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Stars
Shine to Stamp Out the Scourge Rabbi
Mark Schneier with music producer Russell Simmons, Washington and Richard
Gere among non-Jewish celebs aiming to fight intolerance BY MOLLY M. SHAFFER Music
mogul Russell Simmons, fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons and Revered
Run of the rap group Run DMC all agreed to take a leading role in the
“I am a Jew” awareness campaign earlier this month, run by the New York-based
Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Hollywood
celebrities Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, Morgan Freeman and James
Earl Jones are also considering participating. Lawrence
D. Kopp, executive director of the foundation, said: “The point is for
these celebrities to say non-Jews must also combat anti-Semitism. When
the Jewish community is attacked, it’s an attack against the entire
community.’” The impetus
for the “I am a Jew” project began on a recent trip to Europe, where
founder and president of FFEU, Rabbi Marc Schneier met with Elie Weisel,
and both men commented on the current rise in anti-Semitic acts on the
continent. Schneier repeated his conversation back at the foundation’s
headquarters with Simmons, who serves as The group
will film the public service announcements over the next eight weeks
and will air them on MTV and during the show Entertainment Tonight.
It also aims to also air the ads on Boston’s NBC and ABC stations. # # #
Copyright © 2005 The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding |
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