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The Von Erich wrestling brothers, subjects of upcoming film ‘The Iron Claw,’ were huge in Israel
(JTA) — With Hanukkah coming to a close, now comes the most important Jewish question of the year: What to do for Christmas?
The best answer to that question is “The Iron Claw,” the forthcoming movie that tells the (tragic) story of the Von Erichs, the first family of professional wrestling in Texas.
The film, which hits theaters Dec. 22, features a star-studded cast including Jewish actor Zac Efron alongside Jeremy Allen White (of “The Bear” and “Shameless” fame), plus Lily James, Harris Dickinson and Maura Tierney. Wrestling fans will recognize another familiar face: current pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman, known simply as “MJF,” is also in the movie. Friedman is among the more vocal Jewish athletes in all of sports on the topics of antisemitism and Jewish pride.
But aside from a few cast members, what exactly does this well-received film (with a 91% “fresh” critics’ score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes) have to do with the Jews?
The Von Erichs aren’t just legends in the Lone Star state. At one time they were a super heavyweight-sized deal in the Jewish state as well.
“Anyone who grew up in Israel in the 1980s would be a major fan of the Von Erich brothers — David, Kevin, Kerry and Mike,” said The Masked Jewish Federation CEO (a federation leader who is also a wrestling expert and wanted to remain anonymous). “They were icons in Israel as their faces were seen weekly on televisions across the Middle East on Saturday nights… The incredible popularity of this family is sadly matched by the tragic stories of three of the brothers. It is a movie not to be missed!”
At the time, the Von Erichs’ promotion, World Class Championship Wrestling, was in fact reported to be one of the most popular English-language programs in Israel. Brothers Kevin and Mike actually visited the country in 1985 as part of a WCCW tour, with the latter winning the WCCW Middle Eastern Championship created for the occasion. But an injury sustained by one of them during the Israel tour (we’ll avoid spoilers) played a role in one of the tragedies that befell the family.
As a tribute to the family’s Israeli fans, what is billed as the original WCCW championship belt — worn by multiple Von Erichs — was on permanent display at the Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv as recently as 2022.
Kevin, who stopped wrestling back in the 1990s, returned to Israel and the ring in 2017 for an official retirement match, with two of his sons also taking part. He told Ynet: “I wanted my sons to see it so much that I…I think I just decided to do what I can to have one more match.”
“I’ve turned down New York, I’ve turned down Tokyo and I’m not going to wrestle again,” he said, before attributing his choice of location to his own religious faith. “I love Israel. I’m a Christian. I love Jesus and my sons are the same way and this is the Holy Land.”
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The post The Von Erich wrestling brothers, subjects of upcoming film ‘The Iron Claw,’ were huge in Israel appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.