In 2003, Freaky Friday became a global box office hit and next week, the beloved film returns to theaters with a highly anticipated sequel, Freaky Friday 2. While fans worldwide are excited, Israeli audiences have an additional reason to celebrate: lead actress Jamie Lee Curtis has Jewish roots and a history of support for Jewish causes.
As promotional tours sweep across the U.S., social media is buzzing with clips from interviews and red carpets. But less known is Curtis’s connection to her Jewish heritage, something she has acknowledged both personally and philanthropically.
In the early 1990s, Curtis and her father, legendary Jewish actor Tony Curtis, donated funds to help restore the Dohány Street Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary, the largest synagogue in Europe, originally built in 1859 and heavily damaged during the Holocaust.
