Movies, Knesset

BEYOND BIZARRE: Minister of Knesset claims that Yeshiva students wrote "The Matrix"

Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryanfalsely attributes Hollywood blockbuster to Yeshiva students (and we are more than a bit confused.)

MK Galit Distel Atbaryan reacts during a 40 signatures debate, at the plenum hall of the Knesset on July 17, 2024 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

In the hallowed halls of Israel's Knesset, where weighty matters of state are typically debated, an unexpected cinematic controversy has erupted. Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryan, known for her fiery rhetoric, has set off a firestorm with a claim that stretches credulity to its breaking point: that the mind-bending sci-fi classic "The Matrix" was penned by yeshiva students.

This assertion, made during a televised panel on Jewish identity, not only rewrites Hollywood history but also touches a nerve in a nation grappling with questions of identity and truth.

The reality, of course, is far different. "The Matrix," with its leather-clad heroes and reality-warping special effects, sprang not from the minds of Torah scholars but from the imaginations of the Wachowski sisters, two filmmakers from Chicago. The irony of attributing this groundbreaking work—which itself questions the nature of reality—to religious students has not been lost on critics.

As social media erupts with a mix of outrage and satire, deeper questions emerge. In an era of "fake news" and "alternative facts," how do such blatant inaccuracies find their way into political discourse? And what does it say about the state of public debate when even pop culture becomes a battlefield for identity politics?

In the end, this unexpected controversy serves as a reminder of the vibrant, often unpredictable nature of public discourse in Israel, where even a sci-fi film can become a flashpoint for discussions about national identity and the role of religion in public life.

In the end, this unexpected controversy reminds us of the unpredictable nature of public discourse in Israel, where even a sci-fi film can become a flashpoint for discussions about national identity and the role of religion in public life.

* JPost contributed to this article.

0 Comments

Do not send comments that include inflammatory words, defamation, and content that exceeds the limit of good taste.

Israeli Government, Election result poll, Bennett, Netanyahu

Poll: Bennett Hits New High, Surpasses Likud by 8 Seats

Eliana Fleming, JFeed Staff | 26.09.24

Lebanon ceasefire, Netanyahu threats, Likud

"We will consider our vote": MKs in Likud set an ultimatum to Netanyahu

Eliana Fleming | 26.09.24

Netanyahu, Mossad meeting, Lebanon explosion

Covert Moves: Netanyahu Seen Leaving Mossad Headquarters

1
| Eliana Fleming, JFeed Staff | 18.09.24

Liberman, War with Lebanon, Walkie Talkie explosions

Liberman on the Explosions in Lebanon: "We Can't Stop Midway; We Must See It Through"

1
| Eliana Fleming, JFeed Staff | 18.09.24

Binyamin Netanyahu

Why Netanyahu doesn't want you to watch 'The Bibi Files'

Gila Isaacson | 09.09.24

Nasrallah assassination, Hezbollah leader, Israel

"We Know Exactly Where Nasrallah Is – We Will Eliminate Him in the Coming Days"

Eliana Fleming, JFeed Staff | 08.09.24

Shas leader, Hostage deal, Philadelphi corridor vote

Deri Tells Netanyahu: The Philadelphi Corridor Vote Was a Major Error

Eliana Fleming | 04.09.24

Knesset, Hostages

Knesset to hold emergency meeting on hostages

Eliyahu Luksenberg, JFeed Staff | 03.09.24

Netanyahu meeting

Gallant Out: Netanyahu to Hold Security Assessment Meeting Tonight

Eliana Fleming, JFeed Staff | 22.08.24
JFeed App Icon
Get the app JFeed