Mayim Bialik is an American talk show host, writer, and neuroscientist, as well as an actress who played one of the main characters (the neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler) in the television series The Big Bang Theory. One of the main characteristics that makes her public image as a Hollywood star so special and noteworthy is that Mayim is an observant Jew. Both worlds coexist harmoniously in her life, starting from the day she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah ceremony – which was the same day that her first television series premiered. This duality has been maintained throughout her professional career. Today she is known and recognized for the videos in which she explains concepts related to Judaism, defends Israel, and responds to anti-Semitic attacks.

As the Purim festival approaches, we recall the period when the Jewish people lived under the rule of the Persian Empire. King Achashverosh married Esther, a Jewish woman who kept her origin and religion a secret. The King's chief minister, Haman, was enraged by the refusal of Mordechai – Esther’s relative, and a minister in his own right – to bow before him, as everyone else in the kingdom did, and he bribed the king to sign a decree of annihilation against all the Jews throughout the empire. After some soul-searching, taking her life in her hands in a daring scheme, Esther approached the king to beg for mercy, revealing her Jewish identity in the process and ultimately saving the Jews from destruction.

One of the traditional customs associated with Purim is to dress up in costume. This reflects an acknowledgment of God’s salvation of the Jewish People, “disguised” in the seemingly natural and human events of the Book of Esther. It also symbolizes the action of Queen Esther, who first maintains her Jewish identity in secret but eventually “removes the disguise” and identifies herself openly as a member of the Jewish nation. Every year the story is read anew, and the deliverance from the terrible decree is celebrated, along with Esther’s courageous actions to save her people.

The life story and actions of Mayim Bialik share certain similarities and values in common with this heroine that we remember year after year on Purim. The actress is often asked, "How do you maintain your Judaism, and all that it entails, in an environment like Hollywood?" She responds by acknowledging the challenge: it's unpopular to talk about believing in God, especially in Hollywood. What is interesting is that she highlights the role of her teachers throughout her life who taught her not only to respond to criticism, but also to be able to explain why it is important to her to uphold her beliefs, values, and practices, which bear little resemblance to those of her colleagues and environment.

Mayim Bialik is proud of her Jewish identity. In fact, she maintains that in all settings, on screen or off, she feels her Jewishness, believing in the law, the Torah and its traditions. In an environment that is so strongly orientated towards a different way of life, where some might choose to repress or hide their identity (for instance, by changing their name), the way in which Bialik celebrates hers serves as an example for us. The actress and scientist stands out for sharing her ideas not only about Israel and Judaism, but also about being a non-hegemonic woman at center stage, about maintaining a vegan diet, and about mental health.

Purim is a holiday where the concept of Jewish identity is examined in depth, with the idea that we “choose it again" when we take off our disguise and show our real selves. It is an opportunity to celebrate living Judaism, to encourage students not to hide it, to provide them with tools to deal with uncomfortable conversations and to teach them to stand up for their beliefs.

As mentioned in other articles on our blog, at the Melton Center we accompany educators in their professional training to enable them, through various courses that we offer, to problematize and reflect on what Jewish education should be today. We help our students to develop familiarity with the characteristics of contemporary Judaism, and with different visions of Jewish education that exist, thereby enhancing their teaching-learning experiences.

References:

Mayim Bialik: Being Jewish in Hollywood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX6GNjFQHMo

Mayim Bialik: Keeping Her Cool in Hollywood https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/342467/mayim-bialik-keeping-her-cool-in-hollywood/

Photo: Mayim Bialik hosting the TV show Jeopardy