web analytics
May 21, 2013 /12 Sivan, 5773
At a Glance
News
Sponsored Post
jumping Following a Passion for Sports to Israel

In Israel, a new five month scholarship program being offered to young aspiring athletes – one of them could be you.



Fleeing Islamists to US, Omar Sharif’s Grandson Comes Out as Gay and Jewish


tell a friend
Omar Sharif Jr.

Omar Sharif Jr.
Photo Credit: Official photo by Bjoern Kommerell

“I write this article in fear,” starts Omar Sharif Jr.’s revelatory article in the Advocate, which dishes out coming out stories to fit every pallet. This one involves an Egyptian TV and screen actor, grandson of a Hollywood legend, who fled his homeland for the safety of America. And he’s probably Jewish, too.

His coming out has taken place against a background of “fear for my country, fear for my family, and fear for myself. My parents will be shocked to read it, surely preferring I stay in the shadows and keep silent, at least for the time being.”

He left an Egypt that is becoming progressively intolerant of all kinds of minorities, as extremist Muslim parties have gained absolute majority in Parliament. He confides:

“I write this article despite the inherent risks associated because as we stand idle at what we hoped would be the pinnacle of Egyptian modern history, I worry that a fall from the top could be the most devastating. I write, with healthy respect for the dangers that may come, for fear that Egypt’s Arab Spring may be moving us backward, not forward.

“And so I hesitantly confess: I am Egyptian, I am half Jewish, and I am gay.”

Actually, since his mother is the Jewish, the tormented star is a Jew. So now he has two very good reasons not to go home.

tell a friend

About the Author: JewishPress.com Senior Internet Editor Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published two fun books: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.


You might also be interested in:


one comment so far

You must log in to post a comment.

One Response to “Fleeing Islamists to US, Omar Sharif’s Grandson Comes Out as Gay and Jewish”

  1. Alexis Worlock says:

    Quite a story!

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Current Top Story
Ultra Orthodox Jewish youths studying religious texts at a Yeshiva in Jerusalem
Haredi Tycoons Raising $100 Million to Replace Lapid’s Budget Cuts
Latest News Stories
F130506AG01
NewsIsraelIDF

The patrol shot back and hit the source of the fire.

Ultra Orthodox Jewish youths studying religious texts at a Yeshiva in Jerusalem

Lapid is beginning to smell like a rose thanks to Haredi tycoons. He is taking yeshivas off the government dole and balancing the budget. How will yeshivas survive? The tycoons have an answer – money.

Part of hoard of weapons uncovered by IDF at wanted terrorist's home near Shechem
NewsIsraelIDF

The Palestinian Authority is supposedly on top of terror. So why did the IDF have to raid a wanted terrorist’s home in Samaria and confiscate hundreds of bullets, guns, knives and IDF uniforms?

Israeli soldiers returned fire on Syrian territory after another incident of gunfire on a military area in the Golan Heights Monday night. No one was injured, and there was no damage to property. Military spokesmen said that the soldiers’ fire on the source of the attack” hit the target,” but they did not provide any [...]

This young Jewish man from the Jewish outpost of Mitzpe Yitzhar in Judea and Samaria, has been practicing swinging his slingshot, in the manner of the original Jewish sling shooter, the young David son of Jesse. I’ve always been bothered by images of young Arabs swinging their slingshots at IDF soldiers – it’s about time [...]

Assad’s regime scrapes the bottom of the barrel for propaganda. It displays an old IDF jeep as “proof” Israel is aiding the rebels – but it is more likely that the jeep was in the hands of Hezbollah.

Barbra Streisand is a great singer. She also played the part of a young woman disguised as a male yeshiva student in ‘Yentl.” Soon, Hebrew U. will grant her an honorary degree in philosophy.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has named Ira Forman, who led President Obama’s reelection campaign in the Jewish community, as his envoy to combat anti-Semitism. The State Department announced the appointment Monday, the same day it released its 2012 report on religious freedom that recorded a “continued global increase in anti-Semitism.” Forman replaces Hannah [...]

The Palestinian Authority outsmarts itself again. Israel agreed to allow UNESCO to visit the Old City as long as there were no political motives. The PA could not resist and is left with nothing.

The Muslim Brotherhood government of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is moving tanks and heavy arms towards the northern Sinai towards possible all-out battle with a gang that   kidnapped seven Egyptian security personnel four days ago. Morsi has ruled out negotiating, saying there was “no room for dialogue with the criminals.” and that his government would [...]

How far the PA will go to present the lie as the truth and the truth as a lie? Its claim that Jesus was a Palestinian is old hat. But now the “resurrection” also refers to “the Palestinian state.”

Israel should file criminal charges against France 2 following a government report Sunday that the television channel broadcast a film in 200 that falsely portrayed the alleged killing of 12-year-old Mohammed Al-Dura by Israeli soldiers. Charles Enderlin was bureau chief of France 2 when the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War, broke out. [...]

Vandals spray painted the Jerusalem home of a long-time board member of the Women of the Wall (WOW) with vicious graffiti, the first time opponents to WOW have resorted to vengeance. Some of the graffiti sprayed on the door and stairwell of Peggy Cidor’s apartment read in Hebrew: “Women of the Wall are wicked,” “Peggy, [...]

What initially appeared to be a bank robbery gone wrong, turned out to be a revenge attack on the bank staff.

A group of consumers headed by a Haredi woman is looking to sue Tnuva for consumer anguish.

As of 11:15 AM Israel time, the Nazi flag is still up there.

More Articles from Yori Yanover
F130506AG01
NewsIsraelIDF

The patrol shot back and hit the source of the fire.

David's Heir

This young Jewish man from the Jewish outpost of Mitzpe Yitzhar in Judea and Samaria, has been practicing swinging his slingshot, in the manner of the original Jewish sling shooter, the young David son of Jesse. I’ve always been bothered by images of young Arabs swinging their slingshots at IDF soldiers – it’s about time [...]

I figured, if anyone out there is looking for proper instructions on this subject matter, given with a British accent – we’re here to help. Dedicated to the folks at Mitzpe Yitzhar…

A group of consumers headed by a Haredi woman is looking to sue Tnuva for consumer anguish.

I guess we’re in the mood for Jewish farming, seeing as we got the sheep shearing image in the photo of the day (Synergy!). A Day in Sakon Nakhon: My Life as a Jewish Rice Farmer – this is the trailer, go here for the full, 12 minute movie. Have fun, and watch out for [...]

Reishit HaGez is the giving to the Kohen the first cuttings of the fleece of sheep grown in the Land of Israel (based on Deut. 18:4: “You are to give them the first fruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep.”). Most Jews cannot [...]

NewsIsraelIDF

The media accentuate the negative and violent acts of a very small minority, over the mature and calm behavior of the vast majority of Haredim.

Fred Rubin is an instructor for the Warner Brothers Writer’s Workshop, the Disney Writer’s Fellowship, the Nickelodeon Writer’s Fellowship, Columbia College at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, and the ABC Talent Development Program. That’s a whole lot of day jobs.

    Latest Poll

    Which is the most beautiful location in Jerusalem?









    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...

Printed from: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/omar-sharifs-grandson-comes-out-as-gay-and-jewish/2012/03/22/

Scan this QR code to visit this page online:

Close