The Lake Theater and Cafe, located in Lake Oswego just south of Portland, Oregon, has sparked controversy after displaying a marquee advertising Christopher Nolan's upcoming film "The Odyssey" with a message that critics have labeled antisemitic and historically false.

The marquee read, "Before there were the Jews, there was..." which drew outrage from the Jewish community and others who pointed out that the statement contradicts historical scholarship. Experts generally date the composition of Homer's epic to the 8th century B.C., while Jewish history and the existence of the Israelites predate this period by several centuries.

Critics also described the message as an unnecessary provocation amid rising antisemitism across the United States. According to OregonLive, the message was removed from one side of the marquee on July 16, 2026, but remained visible on the other side as of July 17, 2026.

The theater's representative stated he did not intend to "offend anyone" and aimed to "push back culturally on what constitutes antisemitism, to signal, in solidarity, that it’s not about ‘the Jews,’ that it’s about Israel, and Palestine, and Lebanon, and Iran, and AIPAC."

Israeli influencer Hen Mazzig also condemned the theater's message, joining others who criticized it as offensive and historically inaccurate.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions related to antisemitism and political discourse surrounding Israel and the Middle East.

Sources