Such a Deal! Find God, Win a Trip

A Visit To Jerusalem? A new religious reality TV show, ‘Penitents Compete,’ offers the winner a trip to a holy site.
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A Visit To Jerusalem? A new religious reality TV show, ‘Penitents Compete,’ offers the winner a trip to a holy site.

By Alex Suskind

Published July 08, 2009, issue of July 17, 2009.
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‘A Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist and a Jew walk into a house with 10 atheists…”

What sounds like the start of a bad joke actually will be brought to life on Turkish television this fall. If you don’t believe in God, perhaps a stint on reality TV will help change your mind. At least that is what the creators of “Penitents Compete” are hoping for.

The new reality show is set to premiere in September on the Turkish television station Kanal T, The Jerusalem Post reported July 6. The program places 10 atheists with four religious leaders who each represent a different religion. Throughout the course of the show, they will try their best to convert the contestants into God-fearing believers. Up for grabs is a trip to the converter’s religious holy site — Mecca for converted Muslims, the Vatican for converted Christians, Tibet for converted Buddhists and Jerusalem for converted Jews.

Not everyone, however, is happy with the show’s concept. In the same Jerusalem Post article, Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Department for Interreligious Affairs, noted that it is against the religious law of Jews to attempt to recruit someone into the Jewish faith.

Regardless of your opinion of the show, “Penitents Compete” demonstrates that America is not the only country with crazy ideas for reality television.


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Comments
GMC (SW/SCW) Peter M Michelson Pincus Mendel Fri. Jul 10, 2009

Shalom To All,

Hopefully this week we are closing was fruitfully for all, if there are those who are facing tragic times let the fruitfully ones grather around in a closed circle around our brothers and sisiters and give much need support. This is a great offer. I am and have been for 51 years of my life a Sephardic Danish Jew who just happens to be in the U.S. Navy and love to live a Jewish life. Since I have lived and practice as a Sephardic Jew all my life and had great family experiences it was easy for me to continue while serving in the U.S. Navy. But thats just me. Now I am a Chief Petty Offer and have been since 21 Sept, 2006. I am also a Jewish Lay Leader since 1996. I have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanstain 9 times and have always found other Jews to worship with, as well those who are onpen minded enough to learn. Since I have been in the Navy for over 20 years and traveled to 74 different countries I always look for what is Jewish in all countries. There are Jews and Jewish History in every country even Afghanistan. Please look on youtube for the videos. Have a wonderful weekend, be safe, enjoy shul, and if you see a U.S. Military Man or Woman in your travels a smiple smile, a kind "Thank You For Your Serve To Our Coutry" makes all the difference in the world and is a Great Mitzva. Shalom to All.

V/r

GMC(SW/SCW) Peter M Michelson (Pincus Mendel)

lynne Mon. Sep 28, 2009

I would like to win a trip to jerusalem to see the red sea, to see where jesue walked and did his great mircles. I would love to see all the temples that i read about in the bible. This is something that i pray to god about winning. I would like to see the market places and see where he was hung on the cross. maybe there i will see a great mircle in my own life.






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