If you’ve spent any time on social media over the past week, you’ve likely seen Justin Baldoni, the director of “It Ends With Us.”
Baldoni, who stars in the movie alongside Blake Lively, portrays Ryle Kincaid, the abusive husband of the “Gossip Girl” actress’ Lily Bloom. The movie follows the entirety of their relationship as Lily “ends” the cycle of domestic violence in her family. The film also features Jewish actress Jenny Slate, who plays Baldoni’s sister, Allysa.
The 40-year-old actor has spoken at length about the importance of the film in giving those in abusive relationships inspiration to leave and questioning “why men hurt” rather than blaming survivors.
However, the reported feud between Baldoni and the rest of the cast has eclipsed the film. Reports have surfaced that Baldoni felt “railroaded” on the set of the Colleen Hoover film adaption, while other reports accuse the actor of creating a tense filming environment.
But is Justin Baldoni Jewish? Let’s unpack his heritage and connection to Israel.
Is Justin Baldoni Jewish?
Justin Baldoni was born in Los Angeles to Sharon and Sam Baldoni. His mother was Ashkenazi Jewish, and his father an Italian Catholic, but both converted to the Baháʼí Faith before he was born.
While he grew up in a devout Baháʼí home, his family continued honoring both their Jewish and Christian heritages.
“My mom was Jewish and became a Baháʼí before she met my dad, and when they fell in love he became a Baháʼí. When I was in my teenage years I became a Baháʼí,” Baldoni told the now-defunct interfaithfamily.com. “But we celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas, as an ode to our grandparents. Baháʼís have some amazing holidays and we did those too. It was a wonderful thing to grow up in an interfaith family.”
While he no longer celebrates the Jewish holidays, Baldoni added that he is still proud of his Ashkenazi background and the Holocaust survivors in his family.
“My grandfather was in WWII and a lot of my family was killed in the Holocaust,” he said. “One of my aunts was a survivor.”
Baldoni’s religious practices influence his beliefs. He’s made multiple pilgrimages to Haifa, Israel as a devout Baháʼí.
The actor is famous for his critically acclaimed digital documentary “My Last Days,” which spoke to dying people about life. He also starred on the CW show “Jane the Virgin” between 2014 and 2019 as Rafael Solano alongside Jewish actresses Yael Grobglas and Gina Rodriguez.
His “very Jewish” mom’s dream? For Baldoni to play Moses in a live-action version of “The Prince of Egypt.”
Baldoni’s relationship to Israel
Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, have traveled to Israel on multiple occasions on Baháʼí pilgrimages.
“Tears often speak the language the heart doesn’t have words for,” Baldoni wrote on Instagram in 2022 during a trip to Israel alongside a picture of him with tears in his eyes. “So grateful to be back in Haifa visiting the #bahai holy land on a three-day pilgrimage.”
He previously claimed that in 2011 a trip to Haifa encouraged him to pursue documenting the stories of often ignored voices. He said that while on his pilgrimage, he prayed “to be used in any way that would be beneficial to our broken world,” which encouraged him to focus his work on underrepresented communities.
Who are the Baháʼí?
Baháʼí is a religion that was founded in Iran in the 19th century. Its teachings include the unity of mankind and the world’s religions through different Manifestations of God who founded the world’s religions.
The Baháʼí have three central figures the Báb, who was executed in 1850 for heresy and spread the belief that a prophet like Jesus and Muhammed would soon be born; Baháʼu’lláh, the founder of the religion who claimed to be that prophet, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, his son who spread the Baháʼí message across the world.
“In the Baha’i faith, we believe that all religions are one so it’s important for me to know about everything—Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Mohammed. It’s a beautiful thing. Baha’is believe that we are known by our deeds—it’s not about what we say, it’s about what we do. So it’s all about our service to humanity,” Baldoni told Interfaith Family.
Those of the Baháʼí faith elect members to their local, regional, and national Spiritual Assemblies. These groups manage the going ons of the religion. Every five years, an election is held to elect the Universal House of Justice members, the governing body of the Baháʼí. The governing institution is based in Haifa, Israel.
Báb’s tomb, located in Haifa after his remains were secretly transported from Iran, is on the side of Mount Carmel. The holiest location in the Baháʼí religion is the Shrine of Baháʼu’lláh, in Acre, Israel. Most followers of the faith make a pilgrimage to northern Israel to see these sites at least once in their lifetimes.
The Baháʼí have faced persecution across the Middle East since the religion’s inception. Many left Iran over state-sponsored targeting, including violent attacks on Baháʼí people, homes, cemeteries, and businesses; and arrests on false charges. Baháʼí are often restricted from working in businesses in Iran and are not allowed to attend the Islamic Republic’s universities.
Currently, the estimated number of Baháʼís worldwide is between 5 and 8 million. Over 800 members of the faith leave their homes each year to move to Haifa and volunteer at the Bahá’í World Center.
