"The anti-Israel part came out of nowhere": Puppet show in New York sparks outrage
A Jewish woman from Brooklyn arrived with her 4-year-old son to a puppet show presented as a family event, but according to her, within about 15 minutes she encountered anti-Israel messages, including accusations that it is bombing hospitals in Gaza. "They had very antisemitic views," the mother claimed, "It felt like a mob - the hair on the back of your neck stands up."
In recent months, a worrying picture has emerged regarding hate crimes against Jews in New York. According to updated data from the local police, in the first 7 months of the year, 205 hate crimes against Jews were recorded in the city, compared to 189 in the same period last year — an increase of 8.5%. Jews were the target of about 57% of all hate crimes in the city, even though they make up only about 10% of New York's population.
Against the backdrop of these figures, the case revealed this week raises difficult questions: a Jewish woman from Brooklyn who arrived with her 4-year-old son to a puppet show in lower Manhattan claims that an event presented as a show for the whole family turned into an anti-Israel show within about 15 minutes. According to a report in the New York Post, the Cardboard Pizza Puppet Circus show by the Boxcutter Collective puppet troupe was presented on August 13 as part of the International Puppet Fringe Festival. The festival was funded, among others, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts.
The description of the show stated that it includes dancing skyscrapers, giant rats, flowers fighting polluting fuels, a live brass band, and even the Statue of Liberty herself. However, according to one of the viewers, the reality was completely different.
"The anti-Israel part came out of nowhere," the mother, who asked not to be identified, told the Post. "It went from a pizza rat and parking to accusations that Israel is bombing hospitals." The mother said that the show was held in front of about 200 people and lasted about an hour. According to her, about 15 minutes into the show, a sketch appeared in which eight actors returned from a flotilla, and the audience responded with calls against Israel. At another stage, according to her, comments were made about American tax money being transferred to Israel.
"How is anti-Israel propaganda related to a show that is entirely about New York? Is hatred of Israel part of the city's brand, like a pizza rat?" wondered the mother, who described herself as a proud Zionist. According to her, her son kept asking what was happening after seeing her stunned by what was happening on stage. She described how her heart beat fast when she saw many in the audience who seemed to her to agree with the list of accusations against Israel. "I felt like I was surrounded by ideological enemies. This specific group had very antisemitic views. It felt like a mob - the hair on the back of your neck stands up."
According to the report, about a month after the October 7 massacre, the Boxcutter Collective puppet troupe participated in the Gaza Monologues, as part of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. "I knew that if I shouted something against Hamas, the audience would turn against me, so I stayed silent," the mother said. "My generation is now experiencing a new version of antisemitism here in New York, from which my family fled in the Soviet Union."
Manuel Moran, the founder and producer of the festival, told the Jerusalem News Syndicate this week that the organizers did not necessarily know in advance about the content presented by the troupe. "As with many festivals, the full content of a production is not always known in advance. We stand behind our role in providing a platform for artists, while recognizing that artists are responsible for their own work." Moran added that a sketch with Yiddish elements was also presented as part of the festival, and that the Israeli theater, The Khanut Theater, was invited to participate but could not arrange the necessary visas.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, attacked the show and the festival and wrote on X: "This is an inappropriate use of public resources. Publicly funded cultural programs should never contribute to an environment where New York Jews feel unsafe."
