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

[CountryBeforeParty]

Speaking as a Jew, by birth, you can see how even in this religion, it has it's share of crazies.

For the many Jew/Zionist haters on this board, you would actually like many Hasids. Most of them don't recognize Israel either. They believe it will only be restored by the return of the Messiah, not mortal men.

[brobike42]

Wow!!! Religious intolerance from Jews? Who woulda' thunk it?

[AERO]

Every religion has it's crazies.

[smilodon1]

How stupid! However, when was religion ever rational? With this attitude, I hope he will be able to make a living for his family.

[GetoffMylawn]

This hat means I take my orders from grumpy old bigots that think God favors them above all other humans.

[brobike42]

WoW!!! Religious intolerance from Jews? Who woulda' thunk it?

[JailNeoconVicts]

Hasids are the Jewish version of Mel Gibson's version of Caholicism, or the Pat Roberston wingnuts wing of Protestantism.

Extremists on any side deserve their marginalized status, and shame on the politician who tries to mainstream them.

[LoRiseAntlers]

Fundies are idiots,no matter the stripes they're wearing.

[StanTheManic]

25 years old and THREE KIDS?????

It's like Groucho Marx said, "I like my cigar, too, but I take it out every once in a while."

[LionelMandrake]

Isn't this why you are supposed to hire, -an actor?

How ignorant these producers were. Any mental midget could have seen this coming.

[Ramirez]

Well, that sucks, even though he had to see it coming.

I think everyone should be able to appear in a Natalie Portman movie without fear of condemnation.

[Davee1]

Religious tolerance strikes again.

[jeffd]

That's like "painless dentistry", right? Or "successful bankrupt"; there are historical examples of such, but your chances of encountering them firsthand are roughly equal to your chances of winning the next ten consecutive Iranian National Lottery jackpots.

[Pistolopera]

Oy vey!

[TheInsomniac]

Score another blow to happiness and success for religion.

[Vinquus]

Here's a thought: cast an AC-TOR.