Rabbi Criticizes Actor Adam Brody's 'Genocide' Remarks on Gaza

Rabbi Steve Leder, who served as a technical advisor for the first season of Netflix's "Nobody Wants This," publicly criticized actor Adam Brody for his recent comments describing the situation in Gaza as "genocide." Leder, in an Instagram video, called Brody's statements "ignorant" and "disgusting," arguing that the actor misused the term.

Brody, who portrays a rabbi in the series, told GQ magazine that he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. "Put me down as thinking it's a genocide," Brody said. "Put me down as wanting a free Palestine."

Leder, in his video addressed to Brody, stated, "My job was to make sure that your character was authentic and that everything in Season 1 about Judaism was authentic." He continued, "Your pronouncement the other day about a ‘genocide in Gaza’ was truly shocking. Not only because of your misuse and mischaracterization of your use of the word genocide — there is no genocide in Gaza, there are genocides in other countries happening, but you failed to mention any of them."

Leder advised Brody that if he "knows nothing about something, you should say nothing about it." He added that Brody's claim was particularly surprising given his admission of being a "relatively ignorant Jew."

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, echoed Leder's criticism, calling Brody's remarks "ignorant" and "hateful indoctrination." Menken argued that labeling Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide is a mischaracterization, especially considering Hamas's actions and control over the conflict's duration. The Israeli-American Council (IAC) also released a statement expressing "revulsion at the ignorant and harmful statement" made by Brody, warning that such claims can incite violence against Jews.