Rabbi slams Adam Brody over Gaza ‘genocide’ comments

If there’s one thing the world needs more of, it’s celebrities talking politics. Thankfully, Adam Brody has stepped up.

The 46-year-old community college dropout and star of the shark-jumping Nobody Wants This Netflix show has drawn criticism from the ‘comedy’s’ former rabbi consultant after describing the war in Gaza as genocide and expressing support for a free Palestine.

Rabbi Steve Leder, who advised on the show’s first season, responded in an Instagram video, taking aim at Brody’s understanding of the conflict. 

“You, by your own admission, are a relatively ignorant Jew, and your ignorance really showed the other day,” Leder said. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rabbi Steve Leder (@steve_leder)

What Brody said

The comments came during a September 25 interview with GQ, in which Brody discussed his political advocacy and canvassing work for the progressive organisation Swing Left.

Asked whether he wanted to speak publicly about Gaza, he did.

“Put me down as thinking it's a genocide. Put me down as wanting a free Palestine.” 

Brody also expressed hope that a future US administration would change policies he believed were contributing to the suffering. 

The rabbi weighs in

Leder’s connection to Brody goes beyond watching him play a rabbi on television.

As a technical adviser on season one, Leder helped ensure the actor’s portrayal of Noah Roklov, and the show’s depiction of Judaism, were authentic.

His latest assessment was considerably less approving. Leder rejected Brody’s description of the war and criticised what he considered the actor’s casual use of the term genocide. 

The public disagreement comes as Netflix prepares to release the third season of Nobody Wants This for some reason.