Liev and Naomi’s Israeli vacation

June 16, 2009 - 2:46 PM by

Liev, Sacha, Naomi and baby Samuel under a diaper

Liev, Sacha, Naomi and baby Samuel under a diaper

The Jewish National Fund (or KKL as its known in Israel) has some fun guests this week. Hollywood stars Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts are in Israel with their two young children, Sacha and Samuel, for the first time. According to KKL, the family is in Israel for several days, seeing Christian and Jewish sites as well as enjoying Tel Aviv’s beaches, restaurants, and, of course, planting some trees.

The itinerary was planned by KKL-JNF, “caretakers of the land of Israel for more than 107 years,” and the family’s first official stop was planting a tree up north in the Galilee. According to the JNF spokesperson, Naomi read the tree planting blessing, while Liev looked to place the pistachio sapling in the ground but first had to remove his two-year-old son Sacha who had placed himself in the hole.

Schreiber said his grandfather was a strong Zionist who had always begged him to go to Israel. His grandfather died before he could make that happen, so this trip resonates for him. It may also have additional meaning following his most recent role as Zus Bielski in “Defiance,” the Holocaust movie recounting the Bielski brothers, Jewish partisans who lived and rebelled against the Nazis from a Bellarussian forest with a band of fellow refugees.

I grew up in the Lower East Side of New York, and I’m half-Jewish. Anything that has resonance for me about my family history, because I don’t know much about it, I’m drawn to. That’s part of why I think I choose projects like this. Less because I’m right for them, but because I want to know if I’m right for them.”

Tags: , , , , • Category: General, Israeliness, Movies, Pop Culture 

Comments

6 Comments on Liev and Naomi’s Israeli vacation

  1. David-Joe on Wed, Jun 17th 2009 12:31 AM

    2. And this is important why?

    To encourage assimilation through ending the Jewish line?

    He has nothing in common with the Bielskis – do not confuse acting a role with real life.

  2. Dennis Ashendorf on Wed, Jun 17th 2009 2:32 AM

    3. David-Joe, your words are probably right, but still, publicizing the visit of famous people to Israel is a good thing and, the man is trying to connect with his past and his current family. Be a bit more generous. Children can go many ways. Be happy for the family’s effort.

  3. judy Mizrachi on Wed, Jun 17th 2009 1:33 PM

    4. The shocking part of this article for me is the fact that with a name like “Liev Schreiber” he’s only 1/2 Jewish! Poor grandpa. All he ever wanted was for his little Liev to come to Israel and the guy waits until gramps is deceased to make the trip. Oh well, maybe he’s kvelling from his grave.

  4. Carol Singer on Tue, Jun 23rd 2009 4:07 AM

    5. I agree with Dennis. You can’t judge another person unless you are in their shoes. Maybe Israel wasn’t important to Liev before, but now it has become so. Even if his grandfather wanted him to go, it had to come from inside, from his own heart, and he wasn’t ready until now. The important thing is that he came to Israel now and maybe he will return or maybe his children will return because they will want to see it again when they are older. It’s news because he’s a famous actor and again I agree with Dennis that it brings “good” attention to Israel and makes people see it in a positive light. Israel needs more of that right now when it’s hard to get tourists to visit. I myself only came last year for the first time at age 54. It was impossible to come before between lack of money and lack of time off from work and family responsibilities. It was fantastic and I’ll be back!! I miss Israel and now visit web sites like this one every day to feel like I’m in touch.

  5. Ann Bardacke on Wed, Jun 24th 2009 6:38 PM

    6. Be a little more tolerant -I came from a Zionist family, brought up in the States, but due to circumstances, did not make my first trip to Israel until I was 45 – several years later I began coming every year -sometimes more often. Give the guy a break!

  6. Alex from Israel on Tue, Jul 27th 2010 8:31 AM

    7. Its a good thing that today we have Birthright Israel (Taglit) which enables all the young Jews from all over the world to come to Israel for Free, and to get to know their Jewish heritage. I hope that most of the young Jews in the upcoming years will come and visit Israel.

Leave a Comment





© 2012 ISRAELITY | Sitemap