''Shababnikim'' ( Hebrew: ') is an

Israeli Israeli may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the State of Israel * Israelis, citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel * Modern Hebrew, a language * ''Israeli'' (newspaper), published from 2006 to 2008 * Guni Israeli ...

television comedy series that aired on HOT in 2017 and 2018. The show includes 28 episodes, each around 30 minutes, focused on lives of four

Haredi Jewish Haredi Judaism ( he, ', ; also spelled ''Charedi'' in English; plural ''Haredim'' or ''Charedim'') consists of groups within Orthodox Judaism that are characterized by their strict adherence to ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and traditions, in oppos ...

Yeshiva students. In January 2021, the first season began streaming internationally with English subtitles under the title ''The New Black''. As of May 2023, the series airs on Streaming television service ChaiFlicks. It is named after the Hebrew term s''hababnik''. A second season aired in North America in 2022 and a third season is in the works.

Premise

The show follows four Haredi yeshiva students in Jerusalem: Avinoam (

Daniel Gad Daniel Gad ( he, דניאל גד; born 9 December 1990) is an Israeli actor. He is best known for starring in the hit Israeli comedy series, ''Shababnikim'' (2017–present). Early life He was born and raised in Rehovot to Jewish parents. His mot ...

), who is the son of a Knesset member; Dov, nicknamed Lazer (

Omer Perelman Striks Omer may refer to: __NOTOC__ * Omer (unit), an ancient unit of measure used in the era of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem * The Counting of the Omer (''sefirat ha'omer''), a 49 day period in the Jewish calendar * Omer (Book of Mormon), a Jaredite k ...

), who comes from a wealthy family that primarily lives in New York City; Meir (Israel Attias), who comes from a poor Mizrahi/Sephardi family; and Gedaliah ( Ori Laizerouvich), a nerdy and pious Torah scholar who joins the group. The show also includes

Maya Wertheimer Maya Wertheimer ( he, מאיה ורטהיימר; born 29 July 1990) is an Israeli actress, model and television presenter. Biography Maya Wertheimer was born in Kfar Vradim. She is the daughter of billionaire Eitan Wertheimer (son of Israeli indu ...

as Devorah, who is Lazer's sister and Gedaliah's love interest and--in season two--fiancee.

Cast and characters

Main

as Avinoam Lasri * Ori Laizerouvich as Gedaliah *

as Dov Laser * Israel Atias as Meir Sabag *

as Debora Laser (recurring S1, main S2) *

Guri Alfi Guri (, lit. Nine Villages Town(Town of Nine Villages) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is located immediately to the east of Seoul, in the heart of the Capital Metropolitan Area. The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are locat ...

as Shlomi Zacks (recurring S1, main S2)

Recurring

*Dov Nalon as Rabbi Bloch *Rotem Keinan as Rabbi Ashi Spitzer *Golan Azulai as Eliyahu Lasri * Shira Naor as Shira *Shely Ben Josheph as Ruth Gottlieb * Zohar Strauss as Ehud Stern

Notable guest stars

Yehuda Levi Yehuda Levi ( he, יהודה לוי; born June 29, 1979) is an Israeli actor and model. His breakthrough role was in the TV series ''Lechayey Ha'ahava'' (''Here's To Love'', 2001). Early life Levi was born in Petah Tikva, Israel. His father Y ...

as Yehuda Levi (S1)

Reception

Critical response

The show was nominated for awards in eight categories by the

Israeli Academy of Film and Television Israeli Academy of Film and Television is a non-profit organization working in the fields of film and television in Israel. History The Israeli Academy of Film and Television, founded in 1990, is the Israeli equivalent of the US-based Academy o ...

, winning four, including Best Comedy, Best Comedy Script, and Best Comedy Actor. ''

Tablet Tablet may refer to: Medicine * Tablet (pharmacy), a mixture of pharmacological substances pressed into a small cake or bar, colloquially called a "pill" Computing * Tablet computer, a mobile computer that is primarily operated by touching the s ...

'' magazine described the show as "funny, whimsical, and cutting" continuing "Stylistically, Malka reatortrades soft-lens nostalgia for Tarantinoesque dark, even violent, comedy." The show was also praised by the ''

Jewish Telegraphic Agency The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) is an international news agency and wire service, founded in 1917, serving Jewish community newspapers and media around the world as well as non-Jewish press, with about 70 syndication clients listed on its web ...

'' as a "wacky, stylized comedy with an excellent soundtrack and a whole new way of depicting the world of the yeshiva." The review continued: "But if fast-paced, laugh-out-loud “Shababnikim” distinguishes itself from the likes of “ Shtisel,” full of melancholic plotlines and dreary music, it also stands apart because of the in-depth way it explores fault lines of race within haredi communities."‘Unorthodox’ and ‘Shtisel’? ‘Shababnikim’ offers a fresh, funny new view into Orthodox life.
''Jewish Telegraphic Agency''. 18 February 2022

References

{{Films about Orthodox and Hasidic Jews Haredi Judaism in Israel Orthodox Judaism in fiction 2017 Israeli television series debuts Israeli comedy television series Television series about Jews and Judaism Words and phrases in Modern Hebrew