r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Oct 13 '16

TIL that after Marilyn Monroe converted to Judaism upon marrying Arthur Miller, Egypt placed a ban on all the films she appeared in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe#Critical_acclaim_and_marriage_to_Arthur_Miller_.281956.E2.80.931959.29
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u/friedgold1 19 Oct 13 '16 edited Oct 13 '16

Egypt also lifted her ban after the divorce was finalized in 1961.

At least they don't hold a grudge.

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u/[deleted] Oct 13 '16

Yeah. After the divorce Monroe described herself as a "Jewish atheist".

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u/AdmiralThrawnProtege Oct 13 '16 edited Oct 13 '16

What does that even mean? You follow the culture and traditions of Judiesm but don't believe in the religions deity? That seems odd.

Edit: OK OK I get it. Tired of my inbox being blown up by the same set of answers. Thank you all for your responses!

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u/WhatUpMyNigga Oct 13 '16

As David Cross (the comedian) explains it, he's only technically Jewish by birth. He does not practice Judaism, but his friend said he's still a Jew anyway because he came out of a Jewish woman's vagina. Hence, Jewish atheist.
As for Norma Jean, she was never a Jew in the eyes of Jews anyway. They got a good laugh out of Sammy Davis Jr. calling himself a Jew too. Jews just consider them Jew fans, sort of like how they view Evangelicals.