent. I have not watched the video so I should reserve judgment one way or the other.

Thanks caity.