HOLLYWOOD, California---America's reaction to the gut-wrenching war in the Middle East, triggered two weeks ago by Hamas’s brutal massacres in Israel, has been diverse and mirrors the vast spectrum of differing opinions and sentiment across the country. The United States has historically been a close ally of Israel, providing political and military aid, and President Biden’s brief trip earlier this week reinforced America’s pledge of support.
But as we’ve been witnessing in the UK, there are also significant segments of the American population who are critical of Israel's policies, and angry protests and rallies have taken place across the country. In Congress, there have been continual debates about the conflict, with some lawmakers reaffirming support for Israel's security, others calling for a ceasefire and the protection of Palestinian civilians. Despite their differences, most are unanimous in calling for a peaceful solution to the ongoing hostilities.
On Thursday evening, New Yorkers turned out en masse to attend a ‘Bring Them Home’ rally for the 203 captives held by Hamas. Thousands of people packed Times Square, carrying Israeli and American flags and photos of the hostages who were taken by the terror group when it invaded Israel two weeks ago, killing 1,400 and wounding thousands. Photos of the hostages were displayed on the giant LED screens that towered over Times Square, and on the LED billboards along Broadway and Seventh Avenue.
Community leaders and politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., and Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, addressed the crowd, vowing to bring back the hostages and defeat Hamas. “To free the hostages we will persist and persist and persist,” assured Schumer, who recently returned from a trip to Israel escorting other senators in an American show of support. “In every generation they have risen to afflict us. But we know in every generation we fight back until we win.”
In Hollywood, the reactions have been no less heartfelt.
Hollywood’s response to the horrors of the Israeli-Hamas conflict has been unprecedented. In an unrestrained outpouring of emotions, celebrities have been sending their support to Israeli soldiers, civilians, and those affected by the violence. Numerous celebrities, both Jewish and non-Jewish, have been swift to express their views and feelings, with many taking to social media and other public platforms to denounce the barbaric atrocities perpetrated on the Jewish state. Some, however, have felt forced to remove their posts after receiving hostile and threatening responses from pro-Palestinians. And there are many others who have taken a vocally demonstrative stand against Israel .
Jewish celebrities here have found themselves in the position where their heritage intersects with their profession and personal beliefs. And while expressing unmitigated support for Israel's right to defend itself, they’ve also expressed distress for the loss of civilian lives in the conflict.
Barbra Streisand, long an advocate for peace in Israel and Palestine, has always been politically outspoken for her fervent commitment to her Jewish heritage – she has dedicated a school for Jewish studies in her father’s name at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem - amid constant concerns for Israel's safety. She shared an impassioned message on Instagram, describing herself as “shocked and shaken” by Hamas’s violence. “What happened to the rules of engagement?” she questioned. “This attack is brutality without any humanity or compassion. There are no words to explain the insanity of what is happening and the sadness that is to come of this. I’m grieving for all the mothers and fathers who have lost their children.”
Jerry Seinfeld, star of the long-running sitcom, Seinfeld, shared his support for Israel on social media. “I lived and worked on a kibbutz in Israel when I was 16 and I have loved our Jewish homeland ever since,” the comedian wrote, adding, “My heart is breaking from these attacks and atrocities. But we are also a very strong people in our hearts and minds. We believe in justice, freedom and equality. We survive and flourish no matter what.”
Mandy Patinkin, acclaimed for his portrayal in Barbra Streisand’s Yentl, posted, “Our hearts are broken. We cannot imagine what it is to live with terror on our doorstep, and the combination of grief and pain and fear and rage when families are callously murdered or taken hostage. For millennia, our people have had to flee and to live with terror. It’s not lost on us,” he added, “that the victims of war are every person on either side who simply long for a home and for the sense of safety and belonging that all of us long for. War asks us to dehumanize the other, so what we’re focusing on is the humanity of every woman, man, and child who didn’t ask for this, who didn’t do this, who will not grow old to see their grandchildren grow up, as we are able to see ours. We stand for peace, and believe it is the only path by which we will ever get out of this.”
