By KRISTEN STEVENS, AP

JERUSALEM (Feb. 23) - Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jewish worshippers angrily confronted actress Natalie Portman and her co-star, objecting to scenes of the couple kissing during the filming of a movie scene beside Jerusalem's Western Wall, police said.

The incident Tuesday evening underlined the sensitivity of the site, a remnant of the biblical Jewish temples, the holiest place where Jews can pray.

The site is controlled by strictly observant Jews. Male and female worshippers are separated by a barrier perpendicular to the wall, following Orthodox Jewish rules forbidding casual contact between the sexes.

Police said they had to step in when worshippers spotted Portman and Israeli actor Aki Avni embracing and kissing as part of a scene in their film, "Free Zone." The daily Yediot Ahronot said ultra-Orthodox Jews charged the actors, shouting ,"Immoral, immoral!"

Police said they asked the actors to leave and return later, and they agreed.

The rabbi in charge of the site, Shmuel Rabinovitch, said that codes of conduct under religious and state law prohibit acting or romantic interaction near the wall. "That code was not followed," he said.

The Israeli-born Portman has been studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in recent months. The actress is nominated for an Oscar this year for her supporting role in the film "Closer."

While I do agree that the rule itself is kinda silly, it really does boil down to a matter of respect. How would Catholics react to somebody using the Shroud of Turin to blow their nose? To fucking against the Vatican wall? How would Muslims respond to a striptease in the middle of a Pilgrim's prayer service in Mecca? Respect. That is all. It does not excuse the mob action, but as a Jew and a student at Hebrew University, nobody can tell me that Portman at the least and an ISRAELI actor were not aware of the law. Technology can do wonderful things. Ever hear of a "Blue Screen"? This might have been a good time to employ one.

That would be a good band name - The Hasidic Panties Bunch

Damn. once again, the actual thread doesnt live up to it's title.

gotta go find a Jpeg from 'Closer'

I think almost every organized religion needs to lighten up. Have a barbecue. Drink some beer. Little bit of bocce ball and lawn darts.

I mean yeah, Todd's right. But still, how many more centuries will the inane parts of all religions drag on?

As far as I see it, all of the monotheistic religions are more alike then they care to admit to their followers, they all talk about the betterment of self, and yet they all get caught up in the minutiae of ceremony and symbolism instead of their core teachings.

But what the hell do i know?

But the ceremonial aspects are their "hooks", it makes people think that they are engaged in someting meaningful (and how they keep the cash flowing in). When it comes down to it a lot of these mainstream religions are built on the same fundametals. If people realized it they would stop attending services.

.....or maybe we would have one big uber-church a la Futurama....

that's impossible.

everyone knows hasidic jews don't wear underwear.

i HATE the idea holly land. i understand respecting that people do believe that, and for the most part i do . . . but deep down i think it's crap.

god likes that part of the earth more than others? this wall that man built? god thinks it's more imortant to obey his law there than anywhere else in the world?

i don't like when people decide that man made things are holy.
(of couse, i include the bible in that list of man made things)

hasidic jews need to loosen the fuck up.

oh, and i love you natalie.

hasidic jews are fanatical, people don't complain about them as much as fantatic christians because there aren't as many of them (and they aren't out ot convert you), but they are just as much off the deep end.

hasidic jews - "stay out of my religion, you aren't good enough for it, or commited enough to understand it"
crazy christians - "if you don't agree with my view of the bible you will go to hell!!!!"

which is worse?

Gotta say the producers were pretty dumb for not knowing this would happen. Either that or they saw a chance for publicity and milked it on purpose.

UO Jews live and die by the rigidity of ritual and the "proper" observation thereof. While that is anathematic to my anti-legalist views of God, it's crucial to their faith and it's not too much to ask that the rituals be respected on their home turf.

this is what i don't understand.
rituatls are man made, why are they so important?

i'm not 100% sure on this, but i think Hasidic Jews are a relativly new concept. The whole beard and hat and black and crazy rules and rituals.

like the last 300 years or so.

I heard lawn darts are illegal now. They came down on too many heads.

shitballs. I don't want to get a ticket. But i can't stop NOW...

agreed.
it's all about respect.

Yeah, I really can't be mad at the Jews for this one.

who said we were mad? I invited them to the barbecue but they won't eat the ribs.

How rude.

pig.
(ha. get it?)

oink oink baby.

The Muslims don't want the ribs either. Bastards.

See, they ARE alike.

my whole life is about kissing pretty girls.
if i couldn't kiss natalie portman because it didn't mesh with some religious propoganda, i'd be pissed.

talk about lack of respect.

You'd be upset too if for years you couldn't take cough syrup for a cold because it featured pig fat. Porkitussin is the wonder drug that works wonders, my ass!

just remember to cut a hole in a sheet when having sex with one of these people.

dude,

there are still lots of texans pissed at ozzy for pissing on the alamo. . .