Nominations for the 76th Emmy Awards were announced on Wednesday, and they include several Jewish nominees in a variety of categories.

The 12th and final season of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” starring Larry David, was nominated for four Emmy awards, including best comedy series and best lead actor in a comedy series for the “Seinfeld” co-creator himself. The show has received a total of 55 Emmy nominations since premiering in 2000 but only two wins, for directing and editing.

Stand-up comic Alex Edelman received an Emmy nomination for writing for a variety special for his HBO comedy special “Just For Us,” which is a filmed version of his one-man show about covertly attending a white supremacist meeting in Queens, New York, as a way to understand antisemitic threats he’s faced online.

Jon Stewart and his old late night program “The Daily Show,” which he returned to in February to host once a week, garnered Emmy nominations for outstanding directing for a variety series and outstanding talk series. First-time Emmy nominee Tom Hollander, who is of Jewish origin on his father’s side, was nominated for lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for his role in FX’s “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.”

The British actor talked in 2019 about how his grandfather managed to escape Nazi persecution in the Czech Republic. He said his grandfather, who was a music critic, was given a “passport to freedom” when he was invited to talk about the composer Leos Janacek on the BBC by one of the network’s sound engineers. Hollander’s grandfather escaped Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the same day that Hitler’s troops invaded the Czech Republic on March 15, 1939.

Maya Rudolph, who has Lithuanian Jewish roots on her father’s side of the family, was nominated for lead actress in a comedy series for the Apple TV+ show “Loot.” She also received four additional nominations — for performance, music and lyrics, and guest actress in a comedy series for her guest-hosting of “Saturday Night Live,” and one for her character voice-over work in Netflix’s “Big Mouth.” Alex Borstein was nominated for her character voice-over performance in Fox’s “Family Guy.”

Jon Bernthal and Jamie Lee Curtis, who is the daughter of late Jewish actor Tony Curtis, were nominated for their guest appearances on “The Bear,” and Matthew Broderick was nominated for guest actor in a comedy series for playing himself on “Only Murders in the Building.”

Ebon Moss-Bachrach and first-time Emmy nominee Paul Rudd were both nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for their roles in FX’s “The Bear” and Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” respectively. Rudd was also nominated for narrating National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Octopus.”

“The Bear” set a new record for nominations in a single year in the comedy category with 23, a record previously held by “30 Rock” with 22 nominations in 2009.

Albert Brooks’ HBO documentary “Defending My Life,” which was directed by Jewish filmmaker Rob Reiner, received a nomination for directing for a documentary/non-fiction program, picture editing for a non-fiction program, and music composition for a documentary series or special (original dramatic score). Hannah Einbinder received a nomination for supporting actress in a comedy series for HBO’s “Hacks.”

Eugene Levy garnered a nomination for his Apple TV+ travel show “The Reluctant Traveler,” first-time Emmy nominee Eric André was nominated for his Adult Swim series “The Eric André Show,” and Trevor Noah, whose mother converted to Judaism, was nominated for his Netflix stand-up comedy special “Trevor Noah: Where Was I.” The Netflix special was also nominated for directing for a variety special.

The HBO documentary “The Jinx-Part Two,” which is about the late Jewish convicted murderer Robert Durst, was nominated for picture editing and best documentary/non-fiction series. “The Tattooist of Auschwitz,” a limited series on Peacock that is based on the best-selling novel of the same name, was nominated for original music and lyrics as well as music composition (original dramatic score) for its compositions by renowned German Jewish composer Hans Zimmer.

The Netflix limited series “All The Light We Cannot See,” which is set in Nazi-occupied France and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, was also nominated for music composition (original dramatic score).”Unfrosted,” a film co-produced by Jerry Seinfeld about the creation of Pop-Tarts, was nominated for outstanding television movie.

The 76th Emmy Awards will broadcast live on Sept. 15 at 8 pm ET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will stream the following day on Hulu.

The post Larry David, Alex Edelman, Maya Rudolph Among This Year’s Jewish Emmy Nominees first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

In recent years, the lengths to which individuals will go on social media to achieve fame and validation, and the consequent material gains, have grown out of all proportion and reached alarming extremes. A shocking 2022 study by Jean Twenge and Jonathan Haidt found that there is a very strong association between heavy social media use and a decline in mental health in teenagers, comparing its impact to that of binge drinking and even drug use.

The study proves what we already know: there is a significant psychological impact on young people who pursue online validation. It has destroyed countless lives, and the impact on the younger generation is no different from the well-documented ill effects of hard drug addiction.

A particularly tragic example happened just this week. Aanvi Kamdar, a 27-year-old Mumbai-based chartered accountant, devoted all of her spare time to being a social media travel influencer, obsessively documenting her travel adventures on Instagram.

On Tuesday, Kamdar died after falling into a gorge while shooting an Instagram reel. She had gone for an outing with a group of friends to the famous Kumbhe waterfall in Maharashtra’s Raigad district in India. Tragically, while shooting a video intended to startle her viewers, Kamdar slipped and fell into the 300-foot ravine. Despite the efforts of local authorities and rescue teams, Kamdar succumbed to her injuries in the hospital after a six-hour rescue operation.

