Inside James Van Der Beek’s Quiet Love Affair With Israel
He was the golden boy of the 90s, but James Van Der Beek’s heart belonged somewhere else. From a chance meeting on a Tel Aviv beach to a secret Kabbalah wedding on Dizengoff Street, James had a deeply personal (and surprisingly authentic) connection to Israel that Hollywood never talked about.
The news hit like a gut punch yesterday: James Van Der Beek, the golden-boy star of Dawson's Creek, died at just 48 after a tough fight with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He leaves behind his wife Kimberly and their six children. In Hollywood, where genuine warmth is rare, Van Der Beek stood out for a different reason, he was one of those rare celebrities who actually embraced Israel and Jewish life with sincerity.
Yes, the skeptical question many asked after Debbie Schlussel's tribute “Was he really a friend of the Jews?” has a clear answer: He was.
It started on a Tel Aviv beach in 2009. Fresh off a divorce, Van Der Beek was dining at La Mer restaurant when Kimberly Brook (then a producer) walked up and interrupted his conversation. Sparks flew instantly. A year later, the couple returned to the very same country where they met and got married in an intimate, whirlwind ceremony at the Kabbalah Centre on Dizengoff Street.
Photos from that day show Van Der Beek in white, proudly wearing a kippah (yarmulke) as Rabbi Yehuda Berg officiated. It wasn’t some red-carpet stunt. He later shared warm memories on Instagram: the strangers shouting “Mazel Tov!” when their wedding made local news, the restaurant owner who sent them off with free wine and blessings, the incredible hospitality in Nazareth, and even a touching (if chaotic) experience in Hebron.
He wasn’t waving Israeli flags at every award show or turning into a full-time activist. But in an industry that often treats support for Israel like a liability, Van Der Beek quietly chose connection over coolness. He met his soulmate here, married here, and spoke about the country and its people with real affection for years afterward.
Israeli voices noticed. Hen Mazzig called him “a true friend of Israel.” Ynet ran a warm piece on the romance that began on our shores. Jewish commentators described him as a “mensch,” that highest Yiddish compliment for a decent, kind human being.
In a town full of performative solidarity, Van Der Beek’s version felt authentic: personal, respectful, and rooted in actual experience rather than hashtags.
Rest in peace, James. Your story with Israel was a small but genuine bright spot in a complicated world. To Kimberly and the kids, our hearts are with you. Am Yisrael mourns with you today.