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Shylock

Saul Rubinek plays a version of himself in 'Playing Shylock,' about an actor whose dream to play Shakespeare's controversial Jewish character is thwarted by timid producers. (Dahlia Katz via JTA)
October 25, 2025, 3:05 am
Saul Rubinek’s new one-man show asks, ‘Is there ever a right time to play Shylock?’
On now at Brooklyn’s Polonsky Shakespeare Center, ‘Playing Shylock’ voices a fictional Jewish thespian’s complaints over a canceled production of the ‘Merchant of Venice’
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
US President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, July 3, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP/Charlie Neibergall)
July 5, 2025, 4:50 am
Trump says he didn’t know ‘Shylock’s’ antisemitic history when he used term at rally
Reporters press Trump after he cites villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ to criticize modern-day unscrupulous moneylenders
By AP and JTA
Tracy-Ann Oberman in 'The Merchant of Venice 1936.' (Marc Brenner)
December 17, 2024, 10:07 am
A female Shylock battles 1930s UK fascists in new adaptation of ‘The Merchant of Venice’
Skyrocketing UK antisemitism after Oct. 7 adds meaning and poignancy as acclaimed actress and playwright Tracy-Ann Oberman puts a new spin on a play she’s ‘always hated’
By Robert Philpot
Cameron Samuels, a Jewish college student and book-access activist, discusses the impact of their Texas high school's challenge to "Maus" at a Senate hearing on book bans, Sept. 12, 2023. (C-SPAN Screenshot via JTA)
September 13, 2023, 11:06 am
‘Maus,’ Nazis and Shylock references make appearances at US Senate book ban hearing
Debate comes as ‘parents’ rights’ groups challenge thousands of books in school libraries, saying that they’re not appropriate for children
By Andrew Lapin
The Theater in the Rough performance troupe in a production of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, running from August 9 to August 25. (Courtesy Yitz Woolf)
August 10, 2022, 12:49 pm
Troupe questions if ‘Merchant of Venice’ is kosher for modern times
Theater in the Rough brings Shylock to Jerusalem stage, in bid to grapple with complexities and contradictions of Shakespeare’s creation
By Ethan Freedman
British author Howard Jacobson rewrites 'The Merchant of Venice' in a wickedly funny novel, 'Shylock Is My Name.' (courtesy)
February 3, 2016, 12:44 pm
How would Shylock have fared in 21st century Britain?
Howard Jacobson finds a different pound of flesh in a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s classic ‘The Merchant of Venice’
By Jenni Frazer
Yanis Varoufakis depicted as Shylock in Greek newspaper
November 2, 2015, 3:51 pm
Greek Jews protest racist Shylock caricature of ex-finance minister
Yanis Varoufakis depicted as ‘Jewish moneylender’ in newspaper image, wearing a giant black skullcap and hunched over a ledger, counting gold
By JTA
Argentina's then-president Cristina Kirchner in Buenos Aires on January 30, 2015. (AFP Photo/Alejandro Pagni)
July 8, 2015, 9:14 pm
Argentine president invokes Shylock in perceived anti-Semitic slur
Kirchner tells students to study Shakespeare villain to better understand debt crisis; local Jewish leaders and ADL outraged
By Tamar Pileggi
Al Pacino as Shylock in the Michael Radford-directed 2004 production of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice.' (Courtesy: Sony Pictures Classics)
January 21, 2015, 2:54 pm
Quebec paper rapped for ‘Shylock’ jabs
La Presse repeatedly invokes Shakespearean anti-Semitic term referring to dishonest moneylenders
By JTA
US President Barack Obama gestures during a meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, Aug. 27, 2014. (Photo credit: White House/ Pete Souza)
October 7, 2014, 12:24 pm
Blunders put spotlight on Biden’s discipline issues
In last two weeks, the American VP has offended US allies in coalition against Islamic State, as well as Jews and Asians
By Josh Lederman
US Vice President Joe Biden (AP/Markus Schreiber/File)
September 17, 2014, 10:31 pm
Biden admits Shylock remark ‘a poor choice of words’
ADL head Abe Foxman says Jews have ‘no truer friend’ than VP, who ‘turned a rhetorical gaffe into a teachable moment’
By Marissa Newman
US Vice President Joe Biden (CC BY-ND Center for American Progress, Flickr)
September 17, 2014, 7:31 pm
Jewish groups rap Biden for saying ‘Shylock’
ADL director says vice president ‘should have been more careful’ in reference to ‘offensive characterization’
By Marissa Newman
August 13, 2014, 6:10 am
New Zealand lawmaker apologizes for ‘Shylock’ slur of PM
Opposition figure says he now realizes the connotation, and has deleted the Facebook post where the comment appeared
By JTA
Al Pacino as Shylock in the Michael Radford-directed 2004 production of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice.' (Courtesy: Sony Pictures Classics)
July 1, 2013, 5:11 am
Media syndicate apologizes for Shylock puzzle clue
Crossword puzzle’s Shakespeare reference ‘perpetuates classic anti-Semitic stereotypes,’ ADL charged
Chadwick Boseman playing Jackie Robinson getting ready to take the field in the new film '42.' (photo credit: Legendary Pictures/JTA)
April 12, 2013, 2:16 pm
When Jackie Robinson took up the bat for Jews
The baseball star condemned use of anti-Semitism in his community and swayed the stances of contemporary black leaders
By Ami Eden
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