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July 28, 2000/25 Tammuz 5760, Vol. 52, No.46
Rules Girls, Shmuley Boteach debate 'Kosher Sex'
JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - In the "debate" between "Kosher Sex" Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and the authors of the dating guide, "The Rules," the largely Jewish audience was as raucous as those on any daytime talk show.
Boteach, a 33-year-old Lubavitch showman whose provocative books and flair for marketing have drawn international attention to Jewish teachings on sexual ethics, is no newcomer to such staged debates. He duked it out with "Hustler" editor Larry Flynt on pornography in April, and discussed the meaning of life last year with New Age guru Deepak Chopra.
But the Rules Girls, as they refer to themselves, are also savvy media handlers and, as the two-hour event moderated by talk show host Judith Regan progressed, they grew increasingly aggressive -some might say shrill - in challenging Boteach and the audience.
Boteach was clearly there to plug JDate.com - a Jewish singles Web site that gave him the title "matchmaker in chief" - and to promote his books.
At the same time, the heavily made-up, tanned and now-married Jewish ladies, Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, were eager to promote the various offshoots of their book, including online "Rules" support groups and $250 per-half-hour phone consultations.
Since it was Wednesday night, Fein started the event by reminding women this night was the deadline for accepting any weekend dates. She packaged the philosophy of "The Rules" as one of "self-esteem" and setting boundaries.
Boteach championed modesty and challenged women to elevate and inspire men.
"If he calls Friday night and asks you out for Saturday night, tell him no, invite him to go to synagogue with you instead," he urged, to applause.
The Rules Girls denounced his tips as impractical at best.
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