Star of the hit television series “The Big Bang Theory” - actress, neuroscientist, and social activist Mayim Bialik visited the ancient City of David in Jerusalem Tuesday, touring archeological sites just outside of the Old City as part of her visit to the Jewish state.
During the tour, Bialik retraced the steps of Jewish pilgrims during the First and Second Temple periods who would walk from the Pool of Shiloah to the Temple itself.
Bialik, who was raised in a Reform Jewish family but later adopted an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle, arrived in Israel earlier this week to participate in the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism, which began on Monday at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.
In addition to Bialik, the three-day forum will feature speakers including the President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev; former Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls; Education Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett; Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked; and Former Secretary General of UNESCO Irina Bokova.
At the Global Forum Tuesday night, Bialik is due to speak about her experiences as a Jewish and Zionist actress, and about the difficulties caused by the climate of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism increasing in a number of regions across the world.
The Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism was an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate and lead the international struggle against anti-Semitism, in cooperation with the Diaspora Ministry.
On Sunday, Bialik met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at his residence in the capital.
“My family came to live in Israel when I was born, and they lived in a few places around the country, so I grew up with a strong Zionist identity,” she told the President.
The President congratulated Mayim on her arrival to Israel, and told her that he had heard much from his grandchildren about her work as an actress, and her strong support for Israel.