Michael Rappaport, the comedian and actor, has expressed concern over the silence of many non-Jews in response to recent violent incidents against Jewish communities.
In a podcast episode released on Tuesday, he urged Jewish people to stay vigilant against a wave of anti-Semitic violence, noting that, frankly, it appears there’s little urgency from others to stand up for them.
“Listen, Jews, the cavalry isn’t coming. They really don’t seem to care,” he stated.
Rappaport has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and Jewish issues since the tragic October 7 attack in 2023, which was followed by widespread protests targeting Israel across various U.S. college campuses.
His comments surfaced after an incident in Boulder, Colorado, where a man named Mohamed Sabri Soliman allegedly attacked pro-Jewish protesters by setting their signs on fire.
Soliman, who is an Egyptian national that overstayed his visa, was taken into custody after the incident, which left twelve individuals injured. Just before his arrest, he was recorded yelling “free Palestine” and similar anti-Israel slogans. Later, he told officers he wanted to harm “all the Zionist people.”
This incident followed closely on the heels of a shooting involving two Israeli diplomats at Jewish events in Washington, D.C.
In his remarks, Rappaport also reached out to various marginalized groups, noting his disappointment that many have not been vocal advocates for the Jewish community, which he feels is currently facing serious threats.
“I’ve spoken out for Black Lives Matter, for George Floyd, for women’s rights—just about every social issue you can imagine over the past decade,” he shared.
He reflected on the viral “Black Square” social media movement from 2020, asking whether it feels disheartening to stand in solidarity when others aren’t doing the same for the Jewish community.
