Noah Schnapp recently clarified his views on the current Israel-Hamas conflict, backtracking on his previous remarks supporting Israel.
Read more: Who are the celebrities supporting Israel during the war?
Shortly after Oct. 7, Schnapp was seen holding stickers that said “Zionism is sexy” and “Hamas is ISIS,” and received backlash for liking a video that mocked Palestinian victims.
The “Stranger Things” star recently posted a TikTok video stating that his “thoughts and beliefs have been so far misconstrued” and expressing his wish for “peace and safety and security for all innocent people affected by this conflict.”
Is Noah Schnapp Jewish? Yes. Let’s unpack his Jewish identity.
The basics
Noah Schnapp was born in New York City to Jewish parents Mitchell and Karine Schnapp. His father is of Russian Jewish descent and his mother is of Moroccan Jewish descent. Schnapp had his bar mitzvah in Israel in 2018.
Schnapp took an interest in acting at age 5 after watching the Broadway production of “Annie.” He acted in school and community plays and had an acting coach.
His debut role was in the Academy Award-winning 2015 film “Bridge of Spies,” but he is best known for his role as Will Byers in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
He visited Israel in 2023
Schnapp, who is now 19, visited Israel in July 2023 and posted about the experience on his Instagram stories, calling the trip “so inspiring.” He shared that he was learning about his culture and was spotted by fans wearing a kippa and tefillin at the Kotel. He also took a tour of Jerusalem that was organized by Aish Global.
He was also seen out and about in Tel Aviv and posted from his beachside hotel, “I’m in love with this place.”
He has portrayed Jewish characters
Although Schnapp’s “Stranger Things” character isn’t Jewish, Schnapp has had a number of Jewish roles. He played a half-Jewish, half-Palestinian boy who tries to unite his family in the 2019 film “Abe.”
In 2020, he starred in “Waiting for Anya” as a young shepherd trying to smuggle Jewish refugees out of Nazi-occupied France. He told the Jewish Chronicle that as a Jew he “really resonated” with the film.
He celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah
In 2017 Schnapp revealed that his family celebrates “Christmukah,” a blended holiday of Christmas and Hannukah.
He initially stood with Israel after October 7
Schnapp initially posted a message of support for Jews and Israelis in early October, but the post has since been removed. He called on his Instagram followers to stand with Israel and denounce Hamas and antisemitism, writing:
“As a Jewish American, I am afraid. Afraid for my brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been senselessly attacked by Hamas. I am truly heartbroken to see the brutal murders of innocent children, women and soldiers fighting to defend themselves,” he wrote.
“I, like others, want peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. Let’s stop the rhetoric and choosing sides. Instead, we must recognize that we are all on the side of the fight against terrorism. Choose humanity over violence,” he added.
After receiving backlash for the post, Schnapp said: ‘You don’t have to be Jewish, you don’t have to be Israeli, you just have to have empathy and common sense to know that THIS is wrong.”
The actor’s comments were not received well and fans called for a boycott of “Stranger Things.”
Originally Published Jan 17, 2024 12:09PM EST
