New York – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on the company responsible for a series of billboards in New York promoting discounted Vodka with the message “Christmas Quality, Hanukkah Pricing” to remove the ad, which it said was “crude and offensive” and “reinforces anti-Semitic stereotypes.”
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The sales pitch for Wódka vodka features the image of two dogs, one wearing a Santa hat, the other wearing a yarmulke with the message spelled out in large, capital letters.
“In a crude and offensive way of trying to make a point that their vodka is high quality and inexpensive, the billboards evoke a Jewish holiday to imply something that is cheap and of lesser value when compared to the higher value of a Christian holiday,” said Ron Meier, ADL New York Regional Director. “Particularly with the long history of anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jews and money, with the age-old notion that Jews are cheap, to use the Jewish holiday in dealing with issues of money is clearly insensitive and inappropriate.”
The billboards for Wódka vodka, which have appeared in several locations in New York, including one at a well-traveled location along the West Side Highway, have generated a barrage of calls and complaints to ADL in recent days.
The League has expressed its concerns with the marketing company responsible for creating the campaign and is calling on the purveyors of Wódka “to consider a more appropriate message for the holidays.”
ADL, time to stop with your stupidity!
Can you count the number of anti-Semitic incidences (just) in the New York area in just the last few weeks?
Can ANYbody here get the message BEFORE it is BEATEN into you?
All we learn from history is that we learn NOTHING from history.
their vodka is good for dogs not humans
The ADL does NOT represent me. I think the ad is hilarious.
I will make it my business to support this company by purchasing its products. I will also be emailing and calling its customer service representatives to inform them that the ADL represents jewish community like Al Sharpton represents the African American community.
How ironic. It’s the goyim who trample each other on “Black Friday” in their quest to save money. And it was due to B’nai Yisroel’s uncomprimising search for and insistence on shemen tahor that initiated Chanuka (see Sefer Higiyonei Halacha)
I laughed hard at this. ADL needs to relax.
Of course it’s offensive. I know which vodka I won’t be buying.
I am quite certain that these folks that run the ADL and similar organizations were the biggest cry babys in school. No backbone or sense of humor. Take everything to heart. What a bunch of whimps
A little offensive but not worth complaining about
The company is Polish owned. Nuff’ said.
oh, give me a break!
i don’t see anything offensive with this, and neither do 99.9 % of the people. it takes the ADL 2 paragraphs to “explain” why this is offensive, which is a joke for itself.
there are people who’ll always find what they don’t want to see. years ago there was someone from London who came to NY and where ever he went he saw tzelumim such as cross streets etc. He tried to make a fuss about it but was simply ignored by all rabonim.
i say that this article in itself is offensive to humanity.
Nobody is upset with the dog in the kipa? Serioiusly? Personally, I think that the idea that Jewish people are more financially shrewd is an indication of intelligence, not at all offensive to me.
I do not drink vodka but I suggest that if it is kosher, do not buy that brand!! The fact that nthey can even advertise this way is — just TERRIBLE!!
I think it’s funny! So good, Jews are more careful with spending money, it’s a kiddush Hashem!
For those saying this is OK, how far would you go? What if it said, for example, “don’t Jew me on the vodka?
Seriously?!
Where’s ur sense of humor!
This is not anti semitic its advetising with humor.
ADL get a life!
Having seen this billboard before reading this article, i was offended and planned on complaining to this vodka brand, than came across this article, im glad to see that the ADL is on the watch.
I was more offended by the dog with the yarmulke than the thought that yidden are frugal, especially when it comes to schnaps. In the current economic hard times, the stuff they serve at kiddush in shul (especially after the morning minyanim) is vile and not somthing I would serve to a dog (with or without a kipah).
I am NO fan of the ADL, and I am NOT one to see anti-Semitism everywhere, BUT – this campaign clearly has an anti-Semitic tone to it. How anyone can be so blind as to not see it, amazes me. What the ad is saying is, this vodka has the good quality that goyim want, and is CHEAP, which is what (cheap) Jews want. How can anyone not find that offensive?!?
While the ad is silly, it should be noted that these advertising companies have performed similar tactics in minority neighborhoods, where large billboards advertised cheap malt liquor; also, when cigarette advertising was allowed on billboards, the cigarette companies would target minority neighborhoods. There have been other silly ads on tv, which mocked Russians, and Japanese. Also, there was an ad in the 1960’s, which showed a Mama Fredelis, advertising an Italian product. The ad was removed, because Italian groups complained that it raised negative stereotypes. What about the ad about Taco Bell, showing a dog with a Spanish accent? Also, there used to be an ad in the NY Subway, which stated “You don’t have to be Jewish, to enjoy Levi’s, real Jewish rye bread”.
Oh brother! As a friend to the Jewish Nation, I sometimes am a little sensitive to anti-semitism as well. Always seeing it around the corner & all that…
But this advertisement seems, well… genuinely funny! (lol) I don’t think this vodka company meant to disparage the Jewish Nation at all!
But, I think it matters more how the Jewish community that *lives* around the billboard feels about it- and judging by the comments on here… I don’t think too many people are offended!
(:-D
Hey, it’s quite funny. It’s no secret that the stereotypical Jew is frugal. The ADL should save their criticism for more important issues. No doubt, antisemitism has to be crushed but this ad is just plain funny. If you cry “antisemitism” everyday, nobody is going to listen to you when it’s REALLY antisemitism.
I’m quite Jewish myself and I never appointed the ADL to be my spokesman.
The company announced via its Twitter feed that it had decided to pull the ads. The company tweeted: “Although rarely serious, we apologize to anyone we may have offended through our holiday campaign and are removing our billboard immediately.”
other adds by company one I will not mention here
“Movie Star Quality, Reality Star Pricing,”
Hamptons Quality, Newark Pricing.
Scottish people are also portrayed as very frugal with money, but Macallan Scotch is the most expensive mashka in the world.
I am with the ADL on this one. The ad is a disgrace. The message is clear in its anti-Jewish message. I can’t believe they would try this in NY. I would expect it from a non PC comedian but not a company interested in boosting sales.
Oops.. I wrote my post too soon! I didn’t realize so many ARE offended by this.
My apologies…
(:-(
I still stand by my earlier statement however, that I don’t think any offense was intended! It seems to me, that the company genuinely wanted to express the fact that Jewish folks are good with their money! They spend it wisely, etc.
However, some of the posters on here, brought the fact that it’s a dog wearing the Kippa to my attention! I did not think about *that* aspect of things.
I am wondering… would it have been better if they had used a different animal, perhaps? Or… do some of you think it’s still pretty offensive regardless?
I just hope that *I* haven’t offended anyone! I really don’t think the company meant any harm by it at all. However, I can admit when I might be mistaken… and I could be mistaken about this one!
until # 10 mentioned that the company was polish-owned -i thought that it was more hype than anti-semitism.and # 32 you are beginning to get on my nerves with your constant sugar-coating jewish wannabe comments.get a life in your own community !
cute ad!
ADL get a life!
So some of you like seeing frum Jews portrayed as dogs? That’s humorous to you? How sad.