NEWS: UK Jewish Group Not Forgiving Borat

CELEB: UK Jewish Group Not Forgiving Borat

Comic Sacha Baron Cohen has incurred the wrath of a British Jewish organization for his Borat character - just in time for today’s Yom Kippur holiday.

The Board of Guardians of British Jews takes umbrage with Cohen-as-Borat's many jokes about Jews, Kazakhstan’s treatment of Jews, and Jewish stereotypes. The organization is not amused.

The group also wants Cohen to pay a fine of $17,000.

The Board of Guardians isn’t the only organization that finds Borat offensive. Aside from the Kazakh government's much-publicized concern, the American Anti-Defamation League is also worried that imbeciles in the U.S. will take Borat seriously and start hating Jews. And knocking back fermented horse urine.

Cohen - who is Jewish - hasn’t responded to this latest wrist-slap, but he has until October 23 to appeal the Board of Guardians' ruling.


The happy idiot at the center of it all.

banning a Jew from being able to pray is the most un-Jewish thing you can possibly do.

these guys are a couple of schmucks.

How the hell does this political organization think they have the right to fine a private citizen for making jokes!?

"Pay a fine"? What is this, a book club?

The only thing Borat does wrong is wear a Speedo....

also it's....impossible? seriously, that's one of the most ridiculous things i've ever heard.

whoah there.

If they think what he's doing is wrong, shouldn't they, um, want him to pray?

...

the Board of Guardians sound like a bunch of ambulance chasers! who the hell are they to try to fine anyone?

Oh, man. I hope Cohen and his film piss off millions!

C'mon, fuckers! Get mad! Get enraged! Protest! Hate!!
You're giving Sacha more publicity than you'll ever know.

(Let me be clear, though. By "fuckers", I mean people in general, not Jews specifically. I loathe anti-Semitism and am a profound admirer of Jewish culture, and I seriously think most Jews could give a shit about this movie.)

As for me, I'll unfortunately probably only be able to see this movie once, since I'll likely die laughing opening night.

Viva Borat! Jegshemash!

I can see why they would be mad...but a fine that will prolly go to no good use...bleh...lame

I plan on seeing this movie and laughing...I am pretty sure the trailer alone is better then alot of movies.

If someone (possibly inspired by Baron Cohen and his hoaxing ways) were to set up a site that parodied your idea of a Jewish organisation, do you think that falling for it would tell you something about your assumptions and prejudices?

This, after all, is the point of Borat and Baron Cohen's other creations.

Or would you just feel a bit stupid?

And how stupid would you feel once you'd found the quote from Rabbi Adam Ant?

Lame.

People need senses of humour.

Dicks.

Umm...the ADL didn't even get upset at Cohen.

This is a brilliant marketing stratagy for the Borate movie.

The first rule of News articles is that no one ever bothers to click the links.

"Cash Machine installed in UK Jewish cemetery"

what, that wasn't serious?

I'll tell you this, I never heard so many anti-semitic remarks until South Park popularized Jew jokes. I'm not saying everyone mimicking Cartman or Borat is against Jews, but it's kinda like the discomfort people feel over the popularization of "nigga" and other such crap. I know that once the Borat movie starts making the rounds I'm going to hear all sorts of new crap. It can be funny but it can also get old.

Forbidden from entering any synagogue? Because any rabbi I know has ever heard of this group and gives one fig what they think.

Borat's purpose as a character is to expose anti-semetism and racism of people who think they can hide it.

Just listen to what people say to him!

"Borat" in one episode got a whole bar to sing along to an anti-Jewish country song!

He's digging up evidence and exposing people for who they really are. That's one of the best pro-Jewish and anti-racism things you can do!

Did I explain my point well enough?

"the board" website is basically the british jewish version of the onion. it's a spoof on the real board of jewish deputies.

this was a satire piece that some very stupid journalists took seriously. it isn't true. at all.

Oy vey!

Yeah, before I commented I pondered exactly your side of the issue, but I'm just not buying it. Yes, it exposes anti-semitism, but it also encourages it. You can't really be ironic with the masses.

And what's the point of exposing it in this manner? Whose eyes is it going to open?

Now, if Cohen donates all the proceeds to fighting against anti-Semitism, then I think it's worthwhile. Otherwise all he's doing is lining his pockets at the expense of Jews...which is, perhaps, an eminently Jewish thing to do.

Oh, for fuck's sake stop looking down your nose at the proles and lighten up.