|
|
July 4, 2003/Tamuz 4 5763, Vol. 55, No. 45
Arts briefs
Israel Bonds honors 'Star Wars' actress
ERIC FINGERHUT
Washington Jewish Week
WASHINGTON - Having spent the first three years of her life in Israel and as a regular visitor there since, Natalie Portman says that the Jewish state is "pretty deeply ingrained" in her.
"The general emotions are very intense there (and) it's a pretty incredible place to be," the actress, daughter of an Israeli-born father and an American-born mother, said in an interview.
Best known for her role of Padme Amidala in the most recent Star Wars trilogy, Portman was in Washington, D.C., June 4 to show support for Israel, appearing at the annual Israel Bonds' Ambassador's Ball, where she received the Israel Cultural Award.
Portman's presence was probably a primary reason the event had a larger than usual contingent of young adults in attendance.
"I'm very encouraged our generation is stepping up and supporting Israel" and not "letting our comfortable lives (allow) us to sink into apathy," she said in accepting the award.
Portman spoke out publicly last year in response to a Harvard Crimson op-ed that portrayed the conflict as the "white" Israelis oppressing the "brown"" Palestinians. Her letter to the paper pointed out that "most Israelis and Palestinians are indistinguishable physically," and noted the large number of Sephardic Jews in Israel who originally came from Arab countries.
|
