Just before the terrible war broke out in the south, actor Ido Mosseri managed to celebrate the release of "What's Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah," Adam Sandler's new film, which was a continuation of Mossari's collaboration with Sandler since the days of the hit "Don't Mess with the Zohan."
Mosseri replaced the celebration overseas with international advocacy work, along with a return to the SpongeBob character, whom he voices and through which he sends some condolence greetings to the sad children.
Documentation: Joint attack by armored forces and air force in the Gaza Strip // IDF Spokesperson
"For the first week I was glued to the news, like everyone else, and then I realized it was overwhelming me and I started with the advocacy work on Instagram and all the volunteering that could be done. I voice SpongeBob, a favorite character of the kids, and get a lot of requests for congratulations in his voice every day, so I work overtime as SpongeBob," he laughs, "but admit that these things really do good.
"The cliché of coming to strengthen and coming out strong is true. Even within the framework of the Gesher Theater, where I play, we managed to do something for the children. On Saturday morning, 7.10, there were supposed to be two performances of Roi Chen's "Treasure Under the Bridge," a charming children's show that is very close to my heart. The kids love it, my nephews watched it a few times, and of course that Saturday I woke up at 6:<> p.m. from the sirens and explosions, and everything changed."
Mosseri adds: "It was important for us to do something with the canceled plays, even in light of what the children are going through today, and at Gesher they also opened the plays and uploaded them to the website, the cast of the play went up to a Zoom meeting with children and it was very exciting. Seeing the sweet kids, talking to them about theater and asking questions and answering was like a breath of fresh air."
National Explainer
"At the same time, I performed for evacuees with children's songs that we grew up on, alone, with Nir Friedman and Shira Gavrielov, and with my brother Tal, and these are very intimate encounters."
After the barrage to Kiryat Shmona: Two houses on fire // Credit: Kiryat Shmona Municipality Spokesperson's Office
As an Israeli actor who also works overseas, this war has also made you a national explainer.
"It really became personal for me because of the personal connection with the people. I took this advocacy as a mission both because of the shock we are experiencing, but also because of the injustice of false advocacy that works to our detriment.
"The amazing Adam Sandler wrote me an email every day from the first day of the war, and it's not someone who would write to me regularly. From the moment the war broke out, he wrote every day, taking an interest in my well-being and the well-being of Israelis, writing to me that he was heartbroken. I felt that he needed to make his voice heard on social media as well, as a Jew who loves Israel very much.
"I talked to him and his producer, and the next day he wrote on Instagram. I know there was also some criticism of what he wrote. He wrote that he was heartbroken by what happened in Israel, shocked by the monstrous catastrophe, and concluded with a general sentence that he prayed for the safety of innocent people, Israelis and Palestinians alike.
"I understand where he's coming from and I have no criticism of him. I know how pro-Israel he is and how close Israel is to his heart," Mosseri concludes.
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