Jewish filmmakers played a starring role in Hollywood’s earliest days. 

Today, Jewish artists are more likely to be targeted for boycotts, shamed in public or besmirched for any ties to Israel.

Tinseltown’s current cause célèbre? The Palestinian people. 

The just-wrapped Venice Film Festival gave a record-setting 25-minute standing ovation to “NAZA,” a documentary arguing that Israel is purposefully targeting and killing Palestinian civilians.

Yet the nation’s extensive efforts to warn citizens of incoming attacks and millions spent feeding hungry Palestinians suggest otherwise.

“NAZA” won a Special Jury Prize at the celebrated festival. It’s likely to battle the anti-Elon Musk documentary “Musk” for top prize at next year’s Oscar gala.

Meanwhile, a flap involving John Malkovich –– an Oscar hopeful for his work in the upcoming “Wild Horse Nine” –– illustrates Hollywood’s double standard.

Malkovich recently backed out of an Israel-based performance of “The Music Critic.”

The reason? A press release for the live event allegedly made up quotes from the actor praising Israel.

The quotes in question included: “[I look] forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity.”

The veteran actor, who knows how tricky an Oscar campaign can be, didn’t just withdraw from the gig. 

He released a statement suggesting Israel was complicit in war crimes.

“My appearance in any country, even my own, does not constitute approval of said country’s policies, nor actions, nor its elected or unelected leaders. My appearances would also not condone nor mean that I am in supposed ‘solidarity’ with any particular political cause, nor with the killing of innocents, nor with any acts of terrorism, nor any other kind of barbarity.”

Any alleged pro-Israel pose from Malkovich, seeking his first Oscar at the age of 72, would not help his cause. 

Yet stars like Javier Bardem can cry, “Free Palestine” from the Oscar stage and not fear an ounce of blowback or job discrimination.

Meanwhile, while Oscar winners (Jane Fonda, George Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix) defend Mark Ruffalo from his latest anti-Israel screed, a Jewish actor/comedian shared what he endures for being outspoken in Hollywood.

Michael Rapaport (“Atypical,” “Beautiful Girls”) said recently that his mere presence causes danger. 

Rapaport says comedy club staffers told him they’ve endured harassment and threats for booking him. Two Rapaport shows have been canceled in recent years over safety concerns tied to pro-Palestinian forces.

A Portland Antifa group unsuccessfully pressed to have the comic’s 2024 gig canceled in the city, promoting their cause with an image of Rapaport with his eyes X’d out.

And a Rapaport appearance in Denver, Colo. last year required club patrons to be wanded as they entered the club.

He also alleges his steady supply of acting gigs has dried up since becoming more vocal in Israel’s defense. 

Have any Hollywood stars, A-list or otherwise, rushed to his defense?

What about Jerry Seinfeld? The Jewish superstar has been stalked by pro-Palestinian protesters in recent years. More recently, a crush of artists dropped out of The Lisbon International Humor Festival in Portugal after learning Seinfeld would be the headliner.

Actor Gerard McCarthy fled a London production of “Right Before I Go” because his co-star, Maureen Lipman of “The Pianist” fame, holds pro-Israel views.

Jewish artists like singer Matisyahu and author/actor Brett Gelman (“Stranger Things”) have endured public cancellations, too. Both are Jewish.

Once again, have any recognizable faces rushed to their defense? Is the silence deafening, or is it something worse?

Some Jewish artists are fighting back.

A new, nonprofit platform, dubbed SHOOQ, will help to connect Jewish artists with investors. Former NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman and actress Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Entourage”) are among those backing the initiative.

“Will & Grace” alum Debra Messing, Shari Redstone and Sherry Lansing are some of the names signing a new open letter debunking those who claim Israel’s military actions in Gaza represent a “genocide,” calling it “the latest blood libel to be inflicted on the Jewish people.”

The isolation Jewish artists face is unconscionable and getting worse. 

Why isn’t the oh-so tolerant Hollywood crowd saying something, anything, about it?

Christian Toto is the founder of HollywoodInToto.com and host of The Hollywood in Toto Podcast.

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