Moroccan-Canadian Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui Speaks Out Against Rising Anti-Semitism

"Throughout my youth, being a Sephardic Jew was cool, even exotic. I never really thought about it. My friends accepted me, and when I arrived in Los Angeles, I was lucky to have a wonderful career, Emmanuelle Chriqui recounts in an op-ed published by Variety. [...] Then, two years ago, when the war broke out between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, anti-Semitism resurfaced on my social media. It was the first time I had been confronted with it. In the era of social media, anti-Semitic hatred, conspiracy theories and misinformation were now ubiquitous."

She now sees herself on a mission, that of fighting anti-Semitism. "Throughout my career, I have publicly championed many causes. I’m proud of that and it has given meaning to my life, using the platform I’ve been lucky to have to help others. [...] So when Jews were attacked online and on the streets of Los Angeles and New York, I didn’t hesitate to defend the interests of my own people, but I wasn’t ready to face the negative reactions and the absolute meanness that followed. For the first time in my life, I understood what my parents meant. Many people in the world still hated Jews."

This episode is far from weakening the activism of the 47-year-old actress. "I’ve never hidden that I’m Jewish, but I’ve gone further and started posting articles about Shabbat every week. Not wanting to alienate anyone, as I have incredible fans of all backgrounds, I’ve posted messages on the theme of ’#happyfriday’ and ’#shabbatshalom’, she confided, adding that she has made videos encouraging tolerance and denouncing hatred and injustice, including anti-Semitism. "It breaks my heart to know that in America, there are more hate crimes per capita against Jews than against any other minority, more religion-based hate crimes against the Jewish people than against any other religion, and more hate crimes against the Jewish people in New York, where the majority of American Jews live, than against any other minority," said the member of the Creative Community for Peace and Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance associations, which defend the cause of Jews.

The dream of the one who was born into a Sephardic Jewish Moroccan family in Montreal is to one day play the role of a "complex and fierce Jewish woman". "Today, I rejoice in celebrating Shabbat and lighting candles on Friday evenings, and I have rarely worked during the major holidays. It has a deep meaning for me and reminds me of who I am and where I come from. I know that my parents, who are watching over me from above, would be proud. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll have the honor of making an incredible film where I can tell an important story and play the role of a complex and fierce Jewish woman."