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The organization has spent the last 21 months pushing back against misinformation, disinformation, and intimidation as anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism continue to take center stage.

By: KELLY HARTOG

JULY 13, 2025 05:17

LOS ANGELES –  Long before British punk rock act Bob Vylan took to the stage at Glastonbury in the UK and led thousands of festival attendees in rousing chants of “Death, Death, to the IDF,” the Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) staff was on the case. The blatant death threats and calls to violence, which were amplified by Irish rappers Kneecap, who also whipped the crowd into a frenzy, chanting “Free Palestine” while waving a Hezbollah flag, shocked Israelis and Jews across the world. Kneecap had already garnered headlines back in April after performing at Coachella in Southern California, where it projected on a screen: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the US government, who arms and funds Israel despite their war crimes. F*** Israel; free Palestine.”

The realities of terror support in the arts

Ari Ingel, executive director of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit CCFP, however, remained unsurprised. CCFP comprises prominent members of the entertainment community who promote the arts as a bridge to peace, educate about rising antisemitism in the industry, and galvanize support against the cultural boycott of Israel. Ingel and his team had warned festival organizers for months about both groups.

“We knew about Kneecap’s support for Hamas and Hezbollah as far back as February,” Ingel told The Jerusalem Post. “We contacted venues. We even reached out to Coachella and Glastonbury. Our warnings were ignored.” Despite this, CCFP’s covert actions successfully led to Kneecap’s US visa cancellation following their Coachella appearance, and their actions further led to Kneecap’s agency and Bob Vylan’s management severing ties. “We don’t want to stifle expression,” Ingel explains, “but when artists cross the line into supporting terrorist groups or inciting violence, there must be consequences.”

CCFP was founded in 2012 by Universal Music’s David Renzer and Worldwide Executive and President of Music for Electronic Arts (EA) Steve Schnur. The early focus was on combating boycotts of artists who performed in Israel. At the time, global musicians were inundated with pressure to cancel shows. “There was no balance in the discourse,” Ingel says. “Artists were being harassed into canceling without understanding what they were being asked to support.”

Over the past 13 years, CCFP has expanded its mission to include educating industry professionals about antisemitism, building bridges between Jewish and other communities, and countering the broader cultural boycott of Israel. “What makes us different is that we’re insiders,” Ingel shares. “This industry only listens to people it knows and trusts. That’s why we’ve built a peer-to-peer model. “The nonprofit’s advisory board helps make that happen. Its board members include top-tier industry figures, including the CEO of Warner Music, the president of Virgin Records, and the former CEO of Paramount Pictures. “It gives us access,” says Ingel. “When issues come up, we know who to call. ”CCFP also knows how to get things done quietly behind the scenes.

“We’re not in the game chasing headlines,” Ingel said. “We’re about impact.” That impact quietly affected the set of the hit ABC Network show, Grey’s Anatomy. In 2023, actor Jesse Williams, who played popular doctor Jackson Avery, publicly posted antisemitic statements on his social media. Despite leaving Grey’s Anatomy officially in 2021, the show planned for Williams to direct several episodes in 2023. When studio HR departments failed to respond to complaints, CCFP stepped in. “We reached out to ABC leadership directly,” Ingel shares, noting that many crew and cast were uncomfortable with Williams’ statements. “They weren’t even aware of what was happening, but they took it seriously and addressed it immediately.”

CCFP also worked quietly behind the scenes after music legend Roger Waters ramped up his antisemitic statements and imagery at his concerts. “We went directly to Bertelsmann, the parent company of his publisher, BMG,” Ingel says. “They ended their relationship with him and adopted the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism company-wide. “Beyond addressing issues connected to famous industry names, CCFP continues to fight cultural boycotts of Israeli artists and institutions. “It happens at festivals, in literary circles, and even at LGBTQ film events,” Ingel says. “When filmmakers were pressured to pull out of the [2022] Tel Aviv LGBTQ festival, CCFP rallied support from the likes of Sia, Billy Porter, and Zachary Quinto. Since then, not a single filmmaker has pulled out.”

CCFP also played a key role in defending Israel’s participation in Eurovision and resisting efforts to ban it from international sporting events like the World Cup. “We’re the counterbalance,” says Ingel. “We’re here to make sure there’s always another voice in the room. “However, the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre changed everything for the organization, forcing it more into the spotlight. “We knew the initial goodwill toward Israel wouldn’t last,” says Ingel. Indeed, five days after the attack, CCFP released a landmark open letter, signed by over 1,000 industry names (not all Jewish), including Gal Gadot, Helen Mirren, Amy Schumer, and Antoine Fuqua.