Another sad example of social media causing the demise of attention seekers is the story of Monalisa Perez and Pedro Ruiz III, a young couple from Minnesota. The couple were aspiring YouTubers who sought to amass followers by performing increasingly risky stunts — and with followers comes fame, and money.

In June 2017, in their riskiest bid for attention, they attempted a perilous stunt in which Monalisa shot Pedro with a gun while he held a thick book against his chest, in the belief that the book would stop the bullet. Tragically, the stunt failed, and Pedro died.

The incident, which was live-streamed, underlined the extreme risks people are willing to take for social media fame and for the material gains that follow. Perez, who was pregnant with their second child when she killed Pedro, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and served time in prison.

Then there is the case of Wu Yongning, a Chinese daredevil known for his extreme stunts performed at great heights. Wu gained a substantial following on social media by posting videos of himself performing dangerous stunts without any safety equipment.

In November 2017, Wu attempted to perform a stunt on top of a 62-story skyscraper in Changsha, China. Sadly, he lost his grip and fell to his death. What is so heartbreaking is that it was Wu’s desperation for social media fame, and the validation that came with it, that led him to take increasingly perilous risks, which ultimately resulted in his demise.

This modern-day obsession with validation and recognition finds a striking parallel in the ancient story of Bilam in Parshat Balak. Bilam was a renowned and gifted gentile prophet, feted by all for his prophetic powers.

But Bilam’s thirst for fame and fortune was an Achilles heel that would prove to be his downfall. He was enlisted by Balak, the Moabite king, to curse the Israelites, a job for which Balak promised he would be paid handsomely. At first, Bilam was reluctant and refused the task. But the allure of royal recognition and untold wealth proved to be just too irresistible. Bilam ultimately agreed to participate in Balak’s reprehensible plan, despite being warned by God not to go ahead with it.

Rashi, the preeminent medieval commentator, provides a profound insight into Bilam’s character and the weakness that led him on a course of action that ultimately resulted in his death by the sword on the battlefield. He explains that Bilam’s desire for honor and material benefits clouded his judgment. Despite knowing the futility and danger of his mission — after all, he was a man of God who knew very well that following this path was a doom-ridden choice — Bilam’s yearning for external validation and boundless wealth led him to pursue it nonetheless.

This is no different from the struggles many face today with social media: the relentless pursuit of external validation and the money that follows leads people to compromise their values and even to endanger their well-being.

Rashi notes that the angel who appeared to Bilam with a drawn sword was actually an angel of mercy. The threatening appearance was intended to stop Bilam and save his life, highlighting the destructive path Bilam was on because of his quest for honor and money. Rashi comments, “The angel was sent to prevent Bilam from sinning and to save him from his own destructive desires.”

The Talmud in Sanhedrin elaborates on Bilam’s character, describing him as someone with immense potential but whose moral weakness led him to misuse his gifts. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch provides further insight into Bilam’s actions: “Bilam’s journey was not merely a physical one but a reflection of his internal conflict, torn between divine will and human vanity. But true worth and honor always come from within, from living a life aligned with divine values and principles, not from the external accolades and approval of society.”

Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, in his commentary Haamek Davar, suggests that Bilam’s failure to curse the Israelites and his subsequent blessings were not just acts of divine intervention, but also a revelation of Bilam’s true potential when he aligned with God’s will: “Bilam’s blessings were a reflection of what he could achieve when he transcended his personal desires and aligned himself with the divine mission.”

This insight is an indictment to so many who allow their best side to be eclipsed by their darkest desires. Imagine how well they could do if they “transcended their personal desires and aligned themselves with their divine mission.”

Our modern struggles with social media have brought this human weakness into sharp focus. Just as Bilam’s quest for validation led him astray, so too does the obsession with social media recognition lead so many people away from their true selves, and the best version of themselves. The Torah way is to seek validation from within and from our connection with the divine, rather than from the fleeting and often superficial approval of others — even if that approval comes with a payday.

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, in his seminal work Lonely Man of Faith, speaks to this dichotomy between the pursuit of external achievements and the quest for internal fulfillment. He writes: “Man’s dignity lies in his ability to recognize the divine image within himself, not in the accolades he receives from others.”

However difficult it may be, we must work as hard as we can to highlight the dangers of social media. While it may have the potential to connect and inspire, social media also carries the risk of causing irreparable harm to those who use it if they become too reliant on it for validation.

The story of Bilam reminds us of the importance of seeking internal validation and staying true to our values. Just as Bilam ultimately blessed the Israelites, we too can find blessings in our lives when we focus on genuine connections and self-worth, rather than on the elusive approval of the digital world.

The author is a rabbi in Beverly Hills, California.

The post The Torah Warned Us About the Dangers of Social Media and the Quest for Validation first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

A group of US Republican lawmakers, led by Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Tim Walberg (R-MI), implored interim Harvard University president Alan Garber to implement policies on antisemitism that have teeth, arguing in a letter sent on Monday that those proposed recently by a faculty committee are insufficient.

