The Disney animator and public speaker is striving to make a positive Jewish impact.
This article is being reprinted with the permission of the author and Aish.
Saul Blinkoff is a Hollywood veteran. For over 20 years, he’s worked on animated films and TV shows, including the likes of “Mulan,” “Pocahontas,” “Tarzan,” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
The proud observant Jew and animator always brings his Judaism into his work; he once drew a mezuzah on Winnie the Pooh’s door, making him Winnie the Jew, and in “Kronk’s New Groove,” he drew two characters getting married under a chuppah.
“My Jewish values are what guide every decision I make in my life and when it comes to my career as a producer in animation,” he told Aish. “Before I accept any project, I first make sure that the project is in line with those values. There have been times before working in kids’ animation, there have been projects that are not in line, and I’ve turned them down.”
Now, the husband, father of four, and inspirational speaker is running on the Aish Ha’Am slate as a World Zionist Congress candidate. He’s utilizing his platform to speak out about Hollywood and how important it is to be full of Jewish pride.
“Antisemitism is obviously on the rise,” Saul said. “There have been a handful of Jews who stand up proudly and make their voices heard in fighting antisemitism and using their social media platforms to combat antisemitism. At the same time, the majority of Jews in Hollywood, whether it be writers, directors, producers and even studio heads have remained silent, and that is a great disappointment.”
Saul isn’t silent — in fact, he’s more outspoken than ever and hopes to encourage others to be as well if he becomes a WZO delegate.
“You don’t have to be an influencer to influence,” he said. “Whatever social media platform you’re on, whether you have 1 million followers or 10 followers, be part of the Jewish story, stand up with conviction, and make your voice heard.”
Partnering With Aish for WZO
Saul has long been a fan and follower of Aish. He is part of it in Los Angeles, and he’s run men’s trips to Israel through it.
“Aish has always been an organization that’s inspired me and my approach to my personal purpose,” he said. “Rabbi Noah Weinberg, obm, who founded Aish, would say our job is to take responsibility for the world. When I was invited to be part of this, I was excited to partner with Aish.”
Saul believes that by becoming a delegate, he will play his “small part in making a positive impact in any way I can … [I am] proud to be part of this Jewish leadership that has inspired me throughout my life.”
The Greatest Jewish Issue
As a father who interacts with people of all ages through his work, Saul is familiar with the challenges facing the younger generation of Jews. While he acknowledges that antisemitism is a huge problem, it’s not the biggest.
“In my humble opinion, the greatest issue facing the Jewish people in the world is that the majority of the Jews in the world don’t embrace their Jewish identity or the responsibility to incorporate Jewish values and Torah into their lives,” he said.
Saul is going to continue to show Jews how awesome Judaism is, and why it’s critical to embrace it, especially in a post-Oct. 7 world.
“Torah is actually the Hebrew word for ‘instructions,’” he said. “The Torah, which the Jewish people accepted at Mount Sinai thousands of years ago, is nothing less than the instruction manual for living. We, the Jewish people, need to wake up and elevate our lives with holiness. When we do that, as the Ramchal says in ‘The Path of the Just,’ the world will be elevated around us.”
Kylie Ora Lobell is a Los Angeles-based writer as well as president of KOL Digital Marketing, where she does publicity and marketing and helps clients share their unique stories with the world.