The letter condemned the massacre, demanded the release of hostages, and cautioned against spreading misinformation. Then, at the end of October 2023, CCFP launched its #Releasethehostages campaign, where 229 celebrities simultaneously posted about individual hostages. The viral campaign was designed to leverage entertainment leaders’ social media audiences to galvanize international support for the hostages and their families and ultimately to expedite their release from captivity. “People like Zooey Deschanel and Mandy Moore – who had said nothing before – spoke out,” Ingel notes. “Collective action gave them courage.” The organization also arranged trips for celebrities to witness the tragedy firsthand. Debra Messing traveled to Israel months after the attacks, and CCFP also facilitated private forums with hostage families and organized viewings of the Nova exhibit.

Ingel believes that CCFP’s success in an industry renowned for avoiding being seen as pro-Israel is because it is not a traditional pro-Israel PR group. “We don’t do hasbara,” he says. “We are insiders working with other insiders.”

“There’s a perception that Hollywood and the music industry are anti-Israel,” he says, but adds, “that’s not entirely true. Most people just don’t want to get involved. And then there are the quiet supporters who are afraid to speak out. “CCFP, he says, provides a space for those supporters through both dialogue and action. “Post-October 7, we saw a surge. We call them ‘October 8 Jews’– people who always knew they were Jewish but suddenly felt it in a new way, and they were alone. They turned to us.

“The organization has spent the last 21 months pushing back against misinformation, disinformation, and intimidation as anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism continue to take center stage.

Those efforts have included everything from coordinating open letters and hosting private events to working directly with decision makers, much of which remains invisible. It is precisely this, though, that fuels their success. “If you’re asking how we measure success, it’s not by headlines,” Ingel says. “It’s in the calls that get answered, the events that go on without a problem, and the silent majority who step up and say, ‘I’m with you.’”

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The Creative Community For Peace letter calls for the end to “lies designed to demonize Israel and the Jewish people.”

Nearly 400+ people in the entertainment industry signed an open letter calling for “a rejection of extremist rhetoric and the spread of misinformation.” 

The Creative Community For Peace (CCFP) released a letter signed by hundreds of creatives calling for an end to “lies and antisemitic incitement” in the fallout of the Israel-Hamas War. 

“Hamas, Iran, and their allies and ideological sympathizers in the West have flooded the world with their hateful lies and antisemitic incitement since October 7 — lies designed to demonize Israel, the Jewish people, and their supporters,” the text of the letter reads. 

Some of the signatories included Mayim Bialik, Debra Messing, Sharon Osbourne, Jerry O’Connell, Patricia Heaton, and Uzo Aduba.

Anti-Zionist protests affect Jewish lives

The letter went on to note the effects of the war, noting the shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington DC earlier this month. It also stated that the signatories believed that many people in Hollywood had been “manipulated by the constant stream of misinformation.”

The CCFP letter noted that the signatories believed that recent waves of anti-Zionist and anti-Israel protests directly endangered Jews around the world. 

“We reject the anti-Israel movement co-opting every social justice cause — outrageously claiming that to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community, or with anti-racist, anti-colonialist, anti-Islamophobic and anti-antisemitic movements, is to stand against Israel,” the statement read. 

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Organizers were reportedly blindsided by the hip-hop trio’s “Fuck Israel” display – but one advocacy group says it sounded the alarm days in advance

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The documentary contrasts the hardships that Basal Adra faces as a Palestinian with Yuval Abraham’s “freedom and security” as an Israeli, conveniently ignoring that Israelis have been subjected to relentless terror campaigns for decades.

By: Ari Ingel

“No Other Land” won the Oscar for Best Documentary. 

But does it present an accurate picture of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Not quite. 

“No Other Land” is a 2024 Palestinian documentary co-directed by a group of Israeli and Palestinian activists. 

The widely acclaimed film deals with the evictions of Palestinians from the area of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, interweaving the stories of Palestinian activist Basal Adra and his friend Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist. 

Though Palestinians claim to have lived in Masafer Yatta “for centuries” – or even longer – the historical facts on the ground are much different.

Neither Ottoman nor British documents show any permanent Palestinian-Arab communities in Masafer Yatta. 

