Orthodox Hungarian Boy Steals Show on Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Belief’
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — Orthodox Jewish boys from Hungary are not typically a hot topic on Twitter.
But after the Sunday night premiere of Oprah Winfrey’s “Belief,” a seven-part documentary series exploring various faiths around the world, the Internet is enamored with Mendel Hurwitz, one of the show’s first subjects.
Hurwitz, now 15, hails from Budapest, where the show followed him as he prepared for his bar mitzvah. Over the course of the episode, Hurwitz displays precocious wisdom and a lovable sense of humor that endeared him to many fans.
In fact, Hurwitz was the only subject whose story Oprah herself tweeted about after the premiere.
Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba and others hopped on the Hurwitz bandwagon.
Oprah’s website also shared a recent video of Mendel and his father, Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Hurwitz.
“I think he brings comic relief,” Hurwitz’s father said in explaining why he was chosen for the show.
So what does Hurwitz want to do with his future after exploring his faith?
“My dream is to become a very smart rabbi, and that’s achievable,” he said with a smile.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
