Silverman’s had enough of ‘Jewface’

COMEDIAN Sarah Silverman has taken aim at non-Jews being cast as Jewish characters in TV and films.

In comments on her podcast, Silverman cited the recent casting of non-Jewish actress Kathryn Hahn as the late Jewish comedian Joan Rivers, as reported last week.

“There’s this long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews, and not just playing people who happen to be Jewish, but people whose Jewishness is their whole being,” said Silverman.

“One could argue, for instance, that a gentile playing Joan Rivers correctly would be doing what is actually called ‘Jewface’.”

Jewface, a play on blackface, “is defined as when a non-Jew portrays a Jew with the Jewishness front and centre – often with makeup, or changing of features, big fake nose, all the New York-y and Yiddish-y inflection,” she said.

Silverman noted, however, that she did not think Hahn had herself done anything wrong, and believed she would do well in the role of Rivers.

Sarah Silverman wonders why The Squad never brings up Hamas. Says opposition to extra Iron Dome funding proves that “people only really like Jews if they’re suffering.” pic.twitter.com/HHB8yP59Jk

— Michael Arria (@michaelarria) October 1, 2021

Also on her podcast, Silverman took aim at “The Squad” – the outspoken group of left-wing US congresswomen that she has expressed admiration for – over their attempts to block funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.

“No one in the Squad is bringing up Hamas,” Silverman said. “I can’t, it’s so bizarre.”

WITH TIMES OF ISRAEL