Likewise, aerial photos from the 1980s don’t show any permanent Palestinian structures. 

In fact, Masafer Yatta has been designated a military zone since 1981. 

As part of Area C of the West Bank, Israel has the right to exercise full military and civil control of Masafer Yatta, as agreed upon by the Israelis and Palestinians during the Oslo Accords in the 1990s. 

After a lengthy court case, in a unanimous decision from Israel’s Supreme Court, it found dating back to the 1980’s that there was neither evidence of any freestanding structures that would indicate a permanent Palestinian presence there, nor any “permanent dwellings” in the region. 

The court also noted that the Palestinian petitioners rejected any attempted compromise offered to them.

One rarely discussed issue is that just as the settler movement has been trying to create facts on the ground in Area C of the West Bank, the Palestinians too, with the help of Europeans, have been also trying to create facts on the ground by building illegally, for many decades now. 

“No Other Land” also completely decontextualizes the actions that Israel carries out in the West Bank. 

For example, it does not address the Israeli security concerns that led Israel to designate Masafer Yatta a military zone. 

Because Masafer Yatta is used for firing exercises, illegally built Palestinian structures – which, again, were built after the area was designated a military zone – pose a risk to the lives of civilians. 

“No Other Land” also presents the Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta, and the West Bank in general, as victims of Israeli aggression. 

And while it’s true that many Palestinians have been victimized during the conflict, the film ignores the many, many times that Palestinians have carried out actions that have heightened tensions in the conflict: namely, Palestinian terrorism that informs virtually all Israeli policies in the West Bank. 

In fact, some of the most recent deadly attacks against Israelis have come from the nearby city of Yatta, including the Sarona Market massacre (2016), where two terrorists from Yatta walked into a busy Tel Aviv market and opened fire, murdering four civilians and wounding at least seven; the murder of Dafna Meir (2016) where a terrorist from Yatta stabbed Dafna Meir to death in front of her children outside her home in Otniel; the Yavneh stabbing attack (2018), where a terrorist from Yatta entered a supermarket, grabbed an Israeli civilian, and stabbed him repeatedly in the neck and chest, leaving him critically wounded, and the Gush Etzion stabbing (2018) where a terrorist from Yatta stabbed and killed Ari Fuld, a well-known Israeli activist.

The documentary contrasts the hardships that Basal Adra faces as a Palestinian with Yuval Abraham’s “freedom and security” as an Israeli, conveniently ignoring that Israelis have been subjected to relentless terror campaigns for decades. 

In 2024 alone, Israeli security forces – the same security forces that the documentary demonizes – thwarted over 1,000 terrorist attacks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including bombings, shootings, stabbings, car rammings, suicide bombings, attempted kidnappings, and more. 

While highlighting the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank is important, it’s equally important not to present a one-sided, inaccurate narrative of the situation, which not only demonizes Israelis by not explaining the reasoning behind Israel’s policies in the West Bank but also fosters divisions and undermines dialogue and peace efforts. 

Furthermore, from the stage, Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham stated: “Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free and safe? There is another way. It’s not too late for life, for the living.”

In an ideal world, the above statement would hold true.

However, Palestinian leadership and so-called civil society organizations have repeatedly demonstrated that they have no real interest in lasting peace or a two-state solution.

Israel’s security measures were implemented in direct response to terrorism and the continued Palestinian struggle to establish a state of Palestine in the entirety of the land between the river and the sea, instead of agreeing to live in pace and accepting a state of Palestine in just part of the land, as the Jews themselves have done. 

If Hollywood wants to understand the true security issues Israel faces, perhaps they should watch the Palestinian documentary filmed on October 7, where Hamas and other Palestinian militants broadcast to the world hundreds of hours in which they documented themselves murdering entire families, kidnapping Holocaust survivors and infants, and committing unimaginable horrors, including rape.

The horrors of October 7, 2023 exposed the devastating consequences of Israeli security failures.

In this new reality, empty platitudes, not to mention empty films, no longer suffice.

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By: Shiryn Ghermezian

Adam Brody, Billy Crystal, and Eugene Levy are among the Jewish celebrities whose homes have been destroyed and reduced to rubble by the wildfires in Los Angeles County that started early Tuesday morning and have so far killed 10 people.

Brody and his wife, actress Leighton Meester, lived in the Pacific Palisades, where an out-of-control bush fire started Tuesday morning before spreading to other neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area with the help of strong winds.

