Iranian Jewish parents seem to want their children to join professional occupations, what was your family’s reaction when you told them you wanted to act?
"We come from a very conservative culture where people like things that are practical and reasonable. Becoming an actor at the age of 13 is definitely not practical or reasonable. People just feel safe in our community sticking to stability. My parents from the start came to this country to give us a better life and give us opportunities and education. Their biggest concern for me was that I have to stay in school, I have to keep my head in school, and not go into this industry for money. It was about me pursuing something I loved, something I that I was good at, something that could be a good opportunity for me."
Unhappy experience for Yemenite immigrants in Israel:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3267225,00.html
There is another Persian-Jewish actor who is appearing in a lot of Hollywood movies, the gorgeous Bahar Somekh. (although why she agreed to appear in Saw 3, I don;t understand)
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahar_Soomekh
I understand this blog is dedicated primarily to bringing attention to the plight of Jewish refugees from Arab/Middle Eastern countries, but it seems to me that it also celebrates the cultural achievements of Mizrahi/Sefaradim. One thing that always bothers me, is WHY can't Hollywood and popular culture in the US acknowledge the existence of Mizrahim?Even if you have Mizrahi Jews who make it in Hollywood, asuch as the young Mr Ahdout, or Bahar Soomekh, or the actor Brian George (the character actor who was born in Israel, raised in the UK, but whose ancestry is from the "Baghdadi" community in India--he is the guy who played the Pakistani "Babu" on Seinfeld)--all these Mizrahi actors, when they get roles they inevitably are cast as Muslims or Hindus. Meanwhile, whenever they have a character who is identified as Jewish or Israeli, they always bring up the Ashkenazi stereotype--like, if a character on a show like "the Nanny" talks about Israel, time to cue the klezemer music!
Hi Meirke
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the luscious Bahar has featured here too
http://jewishrefugees.blogspot.com/2006/04/persian-jewish-actress-in-hollywood.html
For a Vooz Vooz you are very switched on to Mizrahim!I couldn't agree with you more when you say Mizrahim are barely acknowledged. I don't think it's deliberate - the reason is simply that the US Jewish community is so overwhelmingly Ashkenazi.