As the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is set to premiere on Max on Feb. 4th, the show’s title has been finding a new place in the Jewish cultural and political lexicon. Jewish couture brand Hamsa Club has been selling shirts and hats with the words “Curb Your Antisemitism” printed on them in the same typefaceas the show’s logo. The punny shirt has been enthusiastically received.
And it just might be one of the best unimpeachable yet grin-worthy weapons against antisemitism in the wake of the Oct. 7th attacks.
According to Hamsa Club’s founder Kevin Abner, it’s their top-selling item. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have been spotted proudly wearing “Curb Your Antisemitism” couture, including author and pro-Israel activist Noa Tishby, comedian Ben Gleib, actress Mayim Bialik, actress Emmanuelle Chriqui and comedian and podcast host Leah Lamarr.
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star Jeff Garlin DM’d Abner that he likes it. Comedian Elon Gold, who was a recurring guest during season 11, can be spotted on his Instagram account wearing the hat.
The idea for “Curb Your Antisemitism” came to the mind of Abner in March of 2023 after rewatching episode three from season eight of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” titled “Palestinian Chicken.” The quote in the show that inspired the couture was a dialogue between Jeff Green (played by Jeff Garlin) and Larry David at a fictional restaurant owned by a Palestinian woman who is openly antisemitic. Still, the Jewish David took a romantic interest in her.
“If by some chance she’s going to get over her antisemitism, odds are, not with you,” Green (Jeff Garlin) says to David in the episode.
“It clicked in my head right then and there: curb your antisemitism!” Abner told the Journal. Abner founded Hamsa Club in late 2016. Until 2023, most of the clothing had cheeky items such as a hooded sweatshirt that said “JewBoy” and college shirts written in Hebrew-style lettering.
“It grabs your attention,” Abner said. “When I personally wear it, whether I go to Trader Joe’s or walking down the street, random people do a double take. They’re like, ‘wait, what? oh, I love this show!’”
Hamsa Club’s “Curb Your Antisemitism” clothing is not only gaining popularity fast, it’s also becoming a rallying cry. When at a pro-Israel demonstration, amongst the sea of horrific honesty and grim facts on shirts and signs, there’s bound to be a “Curb Your Antisemitism” shirt or hat in the crowd. While the point of the shirt isn’t to bring levity to a crisis, it certainly brings a smile to the faces of many fans of the television show.
And it’s coming at a time when there is plenty of enthusiasm around Los Angeles for the twelfth and final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” From February 2-4, Max is staging popup Latte Larry’s coffee shops (as seen in season 10) in both Culver City and Venice.
It was also just announced this week that David himself will be making ticketed public appearances this spring in Boston and Washington, D.C. —a rarity for the curmudgeon. David will also be appearing at PaleyFest in Los Angeles on April 18 along with fellow cast members Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Cheryl Hines, J.B. Smoove, Richard Lewis and Ted Danson.
It remains yet to be confirmed whether the Hamsa Club’s “Curb Your Antisemitism” couture will make an appearance on screen this season. But the slogan will certainly live on far beyond the upcoming series finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which airs April 7th on Max.
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