Crystal lost the Pacific Palisades house where he had lived since 1979 and raised his children.

Levy also saw his house burn down in the same neighborhood. The “Schitt’s Creek” star told the Los Angeles Times that he was caught in gridlock traffic when trying to evacuate his neighborhood. Levy, who is Canadian, has been serving as Pacific Palisades’ honorary mayor since 2021.

“Top Gun: Maverick” actor Miles Teller, who is of Russian and Jewish descent on his father’s side, had pictures of his burning home shared by media outlets. American television host and actress Melissa Rivers, who is the daughter of the late Jewish comedian and media personality Joan Rivers, also had her home destroyed by the wildfires. She talked to CNN on Wednesday about the belongings she took from her home before evacuating, and said they included her mother’s only Emmy award — won in 1990 for Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host for her work on “The Joan Rivers Show.” Rivers also grabbed items such as passports, birth certificates, and medication before evacuating her home.

“I grabbed my mom’s Emmy, a photo of my dad [the late producer Edgar Rosenberg], and a drawing that my mother had done of me and my son … I went for a drawing of my mother’s rather than a photo, because I know I can find the photos,” she said, adding of the drawing, “I can’t replace [it].”

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center was decimated by the fire, but its 13 Torah scrolls were saved.

Other Jewish celebrities whose homes were destroyed in the wildfires include Diane Warren, Ricki Lake, and Jennifer Grey.

Warren and Levy have been honored by Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), a pro-Israel nonprofit organization that is comprised of prominent members of the entertainment industry dedicated to combating anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism in the industry. The organization shared its condolences to victims of the wildfires in a released statement.

“We are devastated by the unprecedented destruction in Los Angeles, which has forced members of the Creative Community for Peace’s advisory board, and broader community, and even our esteemed Ambassadors of Peace honorees, such as Eugene Levy and Diane Warren, to evacuate and face the loss of their homes,” CCFP said. “We are a community of strength and resilience. Together, we will rebuild and overcome.”

Lake’s home in Malibu was destroyed on Tuesday, and she chronicled in a series of Instagram posts her family’s failed efforts to stay behind and save the house, before they decided to evacuate and prevent themselves from being engulfed in the flames.

“Ross and I lost our dream home,” she wrote in one Instagram post, referring to her husband. “This description ‘dream home’ doesn’t suffice. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together … This loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event. Praying for all of my neighbors, my friends, my community, the animals, the firefighters, and first responders.”

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who is the daughter of the late Jewish actor Tony Curtis, said she is donating $1 million toward the relief efforts for the wildfires in LA.

“As the fire still rages on and @calfire @losangelesfiredepartment and all the available first responders and agencies involved in fighting fire and saving lives are still hard at work and neighbors and friends are banding together to save each other, my husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there,” Curtis, who had to evacuate her LA home, wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday. “I’m in communication with [California] Governor [Gavin] Newsom and [LA] Mayor [KAren] Bass and Senator [Adam] Schiff as to where those funds need to be directed for the most impact.”

At least 70,000 people have been displaced by the wildfires since Tuesday morning, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said late on Thursday that he expects the death toll to increase. The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu and the Eaton fire in the east near Pasadena have been ranked as the most destructive fires in the history of Los Angeles for destroying more than 34,000 acres and nearly 10,000 structures, according to Reuters.

The Jewish organization Chai Lifeline is providing resources to support victims of the Los Angeles wildfire, and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles has created a Wildfire Crisis Relief Fund to support its neighbors affected by the fires, while also helping to facilitate shelter, warm meals, and other needs for victims. BStrong — an initiative started by Jewish entrepreneur and former reality star Bethenny Frankel in partnership with the nonprofit organization Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) — is raising funds and also providing supplies and resources to help with the relief efforts.

Cover Photo: Flames rise from a structure as the Palisades fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, US, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ringo Chiu

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On Monday, Nov. 4, Creative Community for Peace will be hosting its fall vanguard gathering featuring a conversation with author and educator Ben M. Freeman and top entertainment attorney David Byrnes.

On Monday, Nov. 4, Creative Community for Peace will be hosting its fall vanguard gathering featuring a conversation with author and educator Ben M. Freeman and top entertainment attorney David Byrnes. CCFP’s Executive Director Ari Ingel will be moderating the event called, “Israel, Antisemitism, and the Entertainment Industry,” which is set to take place at a private residence in Cheviot Hills.

