Editing Elizabeth Taylor (section)

===Judaism===
Taylor was raised as a Christian Scientist, and [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]] in 1959.<ref name=Kashner />{{rp|173–174}}<ref name=Walker />{{rp|206–210}} Although two of her husbands – Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher – were Jewish, Taylor stated that she did not convert because of them, and had wanted to do so "for a long time",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jta.org/2011/03/23/arts-entertainment/actress-elizabeth-taylor-dies |title=Actress Elizabeth Taylor dies |access-date=December 1, 2018 |last=Oyster |first=Marcy |date=March 23, 2011 |work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]}}</ref> and that there was "comfort and dignity and hope for me in this ancient religion that [has] survived for four thousand years... I feel as if I have been a Jew all my life."{{sfn|Heymann|1995|p=195}} Walker believed that Taylor was influenced in her decision by her godfather, [[Victor Cazalet#Godfather to Elizabeth Taylor|Victor Cazalet]], and her mother, who were active supporters of [[Zionism]] during her childhood.<ref name=Walker />{{rp|14}}

Following her conversion, Taylor became an active supporter of Jewish and Zionist causes.<ref name="jta">{{cite news |url=https://www.jta.org/2011/03/23/news-opinion/the-telegraph/in-the-jta-archive-liz-taylor-says-trade-me-for-entebbe-hostages |title=In the JTA Archive: Liz Taylor says trade me for Entebbe hostages |last=Eden |first=Ami |date=March 23, 2011 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref><ref name="wapoburstein">{{cite news |last=Burstein |first=Nathan |title=Elizabeth Taylor and Israel, a lasting love |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/elizabeth-taylor-and-israel-a-lasting-love/2011/03/24/AFbnZZYB_story.html |access-date=December 1, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 25, 2011}}</ref> In 1959, she purchased $100,000 worth of [[State of Israel Bonds|Israeli bonds]], which led to her films being banned by Arab countries throughout the Middle East and Africa.{{sfn|Kelley|1981|p=134}}<ref name="wapoburstein" /> She was also barred from entering Egypt to film ''Cleopatra'' in 1962, but the ban was lifted two years later after the Egyptian officials deemed that the film brought positive publicity for the country.<ref name="jta" /> In addition to purchasing bonds, Taylor helped to raise money for organizations such as the [[Jewish National Fund]],<ref name="jta" /> and sat on the [[board of trustees]] of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]].<ref name="swc">{{cite web |url=http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=6478433&ct=9227781 |title=Wiesenthal Center Mourns the Passing of Elizabeth Taylor, Longtime Friend and Supporter |date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=[[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] |access-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926122741/http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=6478433&ct=9227781 |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Taylor also advocated for the right of [[History of the Jews in Russia|Soviet Jews]] to [[Aliyah|emigrate to Israel]], cancelled a visit to the USSR because of its condemnation of Israel due to the [[Six-Day War]], and signed a letter protesting the [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379]] of 1975.<ref name="jta" /> In 1976, she offered herself as a replacement hostage after more than 100 Israeli civilians were taken hostage in the [[Operation Entebbe|Entebbe skyjacking]].<ref name="jta" /> She had a small role in the television film made about the incident, ''[[Victory at Entebbe]]'' (1976), and narrated ''[[Genocide (1981 film)|Genocide]]'' (1981), an Academy Award-winning documentary about the [[Holocaust]].<ref name="swc"/>