Rabbi Critiques Actor Adam Brody's Comments on Gaza

<p>Rabbi Steve Leder, a technical advisor for Netflix's "Nobody Wants This," criticized actor Adam Brody on October 1 for stating that he believes Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza. In an Instagram video, Leder introduced himself and explained his role in ensuring the authenticity of the show's portrayal of Judaism.</p><p>Leder labeled Brody's comments as "ignorant," arguing that the actor mischaracterized the situation in Gaza and treated the issue lightly. "Your pronouncement the other day about a ‘genocide in Gaza’ was truly shocking," Leder stated. He emphasized that the term genocide is misused and pointed out that there are other genocides occurring globally that were not mentioned.</p><p>He added, "If you’re going to use a word like ‘genocide,’ you ought to know what it means," and criticized Brody's casual use of the term. Brody, who portrays a rabbi in the series, had previously expressed in an interview with GQ that he believes Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza and expressed a desire for a free Palestine.</p><p>Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, also criticized Brody's comments, labeling them as ignorant. He stated that calling Israel's actions "genocide" is irrational, especially in light of the actions of Hamas, which has been accused of holding hostages. Menken remarked, "In no genocide in history have the victims controlled the off switch."</p><p>The Israeli-American Council also condemned Brody's statement, expressing that such comments can incite violence against Jews. They referenced a recent incident involving an attempted terrorist attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv as a reflection of the dangers faced by Israelis and Jews.</p>