Over 170 Jewish artists and activists have signed a letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo against accusations of antisemitism, calling the claims an "outrageous smear campaign." However, a closer examination of the signatories reveals significant connections to the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), suggesting the defense may be an organized effort by an established anti-Israel activist network rather than an organic response from the broader Jewish community.
Among the 177 signatories are well-known figures such as Joel Coen, Tony Kushner, Hannah Einbinder, and Ilana Glazer. However, less than half of the signatories are figures from the entertainment industry. The list also includes a substantial number of academics, political organizers, anti-Zionist activists, and rabbis whose anti-Israel activism predates the current controversy.
Several individuals on the letter have held prominent roles within JVP, described as the world's largest progressive anti-Zionist Jewish organization. Rebecca Vilkomerson, former executive director of JVP, and Phyllis Bennis, a former board member, are signatories. Rabbi Alissa Wise held senior leadership positions within the organization, and Rabbis David Mivasair and Linda Holtzman served on its Rabbinical Council. Other signatories include long-time advocates for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and anti-Zionist activists like Sarah Schulman, Udi Aloni, and Naomi Klein.
JVP's political stances have been characterized by criticism of Israel. Following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, JVP attributed the violence to "Israeli apartheid and occupation" and U.S. complicity. In the subsequent days, the group accused Israel of launching a "genocidal war" and called for action to stop the "imminent genocide" of Palestinians. JVP has also been involved in organizing protests, including those at Sen. Chuck Schumer's home and within the U.S. Capitol, where hundreds were arrested.
During the 2024 campus encampment movement, JVP stated its student chapters helped organize at least 47 encampments nationwide. The group celebrated encampments at over 100 campuses as "liberated zones." Columbia University suspended its JVP chapter, along with Students for Justice in Palestine, in November 2023 for repeated violations of university event policies.
This network of activists represents a small ideological faction within American Jewry, according to a 2025 survey commissioned by Jewish Federations of North America. The survey found that only 7% of American Jews identified as anti-Zionist, while 88% affirmed Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state.
The letter defending Ruffalo reportedly does not deeply engage with the specific accusations against him. Instead, it shifts the focus to a debate about Israel and Gaza. The criticism against Ruffalo centered on his rhetoric, which fused themes of the Jewish state, Jewish executives, wealth, media ownership, and "profoundly scary technology" into a narrative about concentrated power that could be "used on you." This narrative structure has been compared to long-standing antisemitic conspiracy theories that depict Jews manipulating society from behind the scenes.
The article suggests that while Ruffalo and his defenders may sincerely believe they are advocating for Palestinians, their rhetoric may inadvertently contribute to the normalization of hatred toward Jews. The letter's declaration that the "tired playbook" of raising antisemitism "has run its course" is also questioned, with the assertion that antisemitism does not disappear when acknowledging it conflicts with a political agenda.
Ultimately, the article contends that the headlines proclaiming a broad Jewish Hollywood rally behind Ruffalo obscure a more complex reality, where a small ideological minority is utilizing their Jewish identity to gain broader representation and defend rhetoric that echoes familiar antisemitic tropes.