OPINION: From Anatevka to Lineker, the new tradition of guilt by association
Jenni Frazer reflects on her interview with Topol 20 years ago and how in many ways since then our culture has evolved from one of action to perception.
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
Nearly 20 years ago I was privileged to interview Israeli actor Chaim Topol, known universally by his last name, whose death last week was marked by admiring obituaries.
Re-reading my interview, which took place in the Maida Vale flat which was his London base for years, I was struck again by what a lovely man he was: laughing and joking, and – astonishingly – apparently not minding when people began humming tunes from Fiddler on the Roof whenever he walked into a shop or restaurant.
To be associated, overwhelmingly, with one role for the majority of one’s acting life could be an albatross round a performer’s neck. But Topol told me: “Sure, it dominates my career but I can’t complain. The role is a joy to do, but it’s really hard work. I demand of myself the same energy and effort that I made when I did it first time around.”
At that point, Topol had been ‘Tevye the Milkman’, to all intents and purposes, from age 27 to, when we spoke, 68.
He would have been entitled to be sick of the sound of the “biddie-biddie-bum” chorus which accompanied the song ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, but Topol took it in his stride.
Besides, Topol was other things in addition to being Tevye.
An accomplished painter, he was also a highly successful director and film actor, founding the Haifa Municipal Theatre and even running the hugely popular comedy troupe, Hagashash Hahiver.
He was also deeply involved in the Jordan River Village project, a holiday village for Jewish and Arab children with incurable medical conditions.
In this regard, he partnered actor Paul Newman who had begun the Hole in the Wall villages in the States years previously.
Topol’s Jordan River Village became the first Israeli partner in the scheme.
When we spoke, Cherie Blair, wife of then-prime minister Tony Blair, was about to host a fund-raising reception at Downing Street for Topol’s children’s village.
I couldn’t help thinking how impossible such a situation would be today.
Not just the fact that there is no natural present-day successor to Topol in Israel, but the potential outcry if Akshata Murthy, Rishi Sunak’s wife, were to host a fundraising reception for an Israeli charity in Downing Street.
In many ways the narrative arc over the last 20 years has evolved from one of action to perception. Today, it’s more a question of guilt by association, a “who’s been standing next to whom” in a photo, a pointing of fingers and comparisons.
Today, as we have all learned to our cost in the last week particularly, attitudes have hardened and Jews, as ever, find ourselves caught in the crossfire.
Those frothing at the mouth over allegations hurled at Gary Lineker over his refugees Tweets have not found it hard to descend to “what-aboutery” and make ludicrous conspiracy theories of Zionist plots.
One tweet even said: “People have completely missed the point why Gary Lineker got suspended. He has been outspoken on many issues over the years and the BBC never said anything. But this time he got too close to questioning the uniqueness of the Holocaust.
“If you do that you are basically questioning Israel’s right to exist and its sense of impunity. And in the West you simply cannot do that.”
I’m just waiting for someone to put together the undeniable fact that Apprentice front-man Lord Sugar, well-known for expressing bullish political opinions, and BBC chair Richard Sharp, in the firing line for his role in securing an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson, are both (whisper it) Jewish.
And then, naturally, it will be all our fault. What you might call “Tradition, tradition…”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
