American actor Michael Rapaport and radio host Sid Rosenberg toured Judea and Samaria on a solidarity visit on Wednesday.
The visit, organized by the One Israel Fund, aims to bolster the morale of Israelis, particularly those living in the disputed territories.
Rapaport, a familiar face to Israelis for his unwavering support since Oct. 7, was joined by Rosenberg, another prominent pro-Israel voice in American media.
On Wednesday night, the two attended a festive dinner at the home of Amichai Luria, a winemaker of Shiloh Winery, with the participation of Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chair Israel Ganz.
In welcoming them, Ganz said: “Sid and Michael, in a historic period for the rebirth of the State of Israel when all our enemies rise up against us to destroy us—you are doing courageous, holy work for the Jewish people as our true ambassadors on the frontlines of advocacy. And I am sure I represent the entire people of Israel when I say to you here, from” the bottom of my heart, thank you very much.”
Ganz also thanked the One Israel Fund team who organized the tour, saying, “For decades, you have been a leading force in supporting the settlements, helping to strengthen our hold on the Land of Israel.”
Earlier, Rapaport and Rosenberg visited ancient Shiloh, where Eliana Passentin, head of the foreign desk for the Binyamin Council, presented them with a Hasmonean lamp to serve as the shamash for lighting their Chanukah menorah this coming holiday. The gift, an accurate replica of a lamp found in excavations at ancient Shiloh, was given on behalf of the residents of the Binyamin region of Samaria.
Passentin told the visitors: “You are the light of the people of Israel. You are our voice. You are our courageous voice against all the enemies of the State of Israel who seek to destroy it.”
In July, Rapaport said during an interview with JNS that the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and the wave of antisemitism that it triggered across the United States were deeply personal for him, and deepened his connection with Judaism.
The actor has visited Israel several times since the war broke a year ago and even appeared in an episode of the Israeli satirical television comedy Eretz Nehederet (“Wonderful Country”).
Rapaport has received a great deal of pushback on social media from anti-Israel and pro-terrorist elements. In May, the Comedy on State comedy venue in Madison, Wis., canceled one of his shows due to protests by a pro-terrorist mob, citing safety concerns.