Jacob Lunon was born in the heart of racism in America, and witnessed his adopted father killed by the Ku Klux Klan. He and his mother were taken in by a Jewish family, which ignited a spark that later led to his conversion to Conservative Judaism. From a young age, he was one of the first non-Chinese people to be trained in Kung Fu, which he has been teaching since 1972. He also became a full-time pupil to the famous Method acting teacher, Stella Adler. In his long and illustrious life, he joined the army, moved to Seattle, had an Orthodox conversion, moved with his wife (and brought much of the Seattle Jewish community) to Israel, and now lives in Jerusalem where he teaches acting and Kung Fu, acts in Shakespeare plays, and hosts people for Shabbos meals — where I very much look forward to joining.
This fascinating interview is long but worth listening to.
“We have to guard the world. It’s our job to protect the world. … There’s an eternal flame that goes around the world to protect it.” This is how Shabbat candles were explained to a young Jacob, which blew his mind about the unity of the Jewish people.
He shared with me that learning Shakespeare, and specifically reading poetic verse in pentameter, cured his dyslexia. It helped him focus on the syllable, not the whole word, which helped his thoughts and words to come together.
He went to Windsor Mountain School for freethinkers.
His motto:
“Say little, do much. Keep Torah a fixed matter. Greet every person with a cheerful countenance, and it will manifest in your hand.
“…It doesn’t hurt to smile at a person. It doesn’t take a whole lot to be nice, to accept a person as they are.”
Jacob was also written up here and here.
An explanation of people and words from the interview follows below.
I dedicate this post l’iluy neshama for my neighbour and friend, Livia.
Livia came from Switzerland to be with the Jewish people and Israel. She was a regular at Kol Rina synagogue, volunteering there and in other places, and would always greet me with a smile and upbeat attitude. I had no idea that she wasn’t Jewish, or that she was sick. Yesterday she was buried at Mount Zion, between the tomb of King David and the grave of Oskar Schindler.
It had been suggested that I interview her for my podcast. I regret that I will never have that opportunity. Livia, may your memory be a blessing.
Glossary
Day that Aaron died - the High Priest, Moses’ brother
Month the Moshiach born - they say the Messiah will be born in the month of Av
9 Days - days of mourning up until and including Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av
Daisy Bates - civil rights activist, journalist, and lecturer (1914-1999)
Little Rock Nine - nine African American students in Arkansas who were famously almost denied enrollment in a previously segregated white school in 1957, an incident that paved the way for wider desegregation in schools
William Gibson - playwright (1914-2008) who wrote The Miracle Worker and Golda’s Balcony
Stella Adler - actress who created the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in 1949, was a developer of Method acting, and was a member of the Group Theatre. She got her start in the New York Yiddish Theatre District. Her mantra was, "In your choices lies your talent."
Pentameter - a line containing five metrical feet. Most common is iambic pentameter, with five pairs of syllables where the first is unstressed and the second is stressed
Marat/Sade - 1963 absurdist play by Peter Weiss, originally in German
Joe Papp (born Joseph Papirofsky) - New York-based theatre pioneer who created Shakespeare in the Park and the Public Theatre. The “Save the Theatres” movement he co-founded is the reason Broadway is what it is today. He was also known for working with people of colour and produced the first play by an African American to win a Pulitzer Prize
HaShem - literally “the name,” G-d
Gemara - part of the Talmud that is a commentary on the Mishnah
Screen Actors Guild, Actors’ Equity Association - American unions for film and television actors, and theatre actors, respectively
AUDELCO - Audience Development Committee, Inc., awards designed to honour excellence in African-American theatre in New York
Rabbi Lazer Brody - Rabbi, writer, translator, and health coach who creates content at Lazer Beams and Emuna Beams
Rabbi Shalom Arush - Breslov Hassidic Rabbi and creator of “The Garden of Emuna” series of books
Kiruv - bring Jews to Torah and to Israel
Kollel - institute for advanced study of Talmud and rabbinic literature, mostly for married men
Sherut - shared taxi service
Noahide Movement - Non-Jews learning the 7 Noahide commandments obligated for all of humankind. Free educational resources available here
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