Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Harvey Weinstein Encourages Jewish Action Against Antisemites: ‘Kick These Guys in the Ass’
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Harvey Weinstein at the Algemeiner's 'JEWISH 100' Gala in 2013. Photo: Sarah Rogers.
Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein on Tuesday night urged Jews to stand together and act against antisemites, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“We better stand up and kick these guys in the ass,” he said upon accepting the Humanitarian Award at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s National Tribute Dinner at the Beverly Hilton. “We’re gonna have to get as organized as the mafia. We just can’t take it anymore [from] these crazy bastards.”
Weinstein admitted he was moved when he read The Atlantic Monthly‘s April cover story headlined ‘Should the Jews leave Europe?‘ and a piece by New York Times columnist David Brooks about how to combat antisemitism. He said, “It’s like, here we go again, we’re right back where we were [before the Holocaust]. And the lessons of the past are we better stand up and kick these guys in the ass.”
The co-head of The Weinstein Company said he believes it is time for Jews to band together with those Muslims “who are honorable and peaceful.” He noted that while Jews must be understanding of their “Arab brothers and our Islamic brothers, we also have to understand that these crazy bastards [Arab and Islamic extremists] are also killing their own.”
“They’re killing neighbors, they’re killing people from all sorts of different races,” he said. “And, unlike World War II, when we didn’t act right away and we paid the price, we better start acting now. Trust me, I’m the last guy who wants to do anything about it, but I realize if we don’t, we will perish. We can’t allow the bad guys to win.”
The famed producer was among four honorees recognized at the event, where more than a dozen Holocaust survivors were asked to stand as they were applauded by the audience. Weinstein was introduced on stage as “a really nice Jewish boy” by his friend Jeffrey Katzenberg and actor Christoph Waltz. The latter won the best supporting actor Oscar twice for his roles in a Weinstein-produced films including Inglourious Basterds, where he played a Nazi.
Weinstein told the audience at the event, “Too bad movies can’t all be like Inglourious Basterds, where Hitler gets what he deserves.”
In 2013, Weinstein headlined The Algemeiner‘s ‘Jewish 100’ Gala.