Natalie Portman, who has dual Israeli-American citizenship, and has in the past been admonished for her criticism of Israel, expressed her unhappiness, writing that her heart “is shattered for the people of Israel. Children, women and the elderly have been murdered and abducted from their own homes. I am in horror at these barbaric acts and my heart is pounding with love and prayer for the families of all affected. I am very concerned about the violence and deaths we are seeing in Israel and Gaza. I pray for the victims and their families, and I hope for a peaceful resolution.”
Selma Blair proffered her support for Israel and Jews across the globe. “A warning to the American people,” she cautioned, “as this evil has happened on Israeli soil, so too is it already among us. We will be vilified for doing what we know is right. The Jews have never been safe. And I am asking for every ally to realize what this again means for Jews everywhere. If Israel is not protected, we will know a very brutal reality. Israel. My spirit home. I stand with you.”
Adam Sandler kept his message short but admitted he was “heartbroken by the horrendous attacks on Israel and I send the families of the victims all my love and sympathy. I pray for peace and the safety of innocent Israelis and Palestinians everywhere.”
Steven Spielberg, acclaimed for directing classics like Munich and Schindler’s List has always been an advocate for Jewish causes and Israel's security. His cinematic work and philanthropy have demonstrated his commitment to Jewish heritage and his support for Israel. His most valuable work has been to establish the Shoah Foundation which has videotaped over 50,000 audiovisual interviews with survivors and other witnesses of the Holocaust. It’s the largest collection of its kind in the world. Spielberg has not yet spoken publicly about the current conflict.
Gal Gadot, now the biggest Israeli star in Hollywood, served for two years in the Israel Defense Forces in her 20s. She’s been sharing daily updates with her followers through Instagram. “My heart is aching,” she has written. “My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long. I’m praying for all of those in pain. I stand with Israel and you should too.” In another post, the Wonder Woman star emphasised the need for peace and wrote: “The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!”
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook/Meta, condemned the assault on Israel on Facebook.
Echoing President Biden’s words, he declared “The terrorist attacks by Hamas are pure evil. There is never any justification for carrying out acts of terrorism against innocent people. The widespread suffering that has resulted is devastating. My focus remains on the safety of our employees and their families in Israel and the region.”
A wave of non-Jewish celebrities have also spoken out and expressed their shock and horror over the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Madonna isn’t Jewish but she’s long been an ardent proponent of Kabbalah. She adopted the Hebrew name Esther and has taken part in various Jewish religious practices, including giving her son a barmitzvah. After Hamas’ devastating incursion, she posted an agonising statement. “Watching all of these families and especially children being herded, assaulted and murdered in the streets is heartbreaking. Imagine if this was happening to you? Nobody wants to see what’s happening. I turn on social media and I want to vomit. I see children being kidnapped, pulled off motorcycles; babies being decapitated, children at peace raves being shot and killed. How can human beings be so cruel to one another? It’s just getting worse. It frightens me. We live in a world ravaged by hate. My heart goes out to Israel. To families and homes that have been destroyed. To children who are lost. To innocent victims who have been killed. To all who are suffering or who will suffer from this conflict. I’m praying for you. I am aware that this is the work of Hamas and there are many innocent people in Palestine who do not support this terrorist organization. This tragic attack will only cause more suffering for everyone. Let us all pray. For Israel. For peace. For the world.
“We have to remember we are human beings here,” she added passionately. “We cannot lose our humanity. Our hearts can be broken but our spirit cannot. No one can break our spirit. And you might look at what’s going on in the world and say what can I do, I’m just one person, I’m helpless. No, you are not. Each and every one of you have the power and ability to turn light on in the world. We are all candles; we can bring light to the world. If we turn enough light on, if we light enough candles, the collective consciousness of generosity and unity will change. No politicians, no laws, no sanctions, no land given or taken. We, with our consciousness, can change the world.”
