Technical advisor Rabbi Steve Leder, who helped ensure the authenticity of the Netflix series Nobody Wants This, publicly challenged the show’s star Adam Brody for describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. In an Instagram video, Leder introduced himself and explained his role in making the series’ depiction of Judaism accurate.
Rabbi calls Brody’s language “ignorant”
“Your pronouncement the other day about a ‘genocide in Gaza’ was truly shocking,” Leder said. “There is no genocide in Gaza; there are genocides in other countries happening, but you failed to mention any of them. By your own admission, you are a relatively ignorant Jew, and your ignorance really showed the other day.” He added that using the term “genocide” without understanding its meaning was “disgusting” and urged Brody to refrain from speaking on subjects he does not know well.
Other Jewish leaders weigh in
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, also labeled Brody’s remarks as ignorant. Menken argued that calling the Israeli effort to free hostages a genocide misrepresents the reality of the conflict and fuels antisemitic sentiment. “While Hamas was holding, torturing, raping, and murdering hostages, only a bigot would call the effort to free those hostages ‘genocide,’” he said.
The Israeli‑American Council (IAC) issued a statement expressing “revulsion at the ignorant and harmful statement” made by Brody. The council warned that such false claims can incite violence against Jews, noting a recent attempted terrorist attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv as an example of the dangers faced by Israelis and Jews daily.
Brody’s comments and the series
Brody, who portrays a rabbi in the series, told GQ magazine that he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and expressed hope that a future administration could correct policies he views as worsening the situation. He said, “Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide… I’m hopeful that another administration can really do some good and correct some of these policies that are helping that situation be as awful as it is.” Fox News Digital reached out to Brody’s representatives for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Context of the debate
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over how the Gaza conflict is described in public discourse. Jewish leaders stress the importance of accurate terminology, especially when discussing matters that affect the safety and perception of the Jewish community. They argue that misusing terms like genocide not only misinforms the public but also provides ammunition for antisemitic narratives.
As the series continues to draw attention, the dialogue between entertainment figures and religious advisors underscores the broader conversation about responsibility in media portrayals of sensitive geopolitical issues.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
