American Apparel isn’t just about ad campaigns featuring half naked models in stretchy spandex – apparently, they’re also into Judaism. And Woody Allen is not amused.

The clothing company recently ran a series of billboard and Internet ads with an image taken from Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, with Allen dressed in Hasidic garb, his glasses barely poking out amid full beard and black hat. The picture is accompanied by a phrase in Yiddish that translates to “the holy rebbe.”A Hasidic Rabbi on a Billboard?: Woody Allen gives Rabbi Schneerson a run for his money

Woody Allen, who supposedly does not endorse commercial products in the US as a principle, claims he never agreed to take part in an American Apparel campaign and is taking the conflict to court. The Huffington Post reports that Allen has found the whole experience so “egregious and damaging” that he feels he deserves $10 million.

The bigger question is, what’s with all the Judaism, American Apparel? The Rebbe Allen billboards are just one facet of a series of Jewish allusions. The company’s website currently features a series of Yiddish lessons and a sexy photo shoot featuring none other than Hymie “Zaida” Charney, grandfather of American Apparel CEO Dov Charney. Gosh, that’s awfully Jewcy – maybe we should all go buy some spandex leggings!

Saving The World Is: no sweat. especially in cool kicks like these.You may have heard about No Sweat: A little apparel company aiming to make a big difference in the Middle East. Run by CEO Adam Neiman, No Sweat is more than just 100% union made apparel. In addition to creating sweatshop-free, organic and vegan products, Neiman is dedicated to creating jobs in Palestine. Unlike a lot of clothing manufacturers, No Sweat is upfront about their sources and production sites, such as the Arja Textiles factory in Bethlehem, Palestine. So, why did a Jewish guy from Boston want to source from a textile factory in Palestine? I'll let him tell you in his own words:

"While economic development is no substitute for a diplomatic settlement, no settlement can survive without a sustainable Palestinian economy. So while waiting for a diplomatic resolution, we have created a mechanism for ordinary citizens of
good faith to build goodwill on the ground, and support the peace to come. The concept is simple. When faced with an apparently irresolvable conflict, if there is any one thing all parties agree on, do that one thing and see what happens."

Neiman's optimistic ideals and goals for No Sweat have garnered a lot of positive press over the past couple of years—they've even been the subject of an Al Jazeera profile. That said, No Sweat still needs major funding to pull off this experiment in entrepreneurial diplomacy properly. As Neiman put it, "Hamas has chosen guns. Abbas has bet on butter. If we don't provide Palestinians on the West Bank with butter—good private sector jobs NOW—Hamas and guns will certainly prevail."

You can help No Sweat by voting for them in this month's Ideablob contest, where they're finalists competing for $10,000. You've got until March 31 to vote.

Smut aside, the American Apparel ads are so much more alluring and of higher quality than the clothes they sell. Having said that, I'm not sure this billboard ad (on the corner of Allen & Houston) isn't towing the fine line or propriety just a bit too closely, even for the Lower East Side, that is. There are Orthodox Jews still left there right?

Gothamist had a valid point though: "Must be hard for the people across the street to stare at a 40 ft beaver shot day in and day out." I might add that the dudes loitering on the corner at all hours (and in the above pic) won't be put out too much either.

Perhaps lesser known for the quality of their clothes, American Apparel has gained a reputation for their advertising campaigns and specifically the hot young scantily-dressed "real" (not in the Dove way) women that grace their lengthy billboards plastered over nearly every subway station. Their owner, Dov Charny, has also elicited a reputation for his womanizing ways coupled with his insistence that the AA line support only American labor. That's why it costs $25 for a plain cotton t-shirt that you'd pay $10 for at Target.

News came yesterday that the company was sold and that Mr. Charny will remain Chief Executive. And in celebration of the holiday season (and because they need the money), American Apparel is offering big savings for all Christmas shoppers. Simply go to their site and take this Jewish holiday trivia test and you too can pay the standard rate for a pink leotard and matching tights.

We'll even help out out with the "shofar" question. The answer is not Yiddish slang for a hot older woman.