Calendar seeks nice naughty Jewish boys

Some women (and men) like their Jewish men naughty, not nice. At least, that’s the premise behind the call that went out on Craigslist seeking Jewish men willing to pose for a calendar that will show “the sexy side of Judaism.”

This new “Naughty Jewish Boys” calendar is meant as an alternative to the “Nice Jewish Guys” calendar and other examples of popular culture that allegedly emasculate Jewish men, according to its creator Duncan Pflaster. In his call last week for models, Pflaster, a New York theater professional, made clear he is looking for “men willing to pose shirtless, in underwear, or tastefully nude.”

But that doesn’t mean that he’ll entertain applications only from men with ripped abs and chiseled jawbones. “Chubby/hairy ok,” he posted. He’ll pay $50 per hour and previous modeling experience is not necessary. And get this—“yarmulkes and payos” [are] a plus.”

So would Satmar Hasid Yoel Weisshaus, who grabbed attention last year as a model for American Apparel, go in for something like this?

‘My nudity is worth more than $50 an hour’

“My nudity is worth more than $50 an hour,” Weisshaus told The Times of Israel.

He’s not necessarily against Jewish guys getting their sexy on, but he wonders if the calendar is even a viable endeavor. “Although this idea might generate some steam, I am wondering who would display a calendar of nude Jewish men on their wall,” he remarked.

“I don’t think that my audience is interested in seeing my nudity. I find the idea of displaying nude Jewish men somewhat offensive, as going much further than needed to make a positive point,” he added.

Pflaster is peeved that the media tends to either neglect or ignore that Jewish men are physically attractive and sexually appealing. “I’d like to be able to show that side, for those who desire more than ‘adorable’ from their men,” he said in an interview with Heeb.

Dana Hall, creator of the Mensch of the Month calendar, welcomes the competition. “I think there is space out there for all interests. If there is a demand for something like this, then that’s great,” she told The Times of Israel.

‘Jewish men’s positive attributes tend not to usually be about their sexuality’

She agrees that there is stereotypically a de-sexualization of Jewish men in the media. “The physical, more carnal things are downplayed. Jewish men’s positive attributes tend not to usually be about their sexuality.”

When Hall selects models for her calendar, which she began producing in San Francisco three years ago, she considers his package… just not the one inside his pants. She looks at him as a whole person, focusing mainly on his character and involvement in the community and charitable organizations. The same holds true for the women who appear alongside the men in the 2014 Mensch of the Month calendar.

Hall is catering to her audience, which she believes would not go for “full-on tuchus and schmeckel,” as Pflaster put it in his conversation with Heeb. However, she did accede to one model’s request to pose nude from the waist up in her first calendar.

“He wanted to pose shirtless for the very reason that Pflaster says he wants to make his calendar,” she explained.

Weisshaus may pose in suggestive positions and cast come-hither glances at the camera, but he draws the line at the removal of garments. In his community, modesty is obviously a big thing. “The underlying message of modesty is that a person can still be sexy in their own garb,” he asserted.

Hall warns against too much political correctness. “There is room for nudity and humor so long as everyone involved has agency,” she said.

However, she, like Weisshaus, wonders who would actually purchase the “Naughty Jewish Boys” calendar.

“It would clearly be inappropriate to hang up at work,” she noted. “Unless you happened to work at an auto shop.

Two contenders? Israeli students from the Hebrew University celebrate the end of the school year by running naked in Jerusalem. (Illustrative photo: Matanya Tausig/Flash 90)