Reese Witherspoon divulged her feelings on Instagram and expressed a prayer for resolution. “As a mother I’m having a hard time finding words to express my despair and outrage at the brutal murder and kidnapping of Jewish people in Israel. The ongoing conflict and loss of innocent lives in Israel and Palestine is more than the human spirit can bear. We are witnessing the darkest parts of humanity. As this conflict escalates I’m praying for the families that are dealing with this unspeakable horror every day. I pray for peace and the end of this darkness. I pray the better parts of our humanity will prevail. Please God help us find our way.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, whose father, Tony Curtis, was Jewish, showed her support for Israel by posting a photo of the Israeli flag. She later shared the images of some of the captives, along with messages from the Anti-Defamation League, and wrote, “ALL CHILDREN NEED OUR PRAYERS, CONCERN and LOVE be they Israeli or Palestinian.”
Justin Bieber recently wrote on Instagram, that he is “truly hurting for both my Israeli and Palestinian friends. I’m pretty sure we all instinctively know evil when we see it. To villainize all Palestinians or all Israeli people to me seems wrong. I’m not interested in choosing sides, but I am interested in standing with the families who have been brutally taken from us.”
Jennifer Garner posted a message on Instagram, where she focused on the children being affected by the war. “The horrific attacks by the terrorist organization Hamas on innocent Israeli lives are unbearable to see, and yet we must bear witness,” she wrote. “We must stand with every mother and father holding their children in this darkness and pray for every parent separate from or, God forbid, unable to hold their child. The human toll of innocent Israeli and innocent Palestinian people is unthinkable to imagine and we know — children will be the most impacted.”
Lynda Carter, the original Wonder Woman, whose husband was Jewish as are her children, disclosed her sadness on social media. “Millions of Israelis and Palestinians have worked so hard to end the cycle of violence, only to see it escalate,” she wrote. “Beyond governments engaged in conflict there are people crying out for an end to the human suffering that has gone on for generations. Nothing we say, as we sit safely in our homes and far away from the conflict, can really capture how much of a tragedy this is.”
Five years ago, Lynda caused a sensation at the world-famous Met Gala in New York when she made her opinions public. In a revealing statement, she wore a crown that had the Hebrew words לעולם אל תשכחי (‘Never Forget’) embossed on the front. And in the back of her hair she wore a huge Mogen Dovid barrette. She emphasised her views later on Twitter by writing, “You don't have to be Jewish or have Jewish loved ones (as I do) to fight antisemitism or celebrate Judaism. Empathy makes us more human. Never Again means Never Again. Period.”
Bono paid tribute at a U2 concert in Las Vegas to the 260 massacred victims of Israel’s Supernova music festival. The band performed their famous song Pride (In The Name of Love), and changed the lyrics to commemorate the “beautiful kids” who’d been brutally slaughtered at the concert. “In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza,” Bono told the audience, “a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence. Sing with us for our brothers and sisters who were themselves singing at the Supernova Sukkot festival” he urged. “We sing for them.”
Mark Hamill of Star Wars posted a simple message of support for Israel on Instagram with an image of the American and Israeli flags together, and captioned it, “America stands with Israel. #Always.”
Jon Voight posted a video on Twitter in which he pronounced, "Israel is in grave danger! She must protect her citizens and fight for her existence. Pray for Israel."
Pat Boone, who is not Jewish but wears a Chai and a Mogen Dovid, told me that his strong attachment to Israel, which he’s visited 19 times, grew from his boyhood. “My family recognised that everything we hold sacred comes out of historic Judaism. We Christians who identify with Judaism and feel ourselves adopted into the family of God’s chosen people feel so strongly supportive of Israel.” It was that sense of unity that led to his writing the iconic lyrics for the movie Exodus that have come to be viewed as Israel’s second national anthem. “ ’This land is mine, God gave this land to me. So take my hand and walk this land with me…’ I was, of course, singing for every Israeli but also for every man, woman or child who, like we do by the millions, identify totally with Israel, its past, its present and its destiny.”
Hollywood's reaction to the Israeli-Hamas conflict is a reflection of the broader global sentiments on this hotly contentious issue. Even in the world of entertainment, deeply-rooted political and humanitarian concerns can elicit heated and diverse opinions and emotions.
America's reaction similarly highlights the complex dynamics of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the different viewpoints within this vast country.
And so…….. as Jews around the world have reiterated every day since these most recent hostilities began ……
AM YISRAEL CHAI!