Sharon Rotter: "We Must Not Ignore the Needs of Teens, But Provide Appropriate Content"

This week, Sharon Rotter began hosting 'The Youth Strip' for young girls, which will air every Sunday at 3:00 PM on the Hidabroot channel and website. In the program, she will host interesting guests and offer alternative, intriguing, and appropriate content for young girls. The boys' version, by the way, will be hosted by Ido Captain.

Speaking the Language of Teens

Sharon Rotter, a singer and creator, began a deep process of returning to Judaism at the peak of her success, which happened over a decade ago. After collaborating with Berry Sakharof, releasing a successful solo album, performing on the biggest stages in the country, and being interviewed by all media outlets, Rotter decided to disconnect and fly to India, but it was there that she found Judaism.

As someone who grew up in a completely secular home, which even scorned Judaism, returning to Judaism was not so natural for her. "I grew up in a very Tel Avivian, bubble-like, extremely left-wing, secular home," she describes. "We didn't observe fasting on Yom Kippur, kashrut, or tradition. On Passover, for example, we could even celebrate the holiday with pita bread on the table. My parents scorned religion. My mom barely wanted to have my brother circumcised, and only did it for social reasons. To them, religion was coercion and primitiveness," she said in the past.

Today, 12 years later, she is a baalat teshuva, a mother of five, living in Tzafria, and performing alongside her mother who also returned to Judaism.

In recent years, Rotter has been serving as the content editor for Channel 20, has a personal column in the newspaper 'Shevi'i,' and as mentioned, performs alongside her mother. "We both returned to Judaism at different times, there was some distance in between, and in our show, we talk about the break and the happy ending," she says.

This week she joined the Hidabroot team of hosts and will present a weekly edition for girls. In the program, she will cover interesting stories, gadgets, art, style, charity, and everything that interests girls.

Interestingly, she was initially invited by the channel to host a show for women. "I came to the meeting, did an audition, and suddenly a direction opened to host a teen program," she recounts. "I think it's because my presentation style is very youthful and because I am a baalat teshuva, I speak all the languages. I make a mix between sacred and secular, and it's very fitting for teens."

(Photo: shutterstock)

And did you connect to this direction?

"Very much. Also, because I have kids at this age, and also because I see it as a very big mission to address issues that interest teens. I think this subject is pretty neglected in the media. If teens today want to watch something, it usually doesn't relate to our content worlds because there's almost no such content in the religious sector, or it doesn't meet the standards of competing content. In other channels, the content shown to teens isn't suitable for them, in my view. What is called today 'the kids' channel' is really not for kids. Entire series show intrigues and plots that are really hard to understand how they suit that age. They are really adult shows, only the main stars are teens."

Rotter emphasizes that there is an urgent need to promote value-based programs for teens, even more urgently than adult content. "Adults today are less exposed to the media world or can choose to ignore it. But with all the social networks and smartphones, it's very hard for teens not to be exposed to inappropriate content."

Is that why you see a mission in presenting the show?

"Yes. I think we shouldn't ignore the needs of teens, but rather offer them content that is truly preserved and more worthy, and of course, adapted to their age. The new program deals with issues that interest teens, and those are not easy topics. Teens today deal with complicated issues, more than ever before."

A Warm Corner for Girls

The first show hosted by Rotter aired this week and focused on body image. The program featured Nechama Safir, a 17-year-old who spoke candidly about the issue from a young girl's perspective. The show also hosted Faigy Bar—a therapeutic instructor who spoke about the connection between horses and body image, Avia Bitton—a young stylist who started a successful modest fashion blog, and Giti Furgas—the ultra-Orthodox choreographer who conducts dance workshops for ultra-Orthodox girls.

It seems you've found your place.

"I will always have a warm corner for this age," Rotter is confident, "Although I don't have a good memory, I remember myself well at this age. I remember how I felt, it's really imprinted in my DNA, and therefore I have a soft spot for this age and a very large identification with what occupies teens."

The program 'The Youth Strip for Girls' will air every Sunday live at 3:00 PM. It's a good time to note that teens with special stories or interesting content are invited to send an email to live@htv.co.il.