Last month, Harvard’s Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism issued a report comprising “preliminary recommendations” for addressing antisemitism on the campus. Harvard has been ravaged by numerous pro-Hamas demonstrators, some of whom have, according to reports, bullied and harassed Jewish supporters of Israel and stormed the campus calling for a genocide of Jews in Israel.

The report was denounced by Jewish community leaders as incomprehensive and flaccid for not including concrete proposals for protecting Jewish students, as well as faculty, from bigotry.

“The preliminary recommendations reaffirm what has been known for months,” said the lawmakers’ letter to Garber, which was first shared by Jewish Insider. “Harvard has a serious problem with antisemitism on its campus, including ‘derision and exclusion’ of Israeli students, discrimination and harassment of students by faculty and teaching fellows, and political litmus tests in extracurricular student life. While the preliminary recommendations rightly call for substantive discipline and public condemnation in response to this hateful conduct, they fail to offer real solutions for doing so.”

The letter added that Harvard has already received recommendations for combating antisemitism from a previously formed Antisemitism Advisory Group (AAG), a group of faculty whose efforts were allegedly hindered by administrators who cared more about what its convening did for the Harvard’s public relations than any good it could accomplish for Jewish students or the university at large.

“Prominent members of Harvard’s Jewish community have expressed criticism and dissatisfaction with the recommendations, which are weaker, less detailed, and less comprehensive than the meaningful recommendations presented by Harvard’s [AAG] in December 2023 despite having more than six months to build upon them. Harvard should recognize the insufficiency of its efforts to date, publicly adopt the AAG’s existing recommendations, and announce concrete steps to implement them in advance of the fall semester.”

The lawmakers argued that “instead of offering a tangible plan to address antisemitism at Harvard, the task force’s most specific and actionable recommendations are to organize public talks on respectful dialogue and religious relations, increase the availability of hot kosher meals, and to circulate guidance about accommodating Jewish religious observance and a calendar of Jewish holidays.”

The letter came amid suspicion that Harvard has resolved to change nothing about the culture that led to its being beset by numerous scandals — including the outing of its first Black president as a serial plagiarist — which have sullied its reputation and, in addition to prompting a slew of lawsuits and federal investigations, raised concerns about the state of all of elite higher education.

Earlier this month, The Harvard Crimson reported that Harvard downgraded “disciplinary sanctions” it levied against several pro-Hamas protesters it punished for illegally occupying Harvard Yard for nearly five weeks, erasing the good will it had regained from the public by appearing to embrace an approach to discipline that would deter future unruly behavior as well as anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hate incidents.

Per the Crimson, “The most severe probation charge will last for just one semester, a remarkable change from the initial punishments which required at least one student to withdraw from the college for three semesters. Some students who were initially placed on probation in late May also had the length of their probations reduced.”

For a time Harvard University talked tough about its intention to dismantle a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” — a collection of tents in which demonstrators lived and from which they refused to leave unless Harvard agreed to boycott and divest from Israel — that protesters had set up on campus, creating an impression that no one would go unpunished.

In a public statement, Garber denounced their actions for forcing the rescheduling of exams and disrupting the academics of students who continued doing their homework and studying for final exams, responsibilities the protesters seemingly abdicated. However, Harvard, as well as the organization responsible for the encampment, Harvard out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP), always maintained that some protesters would be allowed to appeal their punishments, per an agreement the two parties reached to end the demonstration, but it was not clear that the end result would amount to a victory for the protesters.

Unrepentant, HOOP celebrated the revocation of the suspensions on social media and, in addition to suggesting that they will disrupt the campus again, called their movement an “intifada,” alluding to two prolonged periods of Palestinian terrorism during which hundreds of Israeli Jews were murdered.

“Harvard walks back on probations and reverses suspensions of pro-Palestine students after massive pressure,” the group said. “After sustained student and faculty organizing, Harvard has caved in, showing that the student intifada will always prevail … This reversal is a bare minimum. We call on our community to demand no less than Palestinian liberation from the river to the sea. Grounded in the rights of return and resistance. We will not rest until divestment from the Israeli regime is met.”

In some quarters, Harvard’s alleged indifference to the civil rights abuses to which Jewish students have been subjected is viewed as reflecting the attitudes of the campus leaders’ far-left politics.

On Wednesday, Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum, who is suing Harvard for the actions it allegedly failed to take to protect Jewish students, spoke at the Republican National Convention, which convened this week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to confirm — for the third time in eight years — the nomination of Donald Trump as its candidate for President of the United States.

“I came to Harvard to study religion, the foundation of Western Civilization. What I found was not theology but contempt for it,” Kestenbaum said. “My problem with Harvard is not its liberalism but its illiberalism. Too often, students at Harvard are taught not how to think but what to think. I found myself immersed in a culture that is anti-Western, that is anti-American, and that is antisemitic.”

He continued, “Although I once voted for Bernie Sanders, I now recognize that the far left has not only abandoned the Jewish people but the American people. The Democratic Party, the party I registered to vote for the day I turned 18, has become ideologically poisoned, and it is this poison, it is this corruption, that is affecting far too many young American students. Let’s be clear: the far left’s antisemitic extremism has no virtue, and the radicalism on our campus and our streets has no moral legitimacy.”

Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.

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