Freeman is the founder of the modern Jewish pride movement, as well as author of “Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People” (2021) and “Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride” (2022). He’s currently working on a third book, “The Jews: An Indigenous People,” to be released in February of next year, and he’s an outspoken advocate on X and Instagram. 

As an entertainment attorney, Byrnes, a partner at Ziffren Brittenham LLP, has represented prominent people like Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé, and the estates of Kurt Cobain, Tom Petty and the Ramones. 

“Vanguard events bring experts on antisemitism and entertainment together,” said Ingel. “Having both Ben and David speak helps bridge and coalesce the conversation on the Jewish experience within entertainment.”

The CCFP executive director praised Freeman as a “fantastic writer and a thoughtful public intellectual” who is “helping to reshape the conversation and public perception about antisemitism and the Jewish connection to Israel.” He said that Byrnes, “works with some of the biggest music talent in the industry, many of whom have performed in Israel, despite being targeted by BDS activists online.”

Since it was founded in 2011, CCFP has worked to support artists who wish to perform in Israel and fight boycotts of the Jewish state from groups like BDS. Following Oct. 7, it put out videos of celebrities – both Jewish and not Jewish – standing up for the Jewish community and Israel, and it’s held several events and sponsored community-wide solidarity gatherings.

Recently, they were one of the sponsors of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles’ Oct. 7 memorial featuring Mayor Karen Bass, Mayim Bialik, Scooter Braun and Moran Atias, among many others. They also encouraged people to attend the Nova exhibit, and they will be holding a screening of “October H8te,” a documentary that Debra Messing produced about the explosion of antisemitism over the past year. 

For the Nov. 4 event, CCFP is requesting an $18 donation per person, which includes the conversation, networking opportunities for entertainment professionals and food and drinks. 

“We hope [attendees] learn about some of the ongoing challenges facing Israel and the Jewish people, and connect with a broader community committed to peace,” Ingel said. “We also encourage their participation in conversation and hope they leave with a sense of connection with one another and a renewed resilience to stand against antisemitism and anti-Israeli attitudes.”

It’s important to hold the upcoming event, and others for the community, because the next generation of entertainment industry leaders need to be educated on issues surrounding Israel and antisemitism, according to Ingel. 

“That’s why we launched the Vanguard initiative – to educate, curate connection and build awareness around the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community, particularly within the entertainment industry,” he said. “Through increased awareness, we hope to continue to build momentum within the entertainment community to stand for peace and against antisemitism.”

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The activist Palestinian journalist identified a line of men detained by the IDF as a “death queue” without providing evidence for her claims

By: Mike Roe

A post from activist Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda made unsubstantiated claims calling an image of men captured by the Israeli military a “death queue,” renewing outrage around her Emmy win last month for a documentary on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Photos and video shared by Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee indicated that the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency conducted an operation that led to the arrest of terrorists, shared alongside images and video. Owda alleged Saturday that the men were being lined up to be killed or taken hostage. She did not provide evidence for her speculation.

“As a well-documented member of the youth propaganda wing of the PFLP terrorist group, it is not surprising that she is spreading blood libels and disinformation, making these outrageous claims,” Ari Ingel, executive director of pro-Israel Jewish entertainment nonprofit Creative Community for Peace, told TheWrap.

Owda has previously been identified as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, designated by the United States as a terrorist organization since 1997. She has been seen in video speaking at PFLP rallies and was explicitly referred to by the organization as a member in 2018.

The group issued a call for Owda’s Emmy nomination to be withdrawn in August, but they were unsuccessful in their efforts.

“What is truly troubling is that the NATAS Emmys decided to legitimize someone with terrorist ties, and so now people believe what she says and think that what she posts is credible,” Ingel continued. “NATAS should rescind her award and apologize.”

Owda won at the 2024 News & Documentary Emmys in the Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form category, alongside Qatari-owned media outlet AJ+, for their series “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive.” Owda is a journalist, activist and filmmaker best known for her work on social media platforms including Instagram (4.7 million followers) and TikTok, in which she documents her experience during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

In her post, Owda wrote, “I don’t know if this post is to ask for your solidarity. We tried it, and nothing stopped Israel’s thirst for the blood of my people, or it was not enough for that!”

