Hasidic Actor Walks Off Natalie Portman Movie

First he couldn't hold Natalie Portman's hand - and now a Williamsburg Hasidic Jew-turned-actor has to give up his chance to hit it big in a Hollywood movie. Abe Karpen, 25, a married father of three, was cast as Portman's husband in "New York I Love You," a film composed of 12 short stories about love in the five boroughs. "I am backing out of the movie," said Karpen, a kitchen cabinet salesman. "It's not acceptable in my community. It's a lot of pressure I am getting. They [the rabbis] didn't like the idea of a Hasidic guy playing in Hollywood. "I have my kids in religious schools and the rabbi called me over yesterday and said in order for me to keep my kids in the school I have to do what they tell me and back out," Karpen said. While news of Karpen's withdrawal sent waves of disappointment through the movie set, the Hasidic community was up in arms over Karpen's acting gig - forcing him to flee for the weekend, a friend said. Keep reading how "the community wants to kill him" -or- See the photos of Karpen and Portman filming that caused the uproar -or- See photos of Portman made up for an Indian wedding, also from the film

Comments

[eurydice]

Maybe he's an Obama supporter, and he just objects to her support of Hillary.

I've decided to boycott her future movies on that basis.

[kfdan]

This actor should never have been hired in the first place.

[unclesmedley]

for shame...

[dogstar7]

The Hasid community may be extreme in their practice, but it is their choice to live under their Rabi's strict authority. They do no impose their views on others. Karpen chose to follow his Rabi's edict other than leave the community. These are his options and he accepts them. Why anyone feels obliged to tender their opinion on anyone else's religion as long as it does not impose itself on them is beyond me.

[CountryBeforeParty]

A good post, and what you said really get sto the heart of why the Christians and Muslims have been at each other's throats for so long.

Both religions charge their members to seek out, and convert the non-believers, show them "the way", If not, well, you know what to do. It makes perfect sense that these two belief systems would be trying to kill each other for 1000 years. They're trying to convert each other.

In Judaism, all sects, this is not the case.

[sculptor]

Wrong, they impose their views on their children. Indoctrinating innocent children is how all strong belief systems persist.

[Counterglow]

Sorry to disagree, but the basis of some of the best comedy around involves ridicule of that variety of person who is utterly committed to being holier than you. If, for example, you're willing to walk around with a chicken strapped to your head because somebody who has set themselves up as your moral superior tells you to, I'm going to make jokes at your expense, whether you're imposing on me or not.

You're perfectly free to act like an idiot, and I'm perfectly free to point out that you're acting like an idiot. If I manage to do it in a humorous way, and a lot of people enjoy a good laugh as a result, the world is a better place.

[mattejob]

that is not entirely true. a few years back i remember reading how the Hasidic Jews in NYC were complaining, and wanted the City to do something about, small (microscopic?) crustaceans that are found in the water supply that were harmless, but consuming shellfish is against their religion. I am not sure (or remember) how they wanted this 'changed', but it is still telling others what to do because of their religion.

[iluvsam]

Because religion, especially when burned into an innocent child's mind, prevents free thought and ruins lives. There is absolutely nothing good about it.

[tbrnotb]

Just another religious extremist worshipping invisible deities.

[DMSmith]

OH.MY.GOD!

I think I've had enough of religious extremism. I don't care what religion you are, you live and exist in a real world of many beliefs. The beliefs that extremists hold to - such as is the case here - were formulated in a much more ancient time. They were formulated for THEN, not now. To still hold by those beliefs in any absolute form is silly beyond description!

[MadMoll]

Shame upon the rabbi for holding the children's religious teaching hostage over this.

[oshpd1]

this is sad that a religion dictates how fiction is a bad thing. Almost as bad as the Catholics covering up child molestation.

[BigBagel]

A theocracy grows in Brooklyn.

[jeffd]

One of many in an officially secular country, unfortunately. Small potatoes, however, compared with the Theocrat-in-Chief: "If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator," GWB on CNN, 18 December 2000.

[panchovilla]

What was the need to have the guy touch Natalie's hand? The writers could have easily fixed that. Do you remember Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee's blockbuster? The bad guy used a set of fake right (or was it left?) hands. He had a whole collection and, depending on how he wanted to kill someone, he'd use one or the other kind of hand. Why couldn't Abe use one of those metallic hands, with or without fur and claws, and have Natalie touch the metal rather than the flesh? Just an idea.

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

"I have my kids in religious schools and the rabbi called me over yesterday and said in order for me to keep my kids in the school I have to do what they tell me and back out,"

Remember that 9-11, too, was a "faith-based initiative".

[NoahVail]

Jesus Christ! I suppose if they told him to cut the end of his dick off that he would do that too!!!

[ihixulu]

Yay to the Jewish wing of the Taliban!

[ZimboChick]

Ha! is all I have t say about this mess

[DustinSD]

The jews exert yet even more control in Hollywood.