Beanie Feldstein Recalls the First Time She ‘Felt Othered for Being Jewish’ (Guest Column)
variety.comBeanie Feldstein Guest Columnist I grew up in West Los Angeles, surrounded by a lot of Jewish people. My family belonged to a Reform synagogue where we would observe the high holidays and I would attend twice-weekly Jewish studies afterschool classes.
Eventually, I would become a junior cantor there, duetting on the bimah with the cantor on Yom Kippur. But outside of temple, I felt just as surrounded by Jewish people: many of my teachers and classmates at my secular elementary school, the families of my best friends, strangers at the mall or the supermarket.
Being Jewish felt natural, represented, full of community. I also grew up madly in love with theater. And when I was 10 years old, I performed in my first professional theatrical production, “Annie,” at the La Mirada Theatre.
The way I got there was quite funny: my best friend Shayna, with her curly red hair and golden voice, was going to the open call.
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