The language used by Owda has been criticized for it containing elements of blood libel, the false notion that Jews kill non-Jews to use their blood in rituals. Critics have pointed to allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians as helping to spread this trope.

“But this is to show how horrific our world is, and how alone my people are in the face of the monster,” Owda continued. “**I once heard a story that I did not like, about a village where everyone was vile and despicable, so they threw the only man in the village who had noble morals off the mountain. They killed him because he reminded them of their ugliness. **

“This is what is happening with the Palestinians today, unfortunately. The queue you see now in this photo taken an hour ago in Jabalia / North Gaza is the death queue,” Owda’s post continued. “The Israeli terrorist army separates the females from the males (men and male children sometimes)… They order the women to leave and take the men to a far place, with their hands tied and blindfolded and they are often placed in a deep hole.. and we all know what happens later.”

She continued to make a variety of speculative claims about what happened to the men after their arrests. “Either they bury them alive, as happened in the north and Khan Yunis during the first ground invasion, or they execute them on the ground, or they take them hostage, as happened to 10,000 who subsequently suffered torture, murder, organ theft, and rape. What do you think? What is the most likely scenario?”

“I feel disgusted with all human ideals and values. The Zionist colonizers in 2024 are doing this before your eyes,” Owda wrote, before going on to praise the men seen in the photos as she concluded her post. “What oppression and pain, these men survived and protected their families from all kinds of death over the course of a year and until the last moment, and they refused to leave their homes, and now they are being annihilated in this way. They are depopulating northern Gaza by killing the entire population!”

Owda also won a Peabody Award for “It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive” earlier this year. PFLP, which became known in the 1970s for its airplane hijackings, also participated in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israeli citizens and the kidnapping of hundreds of others.

The CCFP argued when Owda and AJ+ were nominated that the nomination violates NATAS’ Code of Ethical Conduct, which states that “NATAS and its Chapters have zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment or illegal, dishonest, unethical or otherwise harmful conduct.”

As a member of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, the pro-Israel nonprofit argues that her Emmy nomination “could reasonably be construed as contrary or detrimental to the best interests of the Academy.”

Owda has also been criticized for promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories as the World Health Organization worked to vaccinate Gaza residents from polio, including criticism from fellow Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary. Owda called on Palestinians not to vaccinate their children while not providing any evidence that the vaccinations were anything other than actual vaccinations meant to protect from the disease.

Palestinian filmmakers previously defended Owda after the call for her Emmy to be rescinded, accusing Hollywood of “racism and censorship.”

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By Sara Smola

Mayim Bialik, Ben Silverman, Elliot Grainge, Phylicia Fant, and Josh Binder Named 2024 Ambassadors of Peace

“I never in my life imagined that I would be in a position to fight for the right of Israel to exist,” said actress and author Mayim Bialik at Creative Community for Peace’s (CCFP) sixth annual “Ambassadors of Peace” gala held September 24.

“I never imagined I would need the kind of support that CCFP provides,” Bialik continued. “I’m very, very humbled to be recognized for my advocacy. I’m a liberal Zionist. I’m a lover of peace. I’m the child of Civil Rights activists. I want you to know how much your support of CCFP allows so many of us to stand up to hate and to discrimination and to intimidation.”

Bialik was one of five Hollywood luminaries honored by the non-profit organization, Creative Community For Peace for its sixth annual “Ambassadors of Peace” gala. Over 500 entertainment professionals gathered at a private home in Beverly Hills for the swanky soiree, honoring prominent figures in the biz who champion the power of the arts to foster unity and promote peace.

Aside from Bialik, other honorees included: Propagate Content Chairman and Co-CEO Ben Silverman; Atlantic Music Group CEO and 10K Projects Founder Elliot Grainge; Amazon Music’s Head of Music Industry & Culture Collaborations Phylicia Fant; and Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder LLP Founding Partner Josh Binder. All were recognized for their ability to effect positive change around the world.

David Renzer, chairman and co-founder of CCFP, and Ari Ingel, executive director of CCFP remarked, “Our honorees this year exemplify the core values of Creative Community for Peace. Their contributions to the entertainment industry promote understanding and peace. We are proud to recognize their efforts and celebrate their achievements.”

The evening served to counter antisemitism within the entertainment industry and to galvanize support against the cultural boycott of Israel by bringing people of all backgrounds together.

