Opinion: Hollywood’s Ten Commandments

By Ron Jager

The Hollywood film “The Ten Commandments” is a 1956 American epic biblical drama and based on the Old Testament, the Book of Exodus. The film dramatizes the story of the life of Moses, born a Hebrew baby, yet adopted to be brought up as an Egyptian prince.  Moses becomes the deliverer of his real brethren, the enslaved Hebrews, and thereafter leads the Exodus to Mount Sinai, where he receives, from God, the Ten Commandments. Had the film been released during the current era with Hollywood’s contemporary crop of celebrities embracing the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel progressive agenda, the drama would unfold differently…… Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two holy tablets, IPad 1 and IPad 2.

Many of Hollywood’s leading actors have in recent years consistently adopted a clearly anti-Israel agenda, with many critics claiming that their declarations have a stench of anti-Semitism masquerading as criticism of the Jews and the State of Israel. Recently, Javier Bardem, a vocal and prominent critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, repeatedly characterized them as a “documented genocide.” He has used major international platforms—including red carpets, award shows, and festival appearances—to call for diplomatic blockades, and sanctions against Israel. Bardem has worn a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh at high-profile events like the Emmy Awards and stated from international stages (such as the Oscars) “No to war, and free Palestine.” Jennifer Lawrence has actively expressed her opinion and spoken up against Israel’s defensive war in Gaza. Speaking at a press conference for her new film “Die, My Love” at the San Sebastián film festival. When asked about Israel’s violence in Gaza, Lawrence replied: “I’m terrified. It’s mortifying. What’s happening is no less than a genocide and it’s terrible.” Actor Mark Ruffalo has been a highly vocal critic of the Israeli government, strongly condemning its military actions in Gaza as a “genocide” and a “man-made disaster.”  Has labeled defensive military operations and blockades as ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and deliberate starvation.

The notion that Hollywood is uniformly hostile to Jewish people and Israel stands in sharp contrast to the industry’s historical roots. Early Jewish founders turned to cinema because they faced widespread discrimination and were barred from traditional American industries like banking, law, and politics. Jews built the industry from the ground up in a manner that was often dismissed by the cultural elite of the United States. These Jewish entrepreneurs brought business skills from industries like vaudeville and the garment trade to establish major studios. Jewish writers, directors, and actors have been highly influential in shaping American cinema for over a century.

Adolph Zuckor, one of the three founders of Paramount Pictures, was a Jew from Hungary. Another Jew from Hungary, William Fox, founded Fox Film Corporation. Louis B. Mayer, born in Russia, co-founded Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with another Jew, this one from Austria, Marcus Loew. Warner Bros. was founded by the Jewish brothers Warner: Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack, three of whom were born in Poland (Jack was born in Canada). With David Sarnoff, a Russian Jew who founded RKO, these were the five major studios of Hollywood’s Golden Age. In addition, two of the three minor studios of the time, Universal Pictures and Columbia Pictures, were founded and run by Jews. Carl Laemmle, one of the founders of Universal Pictures, was a German Jew while Harry and Jack Cohn, along with Joe Brandt were Jews from New York City who founded Columbia Pictures.

During the heyday period of Hollywood, classic Hollywood movies shaped American culture; “Ben-Hur” (1959) “Spartacus” (1960), “The Ten Commandments” (1956), “Gone with the Wind” (1939), “Citizen Kane” (1941), and “Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner” (1967) are only the tip of the iceberg and are still considered today cinematic masterpieces that resonated within American culture for generations after their premiere. Hollywood didn’t shy away from dealing with anti-Semitism or the establishment of the State of Israel by producing films that made a major impact on American attitudes and culture; “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947),  “Exodus” (1960), and “Schindler’s List” (1993).

Hollywood’s leading actors who willingly speak against Israel’s right to defend her borders refuse to accept the simple truth that Israel’s wars have been wars of self-defense, in accordance with international law. Israel does not target civilians but does indeed target military assets such as: armed combatants/ terrorists, rocket launchers, terrorist headquarters, and other infrastructure used in a military capacity. Any civilians killed during these operations is a tragedy, but, by no measure constitutes genocide or ethnic cleansing. 

It is also important to remind Hollywood that genocide and ethnic cleansing always results in a significant decline of the local population in any given geographic area.  According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in 1948, the Palestinian population of that period was: Israel, West Bank (aka as Judea and Samaria), and the Gaza Strip totaled 1.4 million Palestinians. Today, that total is 5.5 million (approximately 2 million Arab citizens of Israel, 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank, and 778,000 Palestinians in Gaza). This undeniable statistic that belies any claims of genocide or ethnic cleansing against Palestinians and seems to evade the attention or even basic common sense of Javier Bardem, Jennifer Lawrence, and Mark Ruffalo and many others in Hollywood.

I feel a deep disappointed as Hollywood has evolved into a hotbed of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment unwilling to free itself from the shackles of being subservient to a false and libel progressive agenda that spreads the message that Israel is an enemy of humanity. For almost three years Israel has been at war opposite seven fronts. Javier Bardem, Jennifer Lawrence, and Mark Ruffalo and many others from Hollywood and the film industry have not uttered a single word of support, not a word of encouragement for the people of Israel, nor a word condemning the Hamas terrorists who invaded Israel on October 7, 2023 – murdering, looting, raping, and burning men, women, and children in a massacre unlike anything the Jewish people have seen since the horrors of the Holocaust. Every other sovereign nation in the world has the right to defend itself, only Israel is held to a different and double standard. Israel is denied this basic right to defend herself only because Israel is the only home of the Jewish nation, and behind their criticism is blatant anti-Semitism.

Ron Jager grew up in the South Bronx of New York City, making Aliyah in 1980. Served for 25 years in the IDF as a Mental Health Field Officer in operational units. Prior to retiring was Commander of the Central Psychiatric Clinic for Reserve Solders at Tel-Hashomer. Since retiring has been involved in strategic consultancy to NGO’s and communities in the Gaza Envelope on resiliency projects to assist first responders. To contact: medconf@gmail.com  Website: www.ronjager.com