Mayim Bialik Says Being Religious In Hollywood Is Not 'Trendy'

The actress recalls facing anti-Semitism simply for visiting Israel.
Credit: Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images

Actress Mayim Bialik recently opened up about being the target of anti-Semitism and the difficulty of being religious in Hollywood during an interview with Fox News.

"[S]imply by going to Israel this summer and saying nothing more than, 'I've gone to Israel,' I got the same amount of hatred and threats and anti-Semitism for actually making a statement trying to support people [who], whether I like it or not, are serving in an army," Bialik said about visiting a friend in the Israel Defense Forces. "That reveals the truth. It really doesn't matter what I support or believe; the fact that I'm Jewish and go there is enough -- that should be alarming to most people."

The actress, who has described herself as "aspiring modern Orthodox," said that Hollywood is not a welcoming place for religiosity.

"I think in general it's never going to be trendy to be observant or religious in Hollywood circles. There are people I know of faith and we tend to congregate together. I study Jewish texts weekly. That's something really positive to me. When you're a person of faith, it stays with you all the time," she said.

Last week's statements echo remarks that the "Big Bang Theory" star made in 2012 about the near impossibility of being observant in Hollywood, mainly because of how the industry treats modesty.

"For me, though, it's more the aspects of the 'red carpet' and needing to wear designer clothes that are strapless, and all those things that I don't do and that are actually extremely stressful and difficult to work around because it is a big part of the industry," she told the Jerusalem Post at the time. "The goal is to be competitive."

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