Casting an Irishman as Oppenheimer
Surprising to see this bit of Jewish paranoia in Newsweek. The usual line is that it’s just a religion or culture open to everyone. However, it’s quite possible that more and more Jews will insist on an ethnic identity and Middle East ancestry rather than being grouped in with the hated White people.
And don’t get me started on what Hollywood does with roles depicting real-life Jewish villains. Ask Edmund Connelly.
When it comes to casting, should it matter that Oppenheimer was a non-observant Jew, a Jew who essentially denounced his Jewish identity? It should not. Judaism is an ethnoreligion. We are a religion, we are a people, we are an ethnicity. Jews originated in the Levant. There are varying degrees of religious observance. But when it comes to one’s ethnic identity, there is no litmus test for how Jewish one is. …
If Hollywood continues its robust commitment to diversity—and it absolutely should—then it needs to acknowledge Jewish people are an ethnicity. We are a people, we are a nationality, with a lineage that can be traced back to a very specific geographic location in the world. And, as is the case with every other ethnic minority portrayed in TV and film, Jews deserve real, nuanced, accurate representation. Otherwise, Hollywood’s myriad endeavors in the diversity equity and inclusion space is a mere exercise in hypocrisy.
