Earlier this month, I woke up to a YouTube video showcasing Christian Dior’s Creative Director John Galliano taunting a Jewish couple in a Paris bar. The drunken darling of fashion design was saying he “loved Hitler” — the criminal responsible for slaughtering six million Jews — and suggested his regret that Hitler didn’t finish the job by “gassing” all Jews.
In no time, this anti-Semitic rant went viral, angering Jews everywhere. I can just imagine the feelings of France’s beleaguered Jewish community, where the shocking rise in anti-Semitic attacks has caused a large percentage of Jews to leave the country or move to large cities.
Would the iconic Galliano’s rant spark deadly violence against Jews or would it be effectively confronted?
As the JCC celebrated Purim last week, the holiday commemorating arguably the first time a Jewish community faced destruction due to anti-Semitic hatred, I was struck by the eerie similarities between the Galliano and Purim stories.
According to the Purim legend, more than 2,000 years ago the prime minister of the Persian Empire, Haman, decided to kill all Jews because their leader, Mordecai, declined to bow down to him.
In the end, the Jews were saved because one woman had the courage to speak out — at great personal risk.
This heroine, Queen Esther, a Jewish girl, was recently taken by the King Ahashvayrosh to be his bride after an empire-wide search. But Esther dared not reveal her Jewish ancestry.
Though prodded by Mordecai to intervene with the King on behalf of her people after Haman publicized his deadly decree, Esther was reluctant. The King’s former queen had been killed for expressing herself, and Esther wasn’t sure how Ahashvayrosh would respond to her getting involved with political matters or the revelation that she was Jewish.
Finally, Esther exposed Haman’s plan to the king. Enraged at Haman’s vanity and pretentiousness, King Ashashvayrosh put Haman and his minions to death.
Galliano as Haman?
In Persia, Haman’s hatred unearthed enough xenophobia to mobilize a fighting force to carry out his deadly plan against defenseless Jewish citizens.
While not on the same scale, I wondered if Galliano’s tirade would similarly inspire haters to come out of the woodwork? Would it result in increased attacks on innocent French Jews and minorities?
It certainly wouldn’t be the first time this happened.
And even if no violence ensued, would the standard cast of Jewish organizations denouncing Galliano be enough to spur the good people — or Christian Dior — to take action against such a high profile bigot?
I had my doubts. And then, “Purim” happened.
This time, it wasn’t a queen, but a “Black Swan,” whose simple statement triggered the downfall of Galliano — today’s narcissistic caricature of Haman — and inspired good people to do the right thing.
“I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today,” said Natalie Portman, the Oscar-winning actress and Christian Dior model and spokeswoman. “In light of the video and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way.”
The next week, Galliano was fired by the king of the Christian Dior empire, CEO Sidney Toledano.
Toledano’s swift action was breath-taking, courageous and heroic. He could have made excuses for his superstar designer or merely censured him to protect the image of his company. Instead, Newsweek reported, “At the Paris couture shows, Christian Dior brilliantly erased the anti-Semitic eruption of its mercurial creative director” and set the right example for business and political leaders worldwide.
Toledano simply did the right thing. He uncharacteristically stood up to his company’s cash cow — and put it out to pasture.
While Galliano may have been sent packing if Portman had not spoken out, I do believe she was the difference-maker in this story.
Like Queen Esther, Portman could have chosen to maintain her safe position and lucrative lifestyle instead of making waves. She could have hidden behind the public figures whose jobs are to condemn bigotry.
Would anyone have really noticed if Portman stayed silent?
Instead, with great dignity and without rancor, Portman renounced her relationship with Galliano and the company that bankrolled his fame. This simple act of moral leadership and defiance set the stage for closing the curtain on Galliano.
There are many examples throughout human history — and in our daily lives — when a single, courageous voice emerges though all the white noise and pierces ambivalence to injustice.
This time it was Portman’s. Who will answer the challenge tomorrow?
Jacob Schreiber is the executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and lives in Leawood. He can be reached at .