The actor who played Tevye in the 1971 film brought the struggles of a generation to life and helped the children of Jewish immigrants understand their heritage
Every now and then a celebrity passes away and it feels like a death in the family. For me, and many other Jews, the passing of Chaim Topol is one such occasion. Renowned for his portrayal of Tevye, the protagonist of the musical Fiddler on the Roof, Topol came to represent the archetypal Ashkenazi Jewish patriarch, yiddle-diddling his way into the collective consciousness.
I can still remember the first time, now 30-odd years ago, that I saw the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler – a rite of passage. Sitting in a chilly classroom in the synagogue that Sunday morning, I watched in genuine wonder as a world that was once completely unknown to me came to life in sepia tones and vivid performances. Particularly Topol’s.
