“Michael’s around here, mingling with everyone,” the friendly receptionist at the Sheraton Hotel in Tel Aviv told me. Hollywood actor Michael Rapaport was staying there during his fifth visit to Israel this year.
Since the horrific events of October 7, 2023, Rapaport has become a vocal supporter of Israeli advocacy. His Instagram page is entirely dedicated to supporting Israel, and despite the platform adding a disclaimer warning that Rapaport "may share false information," he remained undeterred, continuing to speak out.
Now, during his fifth visit to the country, where he performed two shows in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, I sat down with him for an honest and, as you’d expect from Rapaport, completely unfiltered conversation.
Michael Rapaport
So why perform here, in Israel?
"I decided to perform in Israel because I love it here, simply. Also, I feel like it's important if you can laugh, and obviously with everything that's going on here, it's been hard to laugh because there's been so much sadness. I was conflicted about doing the shows because I wasn't sure if it was a time to laugh because there's so much pain. But ultimately, I think if I could bring even a blink, a moment, a second of joy, then it's my honor to do that."
Even our local comedians took some time, but they eventually realized that the strongest tool is to laugh at the situation, as much as possible.
"I do some of it from my perspective. I'm not Israeli, so my perspective is different, but I think that it's important to bring joy. One thing I've experienced from my trips here is that the light of the people of Israel doesn't go out, not even in the darkest of times. Being able to do the shows is important and if I can hopefully encourage other performers to come here, terrific."
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Rapaport has become an integral part of the Israeli scene. During his visits to the country, he has traveled across Israel from north to south, meeting many Israelis who are naturally excited to see him. "It's very humbling, the way people are happy to see me. A lot of people thank me, but I just thank them. I don't need to be thanked. I'm just doing what I think everyone should be doing," he says.
Quite a few of your colleagues, celebrities overseas, have spoken out against Israel. What do you think we need to do to change that?
"I don't know what to do to change it. It's been very challenging and very frustrating. I think the most important thing is to continue to put out the truth, the good truth, the ugly truth, the hard truth and to stick with that. I think the Hollywood people, the actors, the artists and the singers, they're not as important as the other people. I think it's overrated. We give them too much significance. I think the most important thing is to just to continue to put out the truth the best we can."
Rapaport's latest visit was particularly special, as he had the opportunity to experience Yom Kippur in its full tradition. According to him, it was an extraordinary experience. "It was great to see the country have a peaceful break. I was very happy that that happened, but I was also scared and concerned," he said.
"The best thing that I saw from Yom Kippur was at one point I saw about 20 kids on bikes laughing like kids and that made me feel really good to see them laughing, the unity, because I know last year was so much chaos and protests and all that stuff. So it was nice to see that and I really hope that the country can continue to be unified. Of course, no one's ever going to get along altogether. It's impossible. Pick and choose the most important things."
Do you think your Judaism changed over this past year?
"My Judaism has changed 100%. I am more in tune with it. I'm more proud, I'm more aware, I'm more educated. I'm more proactive in every single way possible and I'm really glad about that."
Do you believe in God differently?
"Yes. I believe in God in a different way. I believe in Hashem in a different way. I celebrate and understand him in a different way. I think we have nothing but faith. You have to have faith. That's been one of the good things that has come from this last year for me personally."
Next month, on November 5, the United States will elect its next president. While Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are busy dragging each other through the mud as much as possible, Rapaport has already made up his mind—and it’s crystal clear.
"I think that I've had a lot, a lot, a lot, alot—I said four times—problems with Trump when he was in office. But the one thing that I was wrong about and the one thing that I wasn't informed about and educated enough and the one thing that I let my emotions get in the way is how he took care of Israel," he says.
"So I don't know who's going to win. I believe that Trump is absolutely better for Jews. I believe that Trump is absolutely better for Israel as a whole. And I am extremely concerned about what Kamala will do if she won. However, I feel like Israel will be taken care of always, but we might not be at the top of her list."
Do you think the United States is doing enough for Israel?
