Mazel tov to Jewish actor and “Stranger Things” star Brett Gelman, who just got engaged to his longtime girlfriend — musician, actress and model Ari Dayan — at the Western Wall. “Can’t wait for Mr. Gelman to become Mr. Dayan,” Dayan wrote in an Instagram post, sharing a picture of their engagement with that iconic Jerusalem view.
Gelman, 46, has been dating Dayan for over half a decade. Gelman directed the 2022 video for her song “Love.” They also collaborated on this medley of Hanukkah songs (Dayan sang, Gelman did the interpretive dancing) that really takes me back to my days as an Israeli kindergartener.
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Also slightly obsessed with this video of Dayan from the bar mitzvah of Gelman’s nephew, Andrew:
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You probably know Gelman from one of his comedy specials or his many, many TV and movie roles. Most recently he’s starred at the unlovable Martin from “Fleabag” and Murray from “Stranger Things.” Gelman is also a prolific voice actor who dubbed Mr. Grumps in the new movie adaptation of “Lyle Lyle Crocodile.”
Gelman’s repertoire is also full of Jewish roles. The actor who grew up Jewish in Highland Park, Illinois, played Jewish Mac inventor Jef Raskin in the film “Jobs” and co-wrote and starred in the very Jewish “Lemon,” about an aging actor who goes back home for Passover, with his ex-wife, Jewish filmmaker Janicza Bravo. He’s also about to star in the very Jewish thriller “Lady in the Lake,” opposite Natalie Portman.
But one of the reasons we love him most is that Gelman, a true fashion icon, helped coin and popularized the term Jaddy — that is, a Jewish zaddy. For those of you feeling old right now, a jaddy is a super attractive, older Jewish man who may or may not have kids (Gelman does not). The term is delightful, but it’s also a subversive way to push back against certain stereotypes about Jewish men — that they’re nebbishy and unattractive.
Mazel tov to this very very incredibly sexy and fashionable Jewish couple. This is going to be one unforgettable Jewish wedding, we can already tell. Can’t wait to see what their chuppah looks like!
