Noa Tishby, an Israeli-American actress-producer, is a controversial figure in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Her efforts to counter rising antisemitism and anti-Zionist sentiment have made her a target of criticism, but she remains steadfast in her mission. Tishby's brand of hasbara, the Israeli word for explaining the state and its actions to foreigners, is glamorous, conversational, and message-disciplined. She has emerged as a prominent online influencer, using her platform to highlight aspects of Jewish culture and history that have nothing to do with Israel, especially as rates of antisemitic violence have spiked throughout diaspora communities. Her most high-profile project is an online nightly menorah lighting series during Hanukkah, featuring well-known celebrities. Tishby's latest endeavor is a sequence of educational videos, meant to be accessible for children, which range from the religion of Judaism to the history of the Holocaust. She has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to create materials approved for classrooms and to recognize, for the first time, May's Jewish American Heritage Month. However, her efforts have drawn dissent, with some criticizing her for weaponizing antisemitism discourses and equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Tishby's work on behalf of Act for Israel, an advocacy organization with connections to the Israeli government, has also been questioned, with emails from 2011 suggesting potential violations of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act. Despite these controversies, Tishby remains committed to her mission, and her efforts have made her a prominent figure in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
