About
a dozen Jewish and Muslim high school students participating in a
martial arts workshop in Los Angeles got a pleasant surprise Sunday –
Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix showed up
to watch with his girlfriend and renowned DJ, Allie Teilz.Only two days earlier, Deadline.com reported that Phoenix will be starring in Woody Allen’s newest film, details of which are being kept under wraps. According to Variety.com, actress Emma Stone will star alongside Phoenix. Shooting is expected to begin in July.
Although Phoenix politely declined an interview, he and Teilz stayed for the duration of the workshop, over two hours, and he even walked around handing out bottled water to the small group of participants and observers, introducing himself and chatting with the people sitting next to him and Teilz.
In recent months, the Daily Mail has chronicled Phoenix’s karate habit, snapping photos of him leaving practice adorned in traditional martial arts garb. Sunday, he was dressed down, sporting a black hat, white shirt, and black jeans. The event was held at the Traditional Karate Academy on West Pico Boulevard, which doubles as “The Happy Minyan” synagogue on Shabbat and holidays.
The idea of bringing together Jewish and Muslim students around karate was endorsed by the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace, which aims to bridge cultural, religious, and ethnic groups through sports. UN official and conflict resolution veteran Gay Rosenblum-Kumaropened even kicked off the event via Skype, thanking the students for participating in the workshop.
The River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding supported the workshop as well.
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