Emotional Selma Blair reflects on Jewish education, says her dream is to make aliyah to Israel

Actress Selma Blair said her dream was to make aliyah, or immigrate to Israel, and expressed regret over not sending her son to a Jewish day school during an appearance at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Washington on Monday.

Blair, who attended Hillel Day School in the Detroit area, discussed her own Jewish upbringing and the educational choices she made for her son. She also said she wished her mother were still alive.

She told the audience she was “so honored to show up for this community and so grateful that you would still have me.”

Blair briefly addressed recent headlines surrounding her arrest following an in-flight incident last month, describing the situation as awkward and upsetting. She suggested the public did not yet have a full picture of what had happened.

She said she wanted to share her perspective, adding that it was “not my time to do that.” She expressed hope that people would better understand the situation in the future.

Blair was arrested on October 11 following an alleged altercation aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York. She subsequently pleaded not guilty to two state assault charges involving a police officer and a nurse. Her representatives said she had experienced a medical emergency.

Blair spoke about Jewish identity, education

The actress has previously spoken publicly about her Jewish identity and attachment to Israel. At an Anti-Defamation League event in New York on October 1, she recalled learning to read Hebrew before English and described her connection to Israel. 

The General Assembly, running November 8–10, brings together Jewish communal leaders for discussions on antisemitism, Jewish education and the relationship between Israel and Diaspora communities. Monday’s plenary examined Jewish identity and the future of Jewish life in the West after October 7.