Jewish men in the Diaspora have long been depicted as much more closely resembling Woody Allen than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Translation: They’re not particularly masculine or brave — but rather, meek, wimpy, neurotic, overly intellectual, nonathletic, and so forth. (The seven-decades-long valiant history of the IDF should have dispelled the stereotype regarding Israeli Jewish men.) Now along comes Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the antithesis of the traditional stereotype who is courageously, steadfastly leading the Ukrainian people. Hopefully, Zelinsky will make many people — Jews and non-Jews alike
— reconsider their preconceived notions about Diaspora Jewish men.
Quote: “What’s most surprising is that Americans have celebrated his manliness despite Zelensky’s being Jewish. Traditionally, Americans have seen manliness as uncharacteristic of, if not antithetical to, Jewish identity. While there have been tough Jewish men, the stereotype in popular media has leaned toward a bookish nebbish, embodied by someone like Woody Allen — so much so that the characteristics of a nebbish imply Jewishness, even if it’s unstated. The unprecedented hero worship of a Jewish ‘stud’ heroically leading his people in wartime may upend these emasculated stereotypes that have plagued Jews for so long.”
Sources: The Washington Post (introduction and quotation)
Learn more Jewish stereotypes from Wikipedia. ►
Read “Widespread admiration for Volodymyr Zelensky could upend stereotypes about Jewish men” ►
Watch “Interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | DW News” [25:37]. ►
Photo: The Times of Israel
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