"That's a good question. I think that they made a bunch of mistakes. I think they've done a lot, but I think they've made a mistake. I think holding up weapons, regarding Rafah and Ramadan, was bad. I think the messaging and the good cop/bad cop from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has been really bad.
"I think that this bullshit, you make sure you put this, this bullshit about two-state solution is ridiculous. I think it's f***ing ridiculous. The idea of a two-state solution is ridiculous and articulating that to the American public is so f***ing ridiculous. It's absurd and I think they know that it's absurd but they're just saying it to say it. It's f***ing ridiculous though. It's totally ridiculous. It's always been ridiculous, but it's never been more ridiculous than after October 7. There's no two-state solution, they don't want a two-state solution. They've said it a billion times.
"It's like, who gives a s*** with you? If they don't want a two-state solution, what are you going to do or if there's a two-state solution, great, then you make it happen. Israel can't make it happen. It's not going to work with us. So if it could happen, then you do it, Kamala. Make it happen. It's impossible. She can't do it. So stop saying it if you know it's impossible unless you know something that the rest of us don't know."
5 View gallery
Rapaport joins hostage families' protest in New York
(Photo: Benjamin Collena and Liri Agami)
Do you think you've paid a price for your support of Israel?
"I don't know if there's a price. I believe in myself, I believe in my talent. I know I haven't done anything wrong. I think that the people that are pro-Palestinian in my business that are supporting terrorists, supporting Hamas and speaking in such a reckless way, there should be a price to pay for that because what they're saying is dangerous. It's anti-Jewish, it's anti-Zionist. I haven't said and I haven't done anything that needs to be explained or apologized for."
What does your family think about your unwavering support for Israel?
"My family is proud of me, my family is happy. I think at first they didn’t quite understand, but now they’re proud of me."
Even though anyone who follows Rapaport knows he doesn’t hold back, he remains cautious when it comes to expressing his views on Israeli politics. "I'm not an expert on Israeli politics by any means," he notes when I ask him for his opinion on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"It's hard for me to give an educated opinion on him. I wouldn't want to be in his position. This is an extremely challenging time. I think he probably knows he's made mistakes regarding October 7. I don't think anybody could do it perfect. But I honestly don't know enough. I'm not educated enough to give a really educated opinion."
Have you watched his speeches before Congress and the UN?
"I think those have been great. He's good with words, very good with words."
Earlier this month, after weeks of threats, Iran launched an attack on Israel, firing over 180 ballistic missiles across the country. In this case, the phrase "an outsider wouldn’t understand" fits perfectly. "It was horrifying. It scared the s*** out of me and I wasn't here," he says.
"I think it's unacceptable. I think that Iran needs to be taken over. Iran needs to be totally disarmed. Iran needs to be bankrupted and that place is the f***ing terror capital of the world. It's unacceptable what they've done historically and launching 200 ballistic missiles into our country, into Israel, it's unacceptable and I feel like Israel is having to fight the rest of the world's dirty war. Nobody likes Iran, but Israel is sort of being put like 'you go do it, we'll support you. We won't say we're going to support you, but you go do it.' I think it's f***ed up. Iran is a f***ing terrorist regime ran by the worst of the worst. It's a rich terrorist regime which is even scarier."
'I decided to perform in Israel because I love it here'
On the other hand, on a more positive note—what's your take on Hezbollah's pagers and walkie-talkies going kaboom?
"Unbelievable, like if it was a movie. You would think if it was fake, it would be a bad movie. The best of Jewish culture, the best of Israel, the best of the Jewish brains and the heart and the toughness, the top of the top."
Since the interview, Rapaport has returned home to New York, but when I asked if he could see himself moving to Israel, the idea clearly intrigued him. "I definitely would love to live here. I would love to spend as much time here as possible," he says. "I love Israel. There's so much more for me to see and learn about Israel and I just love it. I love the people. I love the history. I love it. I really do love it. It feels like home."
While his next visit to Israel hasn’t been scheduled yet, he promises it will be very soon. Can't wait!
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