Hollywood, Movies, and American Jews The Revealer

American Jews have contributed significantly to the movie industry. But has Hollywood sufficiently depicted American Jewish life? Dr. Helene Meyers, author of the book Movie-Made Jews: An American Tradition, joins us to discuss the place of Jews on screen and how movies have contributed to shaping American Jewish identities. We explore the role antisemitism has played in the portrayal of Jews on film, if non-Jewish actors should play Jewish parts, why Barbra Streisand has been a cinematic Jewish icon for decades, and how movies with nuanced Jewish protagonists can combat antisemitism today.