Kim Kardashian and husband Kayne West had lunch with the mayor of Jerusalem this week, but in a surprising twist for the reality star, her face was blocked out of a photo. Apparently, Kardashian’s “porn symbol” image doesn’t sit well with a Jerusalem website editor.
USA Today reports that one of the editors of the Kikar HaShabbat website, Nissim Ben Haim, removed Kardashian from a photo taken while she dined with husband West and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. Ben Haim explains that Kardashian is a sex symbol, which goes against Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox morals.
Barkat, however, didn’t seem to mind Kardashian’s scandalous reputation. He tweeted the picture of himself chatting away with Kardashian and West as they dined at an expensive Jerusalem restaurant.
Joined @KimKardashian and @kanyewest in #Jerusalem to toast and celebrate hosting them in our beautiful city pic.twitter.com/RX4PKx3E4J
— Archive:Mayor Nir Barkat (@ArchiveNir) April 13, 2015
Not only was the Kikar HaShabbat upset with the mayor about the tweet, but CBS News reports that the dining bill, close to $700, was from a non-kosher restaurant, which the website claims is an “insensitivity to the majority of city-dwellers who keep kosher.” It also states that they dined at a “non-kosher restaurant that violates the Sabbath.”
The website editor used the restaurant receipt to cover the reality star’s face. She was referred to simply as “West’s wife.”
The municipality, however, came to Barkat’s defense, stating that the mayor didn’t indulge in any non-kosher foods, although the receipt indicated chicken in butter au gratin was ordered. Reportedly, only Kardashian and West feasted on the non-kosher delicacies.
The ultra-Orthodox community of Jerusalem prefers for women to stay covered up and in the background during photos sessions, out of modesty. While it’s no surprise that the conservative Kikar HaShabbat website removed Kardashian from the photo, her dinner attire was anything but pornographic. The socialite wore a long-sleeved blouse and only a modest amount of makeup.
Kardashian is not the only female who’s been removed from photos. In January, HaMevaser, an ultra-Orthodox newspaper, removed photos of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. The newspaper states that due to modesty and discreteness in the community, women are not shown.
“Images of women are generally not displayed in ultra-Orthodox publications due to modesty concerns.”
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian and family continue their activities in Israel. Recently, North West, the reality star’s only daughter, was baptized at the at The Old City of Jerusalem’s St. James Cathedral. Khloé Kardashian , who joined the family last week as they visited Armenia, was reportedly named as godmother to the 1-year-old North West.
[Photo Courtesy of Sapir Peles/AP]
