| Although the Israelis and the Jewish | | | | appeared before the Los Angels City |
| people are typically associated with | | | | Council of Greater California in the |
| banking and finance, one field, where | | | | year 1921 to speak up against the trend |
| they have contributed enormously, not | | | | of censorship prevalent during that |
| only to the Los Angeles region of | | | | period. Not to speak against the |
| California, but to the world at large, | | | | depravity of the entertainment business |
| has been the business of entertainment. | | | | mind you, but to protest the fact that |
| For centuries now, the Jewish people | | | | wanton censorship would cause several |
| have excelled at performing arts, fine | | | | Israeli and Jewish people to lose their |
| arts, literary arts, entertainment like | | | | jobs. |
| music and dance and even entertainment | | | | But there were others who enhanced the |
| management. But it was in America, and | | | | entertainment industry with a more |
| especially Los Angeles, California, | | | | active presence. Chief among them was |
| where the Israeli and Jewish | | | | Carmel Myers, a popular Jewish actress |
| contribution to the world of | | | | of Israeli origin, who was the daughter |
| entertainment was highlighted in the | | | | of Rabbi Isidore Myers of Los Angeles. |
| form of Hollywood. | | | | She was not only a staunch proponent of |
| The trend began in the 1930s and 40s | | | | the motion picture business, but also a |
| when the silent movies turned the worlds | | | | firm supporter of several charitable and |
| gaze on this new entertainment. But it | | | | philanthropic projects of the Jewish |
| was the contribution of Jewish and | | | | communities in Los Angeles and other |
| Israeli people, especially in the Los | | | | parts of California. |
| Angeles, California region that made | | | | Over the years, several professionals of |
| Hollywood possible. | | | | Jewish or Israeli origin have entered |
| Los Angeles, California and the | | | | Hollywood and have been able to make a |
| surrounding regions, which were home to | | | | mark in the entertainment industry. |
| a large number of people of Jewish or | | | | These included recognizable |
| Israeli origin, provided the | | | | entertainment names like Woody Allen, |
| entertainment industry with actors, | | | | Mel Brooks, Billy Crystal, Robert De |
| directors, artists, technicians and | | | | Niro, Richard Dreyfuss, Bob Dylan, |
| other people. Eventually Jewish and | | | | Harrison Ford, Richard Gere and even |
| Israeli people in the Los Angeles region | | | | Jeff Goldblum. Even present day |
| of California began to own studios where | | | | entertainment media mogul Rupert Murdoch |
| the others worked. | | | | is of Jewish and Israeli origin. |
| The most notable Jewish and/or Israeli | | | | Many of these actresses and directors |
| studio owners and producers included the | | | | not only enhanced the entertainment |
| likes of like William Selig, Jesse | | | | business in Hollywood, but also managed |
| Lasky, Samuel Goldwyn and Adolph Zukor. | | | | to drive up the real estate prices in |
| There are some interesting anecdotes | | | | the surrounding Los Angeles and |
| associated with the Israeli and Jewish | | | | California regions. Most magazines also |
| grasp of the entertainment business. Not | | | | frequently place them as having been |
| all Jewish people were staunchly against | | | | seeing in Los Angeles Suburbs or in |
| the entertainment industry. The then | | | | other parts of California. |
| Rabbi Samuel Hecht is reported to have | | | | |