Woody Allen and Natalie Portman have both lately made pro-Israel statements in the context of anti-Semitism. Their comments are an indication of the broad support Israel continues to enjoy in American liberal culture as some kind of ideal place– another symptom being the attack on Max Blumenthal’s new book from inside The Nation, of all places. American Jews don’t want to surrender their ideal of Israel. (South Africa of course never enjoyed such transnational appeal.)
Allen and Portman live in the United States; but both portray anti-Semitism as pervasive, with Portman saying there’s hostility toward Jews “pretty much everywhere”–except LA, NY, and Israel. (I disagree with these statements, as a Jew who’s traveled widely, and been to 48 states.)
The actress was interviewed by Elaine Lipworth for the Telegraph:
Fulfilling another closely held dream, Portman is about to direct her first film, A Tale of Love and Darkness, based on the bestselling memoir by the Israeli author Amos Oz. She also wrote the screenplay.
“It is his coming-of-age story set during the creation of the state of Israel.” …
She describes working in Israel as “absolutely fascinating. It is the kind of country where you put your finger on a windowsill and you get an interesting story. It’s interesting to be from a place and feel part of a place, but also a stranger in it.
“I’m definitely a foreigner here. People here would not think of me as an Israeli. The culture I grew up in, the way I look at the world, is American,” says Portman, a practising Jew, who is raising her son in the religion….
“The older I get, the more I realise how different it is to be a Jew in a Jewish place as opposed to a Jew in a non-Jewish place,” she says. “It’s definitely a different feeling in terms of how freely you can be yourself and celebrate your culture and religion.
“It’s very different being in Israel than in cities that don’t have big Jewish populations, where it can sometimes feel dangerous to be Jewish, and you understand why there is a need for a place where you don’t feel that way. I feel it in lots of places. Pretty much everywhere.
“New York and LA [where she currently lives] are the exceptions. On holidays in New York the city shuts down. My non-Jewish friends know how to wish you Shanah Tova, Happy New Year in Hebrew. In other places in the world it ranges from people who aren’t familiar with Judaism to people who are hostile towards it.”
Here’s Woody Allen, 12 days ago in the Jerusalem Post:
In an interview with Lior Friedman of Channel 2 television that aired on Monday, 77-year-old Allen, born Allen Konigsberg, said that political criticism of Israel can conceal a deeper hatred – that of the Jewish people.
“I do feel there are many people that disguise their negative feelings toward Jews, disguise it as anti-Israel criticism, political criticism, when in fact what they really mean is that they don’t like Jews,” he said.
Allen did, however, have praise for his native country for its acceptance of Jewish people.
“America’s always been – you know by the low standards of tolerance for Jews all over the world – America’s been a very tolerant country,” he said.
More celebrity bullshit from our star struck host.
Even if that Jewish place is a living, breathing Hillul Hashem (desecration of God’s name), a mockery of Jewish tradition and experience? Sometimes I feel that the least Jewish place in my city is the synagogue.
I cannot be myself and celebrate my culture and religion among those who distort and destroy it, and commit atrocities in its name.
“It’s very different being in Israel than in cities that don’t have big Jewish populations, where it can sometimes feel dangerous to be Jewish”
Israel is safe for Jews and it’s the Palestinians who feel the danger . Like that’s progress.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.530991
“Arabs targeted in hate crimes left to cover costs, unrecognized by Israel as terror victims
Government’s decision to classify perpetrators of ‘price tag’ attacks as members of illegal organizations rather than terrorists makes victims ineligible for compensation from the state.”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4348896,00.html
“Street cleaner attacked in TA: ‘They called me ‘stinking Arab’
Israeli Arab admitted to hospital with head wounds says group of drunken Jews assaulted him on seaside promenade. Victim: Jews are like brothers to me ”
Portman saying there’s hostility toward Jews “pretty much everywhere”–except LA, NY, and Israel.
How the hell would she know when she has never been to anywhere, “except LA, NY, and Israel”? ROFL
Portman’s account reminds me of things I have read about college dorms segregated by race or similar characteristics. For instance, I remember a black student talking about why she prefers an all-black dorm – she doesn’t have to explain this or that to her fellow dorm residents, all of whom already “get it.” It didn’t sound very convincing to me, as I think exposure to diversity should be an important part of college, but at least her preferences would not necessarily disadvantage other students. By the same token, if Portman, when she’s living in the US, wants to surround herself with a significant Jewish population, she can choose to live in NYC or LA or Skokie or Shaker Heights or Newton, etc. But Portman, and Allen, use this discomfort to justify a place where there not only are a lot of Jews, but there is inherent systemic discrimination against non-Jews. That is no longer a matter of personal preference. It crosses the border into morally indefensible.
As for Allen: “I do feel there are many people that disguise their negative feelings toward Jews, disguise it as anti-Israel criticism, political criticism, when in fact what they really mean is that they don’t like Jews.” I’ve heard that one before. Allen is worried that there are real anti-Semites out there who are too timid to admit their animosity toward Jews, and get their jollies by criticizing Israel. What a crock! Actually, Woody, there are some people who would like to defame all Israeli critics as anti-Semitic, but are too timid to do so, and so they speculate that “many” of Israel’s critics actually are Jew-haters. How many is “many”? 10%? 50%? 17 people? 85 people? And how do you prove if your suspicions are correct? It’s just a weasel way of smearing all Israeli critics without actually accusing anyone in particular.
btw, Phil, which are the two states you have not been to? For me, it’s three – Arkansas, N. Dakota and Alaska. I’ll bet ND is on your list as well.