The real story behind Sammy Davis Jr.’s conversion to Judaism
Jewish comedians made racist jokes about him. Some Black audiences booed him. But his faith was genuine
Sammy Davis Jr.
The Latest
-
Culture -
Forverts in English 30 years of ‘Aladdin’: The Yiddish actor behind the opening song, ‘Arabian Nights’
Most people think it’s the genie, played by Robin Williams, that sings it, but it’s actually the late beloved Yiddish actor, Bruce Adler
-
Opinion It’s time for white Jews to get over Sammy Davis Jr.
When I was growing up, I thought that I was related to Sammy Davis Jr. Whenever people would find out I was Jewish they would instantly ask, “Like Sammy Davis Jr.?” It was as if he was the only Black Jew in the world — besides me, of course. Yet we had nothing in common…
-
The Schmooze ‘The Post,’ National Jewish Book Award Winners And More To Read, Watch And Do This Weekend
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Whether or not you have the holiday off, take some time this weekend to honor King’s legacy. Here’s a list of Jewish ways to celebrate the holiday — it’s from 2016, but still relevant! — but the best way to continue King’s work is to help address continuing…
-
Culture ‘Twas the Night Before Hanukkah
(JTA) — Sammy Davis Jr. is quoted on why he converted to Judaism in a new exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History. “I became a Jew because I was ready and willing to understand the plight of a people who fought for thousands of years for a homeland,” the late entertainer said. What…
-
Culture How Sammy Davis Jr. Became the Great Jewish Entertainer
● Sammy Davis Jr.: A Personal Journey with My Father By Tracey Davis and Nina Bunche Pierce Running Press, 208 pages, $30 ‘Even when my own people would complain to me about racism,” Sammy Davis Jr. told his daughter shortly before the end of his life, “I would always say, ‘You got it easy. I’m…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion Julianna Margulies is not your average ‘Karen’
- 2
Opinion Calling for genocide is antisemitic. Why couldn’t the president of my alma mater say so?
- 3
Looking Forward ‘People thought we were dead’: They spent 27 hours under fire from Hamas — then Netanyahu used their home for an Elon Musk photo op
- 4
Opinion How Oct. 7 is reshaping the Zionist — and anti-Zionist — left in the US
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward University of Pennsylvania president resigns after widely-panned remarks about Jewish genocide
-
Fast Forward UPenn trustees call emergency meeting as calls mount for president to resign over remarks about Jewish genocide
-
Fast Forward Harvard president apologizes, Penn alum yanks $100M gift as congressional antisemitism hearing fallout continues
-
Film & TV ‘The Zone of Interest’ asks: Why would a family want to live at Auschwitz?
Engage
-
Catch Up on Yiddish Events
-
It's trivia time!
Join us for our online fundraiser!
Online
The Supreme Court: Is the Crown Jewel of American Democracy in Peril?
Wed., Dec. 13, 2023 • 7 P.M. ET
ZOOM
NPR Legal Correspondent Nina Totenberg in conversation with Editor-in-Chief Jodi Rudoren. To benefit the Forward.
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
