Jewish-American comedian Sarah Silverman posted a photo on Instagram on Saturday wishing her nephew, Adar, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, a happy birthday – and drew the ire of pro-Palestinian critics and anti-Semites.
"This baby is now a 19-year-old soldier," Silverman wrote under the photo. "OY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, @adar_abramowitz_silverman I LOVE YOU A ZILLION!!"
Even though the innocent post by a loving aunt – Adar is the son of Silverman's older sister, Rabbi Susan Silverman – garnered hundreds of likes, it also elicited dozens of profane messages of hatred against Israel and its soldiers.
One Instagram user said Israelis "are worse than Nazis. They will have their day just like the Nazis. I'm not full with hate, [I'm] filled with humanity. They are not gods, people, they are the evilest human beings on this earth. They're not real Jews. Hollywood and the fake state of Israel is filled with them! Wake up!!"
"F**k Israel. Free Palestine," another Instagram user wrote.
"Oh dear," another user said, "Please don't kill any babies." In another post, he referred to Adar as a "potential baby killer."
In response to a user who threatened to unfollow Silverman's account, she replied, "Go for it, but he can't help being Israeli and having to serve. He isn't the government. Let's hope he's part of the solution."
However, the majority of responses were positive, with many users voicing support for Israel and liking the post.
"Only people who want to make this post political make it political," one user said in Silverman's defense. "It's her nephew and she is thankful that he was born! End of story! If you don't like what's going on in Israel then write Congress."
"Thank you so much, love you auntie," was all Silverman's nephew said, ignoring the hate.
