Obama's Hebrew Voice Jacob Berkman Jewish Telegraphic Agency I n what is likely to be remembered as the first YouTube presidential campaign, perhaps the most talk- ed about video has been singer Will. i.am's celebrity-dotted homage to the "Yes We Can" mantra of Barack Obama. The video features split-screen images of several prominent celebri- ties, past and present, singing along- side clips of Obama's victory speech in South Carolina. For those listening closely and with an ear for Hebrew, it's one of the lesser- known, albeit just as eye-catching, per- formers who stands out: Israeli-born actress Maya Rubin. Twice in the video, Rubin can be heard saying, "kein anu yecholim" — Hebrew for "Yes We Can!' The video was released as the Obama campaign was laboring to rebut asser- tions that he is unfriendly to Israel as well as an e-mail campaign circulating in the Jewish community that falsely paints him as a closet Muslim who attended a radical Muslim school, took his oath of office on the Koran and refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Was Rubin's Hebrew cameo part of the campaign's effort to shore up Obama's standing among Jewish voters? No, said director Jesse Dylan, insist- ing that he hadn't even known about the smear campaign when he put up $10,000 to cover the costs of the two- day shoot. "We just thought it would sound nice to have Hebrew;' said Dylan, whose father, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Bob Dylan, became a legend with his politically themed music. Catholic mother with a complex family history. Helena's maternal grandmother, born into a very rich Austrian-Jewish family, converted to Catholicism to marry Helena's grandfather, Eduardo Propper de Callejon, a Spanish Catholic diplo- mat. Meanwhile, Helena's mater- nal grandmother's sister, Liliane, married Baron Elie De Rothschild of the French Rothschilds. When Lilane died at age 86 in 2003, she was the grande dame of the Rothschild clan. Eduardo Propper, whose own father was Jewish, has just been named "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem, the Israel-based Holocaust remem- brance authority. Propper, who was "There was no intention on any- body's part:' he added. "I am a Jew myself and was unaware of the e-mails, and that was never a thought." Rubin, whose Hebrew line is now being used on pro-Obama campaign signs, said the video has played well with Jewish people she knows. "People love it," she says of her appearances in the video. "It was very subtle, which I think is even more cool:' Legendary Fish 'n Chips Israeli-born actress Maya Rubin The fledgling actress was born in Jerusalem, served in the Israeli army and moved to the United States in 1998 to pursue her career. Rubin, 28, starred in the Showtime movie Milk and Honey, has had guest spots on CSI: NY and appeared in sev- eral commercials. She convinced William, who has cited Anne Frank as one of his inspira- tions for the video, and Dylan to use her on the video based on her work on an unreleased Jewish rap album called Chutzpah she cut with some friends. Speaking of her desire to be in the pro-Obama video, she said, "I believe what he says and think he is an inspir- ing politician. He's probably one of the most inspiring politicians that I have seen in my lifetime?' ❑ based in Nazi-occupied France in 1940-41, defied orders and issued thousands of Spanish visas to Jewish and non-Jewish refugees (including Liliane Rothschild) so they could transit across Spain and find refuge in a third country. Propper was punished for his good deed by being posted to North Africa, and the records of his visa issuance mysteriously dis- appeared. Propper's son diligently gathered testimonies from those his father helped, helping Propper to meet the strict standards for the Yad Vashem honor. Bonham- Carter, who is now making a Harry Potter film, hopes to be able to be in Jerusalem in March for the induction ceremony. ❑ Our legendary Fish 'n Ghips with plenty of fresh beer battered cod, french fries and colt slaw is the perfect catch every day of the week. A fun, fast, friendly neighborhood restaurant and tavern! Great Kid's Menu! 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