“We’re more polarized than ever and unfortunately, finding common ground and humanity is becoming harder to find,” shared Mayim Bialik. “I use my platform to tell my story to the public through humor and authenticity, hoping it bends our collective arc a little closer to justice. I’m deeply honored for CCFP’s recognition of my work. Their mission to pursue peace through connection, dialogue, and tolerance is imperative.”

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CCFP is holding its sixth annual Ambassadors of Peace Gala (AOP), where they honor five individuals in entertainment for using their platform to bring people together, as well as effect positive change.

On Oct. 12, five days after the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Creative Community for Peace put out a letter in support for Israel. Signed by over 2,000+ people in entertainment including Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Helen Mirren and Debra Messing, the letter called for the release of the hostages and condemned Hamas.

Gadot said, “My heart is aching for the lives lost and families shattered. I’m praying for everyone who has been affected by Hamas’ terrorism and brutality. And I hope that the world remains steadfast in their support of the Israeli people.”

Since the letter was released, CCFP has urged celebrities – whether or not they are Jewish – to stand up for Israel and advocate for peace. On their Instagram account, they frequently release videos of entertainers voicing support for the Jewish state, as well as advocate for the hostages and share inspiring content, like Shaq wishing a “Shana Tova” to survivors of Oct. 7.

Now, CCFP is holding its sixth annual Ambassadors of Peace Gala (AOP), where they honor five individuals in entertainment for using their platform to bring people together, as well as effect positive change. The main honoree at this year’s event, which is taking place at a home in Beverly Hills, is Mayim Bialik of “The Big Bang Theory,” “Blossom” and “Beaches.”

“I am so grateful to all of the work that CCFP has done for the Jewish community and in particular, for those of us in Hollywood trying to make sense of a lot of uncertainty and fear post Oct. 7,” Bialik told The Journal. “My understanding of the news coming out of Israel and my place in the world as a proud liberal Zionist has been transformed by the work of CCFP and their tireless efforts to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism.”

I am so grateful to all of the work that CCFP has done for the Jewish community and in particular, for those of us in Hollywood trying to make sense of a lot of uncertainty and fear post Oct. 7.” – Mayim Bialik

The other gala honorees include Phylicia Fant, who is head of music industry and culture collaboration at Amazon Music; Josh Binder, a founding partner at Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder, LLP; Elliot Grange, CEO of Atlantic Music Group; and Ben Silverman, chairman and co-CEO of Propagate Content.

“All of the honorees are people we know that care about our mission and they understand the importance of our work and believe in it,” said former CEO/Chairman Universal Music Publishing and CCFP Chairman and Co-Founder David Renzer.

According to Renzer, this AOP is shaping up be the biggest event yet, with over 500 attendees, and a record amount of fundraising.

He was proud to see that, after Oct. 7, “there are many people in the Jewish community who have been activated. They say they were apathetic about their Judaism in the past, but the rise in antisemitism has really alarmed them. So many people are motivated to do something.”

At the same time, Renzer has seen people in the entertainment industry face backlash and attacks for being Jewish and/or pro-Israel.

“People have created online groups that call out Zionists in music and film and entertainment,” he said. “It’s their way of trying to intimidate the Jewish executives. But we will not be intimidated.”

Along with posting up videos and statements of celebrities coming out in support of the Jewish community and Israel, CCFP educates on antisemitism within the entertainment industry and builds bridges with other communities.

“We have a lot of members who aren’t Jewish who we honor,” Renzer said. “We try to have a diverse group of people who embody the spirit of CCFP.”

Unlike other galas, AOP, which honored actors Liev Schreiber in 2023 and Eugene Levy in 2022, is more of a casual party as opposed to a sit-down, formal banquet.

“It’s not your typical event,” Renzer said. “There will be music and performances, and it’s an incredible networking opportunity for people in entertainment. It’s in a beautiful home in Beverly Hills. It’s got a unique vibe, which is by design.”

Ari Ingel, executive director of CCFP, added, “People in the entertainment community are like the entire Jewish community right now — they feel the need to be with their peers and are looking for support and guidance on how we can tackle challenges together. That’s where CCFP has been doing an incredible job and service to the industry. That’s why this evening has taken on a new level of importance.”

By gathering together hundreds of leaders in entertainment, CCFP is fulfilling its mission: to push for peace and create positive change in the world. For

Ingel, this proves that “our communities are stronger when we stand together against all forms of hate.”

To purchase tickets (General admission, $360; sponsorships available), visithttps://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/gala/purchase.