Adam Sandler cited a childhood admiration for Israeli military prowess as the inspiration for his latest film.
In Sandler’s comedy “You Don’t Mess With The Zohan,” the Jewish actor plays a Mossad hit man-turned-hairdresser. The Brooklyn-born Sandler said he grew up on stories glorifying Israel’s armed forces.
“Anytime anyone comes after them, they take care of business,” Sandler told reporters this week of Israelis. “As a Jewish kid, you were proud of that. So I admired them.”
“An Israeli guy used to cut my hair, and I just thought it’d be funny to see an Israeli soldier, a bad-ass fearless warrior who had a little secret dream of wanting to do something else, but was embarrassed to share it with anyone,” he said.
As the Year Turns, Support the Journalism You Trust. JTA covers the stories shaping Jewish life around the world — with the depth this moment calls for. As you reflect on the year ahead, consider a gift that keeps independent Jewish journalism strong.
