How Dr. Zhivago Worked for Religious Tolerance

The greatest achievement of Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, who died on July 10 in Cairo, may have been to prove that simple nonchalance may be the best path for mutual tolerance between religions. Acclaimed for screen performances in “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago,” Sharif courted controversy by accepting the role of American Jewish gambler Nicky Arnstein, the love interest of Barbra Streisand’s Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl.” (1968). A publicity shot of the couple kissing was released as principal photography began on June 5, 1967, just when the Six-Day War broke out among Israel and its neighbors. The Arab press – as well as some Jewish film fans – were offended by this coincidence. (Little has changed in nearly a half-century; last year the Arab press was likewise offended by a screen kiss in the Luc Besson film “Lucy” between American Jewish actress Scarlett Johansson and Egyptian actor Amr Waked.