Jewish Hollywood actress Natalie Portman explains Hebrew slang in a Vanity Fair video
The actress taught viewers some basic Israeli slang in a Vanity Fair video as part of a series that reveals celebrities' hidden talents.
By JOY BERNARDUpdated: FEBRUARY 8, 2017 10:47Natalie Portman explains Hebrew slang
A video of Jewish Hollywood actress Natalie Portman explaining Hebrew slang terms as well as commonly used insults surfaced on the internet earlier this week and immediately garnered amused reactions from admirers as well as readers of the entertainment magazine.Portman, who was born in Israel as Natalie Harshlag and whose father is a doctor and an Israeli native, proudly displayed her command of current Hebrew slang as part of a Vanity Fair video series called 'Secret Talent' in which celebrities reveal their expertise in different fields.Dressed in a white shirt with blue stripes (which some immediately interpreted as a nod at the Israeli flag), Portman explained to viewers some of the most commonly used phrases in Hebrew, such as "eize basa" (what a downer), "balagan" (mess), "lizrom" (go with the flow), "al hapanim" (literally translated as 'on your face' but used to denounce experiences as terrible) and the odd but popular "haval al hazman", which in simultaneous translation could read as 'pity on your time' but is synonymous with "great," "wonderful."This is not the first time that Portman boasts of her strong connection to the Jewish state. The actress was captured in her visits to Israel many times in the past, with her most recent stay dedicated to the filming and production of 'A Tale of Love and Darkness,' Portman's directorial debut in which she adapted renowned Israeli novelist Amoz Oz' memoir of the same title to the silver screen.