Front Lines

The Jewish Rant

Uriel Heilman
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

New York

E

xpressions of anti-Semitism by
public figures generally follow
a certain script.
The politician/actor/public figure
says something construed as offensive/
hostile/insensitive to Jews. Abraham
Foxman, the national director of the
Anti-Defamation League, issues a con-
demnatory statement demanding pen-
ance. The offender expresses regret. If he
deems it sufficient, Foxman issues his
kosher certification absolving the sinner.
The recent incidents involving
Christian Dior designer John Galliano
and actor Charlie Sheen didn't quite
follow the script.
In Galliano's case,
it was Israeli-born
actress Natalie
Portman, a Jewish
darling and Miss Dior
model, who took the
lead in responding to
a video of Galliano's
drunken rant in a
Natalie
Portman
Paris cafe extolling
Hitler and disparag-
ing Jews.
"I am deeply shocked and disgusted
by the video of John Galliano's corn-

ments that surfaced today:' Portman
said. "In light of this video, and as an
individual who is proud to be Jewish, I
will not be associated with Mr. Galliano
in any way."
Galliano was peremptorily fired, and
French authorities opened an investiga-
tion into whether he violated France's
anti-racism laws.
Then there was the
Sheen drama. The
actor, a notorious
loose cannon and
habitual drug user,
unleashed a vitriolic
tirade against Chuck
Lorre, the creator
Charlie Sheen
of his hit CBS com-
edy "Two and a Half
Men:' referring to Lorre by his original,
Jewish name: Chaim Levine.
Foxman, apparently undecided
about whether this was anti-Semitism
or merely a personal spat, issued a
statement declaring it "borderline anti-
Semitism."
Sheen then went off the rails, giving
increasingly bizarre interviews, calling
on Foxman to apologize and, after days
of nonstop media coverage, announc-
ing that he couldn't be anti-Semitic
because he is himself Jewish.
The coup de grace came when
CBS fired Sheen and the actor then
appeared on a Beverly Hills rooftop

CONTENTS
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March

17-23, 2011 I 11-17 Adar II 5771

heJEWISHNEWS
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Spirituality
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Staff Box/Phone List
Synagogue List
To Do/Calendar
Torah Portion
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Shabbat: Friday, March 18, 7:24 p.m. EDT
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 19, 8:26 p.m. EDT*

Purim: Sunday, March 20

Shabbat: Friday, March 18, 7:24 p.m. EDT
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 19, 8:26 p.m. EDT*

* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
calendar. Havdalah practices may vary.
Consult your rabbi.

nisf

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waving a machete and declaring him-
self "Free at last?'
Coupling the Sheen and Galliano
remarks together with Louis Farra-
khan's recent speech blaming the Jews
for Jesus' death and Muammar Gadhafi's
accusation that Israel is behind the
rebellion in Libya, Foxman said the
incidents are "a symptom of what we
have been warning about for some time
— that the inhibitions and shame about
displaying anti-Semitism are eroding."
The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
added into the mix Fox News host
Glenn Beck's recent remarks comparing
Reform rabbis to radical Islam — an
incident that followed the usual script
of callous remark, ADL condemnation,
apology, ADL acceptance — declaring
them incidents of stupidity rather than
anti-Semitism.
To confuse matters further, Galliano
reportedly told a "member of his inner
circle" that he has Sephardic Jewish
roots. That would give his anti-Semitic
rant a Bobby Fischer-esque character
— except that Galliano, unlike the late,
self-hating Jewish chess champion,
issued an apology by week's end.
"Anti-Semitism and racism have no
part in our society',' Galliano said. "I
unreservedly apologize for my behavior
in causing any offense."
The ADL promptly declared Galliano
forgiven.

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