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The Sound of Silence, One Year Later

For many American Jews in the entertainment and music industries, the anniversary of the horrific October 7 terrorist attack in Israel is a stark reminder of their isolation in a culture that is terrified of speaking up, or speaking out, in support of the very community that built Hollywood as we know it.

october 7 hamas attacks israel
You might think, after all, that record labels, live entertainment companies, and management firms—an industry built by Jewish immigrants escaping the evil of antisemitism before World War II—would be moved to action, particularly given that a music festival was among the main targets. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Shirley Halperin
October 8, 2024

A few weeks ago, I found myself at the home of acting coach Nancy Banks to hear an Israeli branding professional talk about a shared and growing dilemma: How to navigate the challenges of living openly as a Jew in Hollywood. Those in attendance came from different corners of entertainment and included Sharon Osbourne, who was apoplectic. “We’re all gonna be complacent and it will happen all over again,” she said, referring to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. “With the world today, where more and more people are coming out of that closet of hatred, we have to be vocal; we have to fight.”