Superman, Rabbis, and the Search for Moral Clarity
There’s so much going on these days that I haven’t found the time to write or podcast. I’ve been doing occasional short videos and a lot of Facebook posting. I figured I’d share some of my recent posts with you here.
Superman Goes Woke?
I finally got to see the new Superman movie. I really enjoyed it. Casting was great. David Corenswet played a very believably "human" Superman which was really the point of the movie. Rachel Brosnahan was the perfect Lois Lane with a great mix of humor and sass. (Not unlike her Mrs. Maisel character.) And of course superdog Krypto added a fun, adorable dimension.
I certainly can understand why the xenophobic among the MAGAs got all bent out of shape about the film. The movie exuded kindness and ultimately acceptance of the "alien". It so clearly shows that who your parents are and where you were born have little to do with being a loyal citizen who contributes to society.
Most striking were the similarities between Lex Luthor and Stephen Miller, both physically and ideologically. In this iteration of Superman, Luther's maniacal hatred for the Man of Steel was driven totally by a seething obsession with the fact that Superman was an outsider who wasn't one of "us". I hope I don't have to point out the obvious.
Kudos to director James Gunn for giving us hope for what America can still be, even in these very dark times.
The “Rabbis’ Letter”
Kudos to Rabbi Yosef Blau for spearheading the publication of a letter titled, "A Call for Moral Clarity, Responsibility, and a Jewish Orthodox Response in the Face of the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis". The letter was signed by 80 orthodox rabbis including a few I admire greatly; Ysoscher Katz, Donniel Hartman, and Rabbi-Shmuly Yanklowitz. That they are rabbis is really less important to me than that they are leaders in an orthodox world which has greatly disappointed me in regard to the response to this human suffering.
The letter generated a lot of heated debate in the orthodox Jewish world. Some of it was well-reasoned and respectful, some of it, not so much. I shared some thoughts about the responses in this short video.
Here is the letter in full:
The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza is one of the most severe in recent history. While it began with the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023—a brutal act that justifiably demanded a strong military response and demand for the release of the hostages—this does not absolve Israel’s government from assuming its share of the responsibility for the profound suffering of Gaza’s civilian population.
Hamas’s actions have repeatedly shown a cynical disregard for the lives of the people it claims to represent, using civilians as human shields and rejecting ceasefire proposals. However, Israel’s prolonged military campaign, now approaching two years, has devastated Gaza. The death toll is rising with very significant losses of lives, and Israel’s limiting of humanitarian aid, at times completely halting the entry of food and medical supplies, has raised the specter of coming starvation. We affirm that Hamas's sins and crimes do not relieve the government of Israel of its obligations to make whatever efforts are necessary to prevent mass starvation.
There have been months when Israel blocked humanitarian convoys on the mistaken premise that increased suffering would bring about Hamas’s surrender. Instead, the result has been the deepening of despair. The justified anger toward Hamas has dangerously expanded by some extremists into blanket suspicion of the entire population of Gaza—children included—tarnished as future terrorists. Meanwhile, in Yehuda and Shomron (the West Bank), extremist settler violence has resulted in the murder of civilians and has forced Palestinian villagers from their homes, further destabilizing the region.
Amid this devastation, the absence of a clear post-war vision from Prime Minister Netanyahu has allowed the most extreme voices in the Israeli government—including ministers from the religious Zionist community—to fill the vacuum with disturbing proposals. These include the forced “voluntary” exile of Palestinians from Gaza and the sacrifice of remaining Israeli hostages in the pursuit of an elusive “total victory.
This moment demands a different voice—one grounded in our deepest Jewish values and informed by our traumatic history of being victims of persecution.
Orthodox Jewry, as some of Israel’s most devoted supporters, bears a unique moral responsibility. We must affirm that Judaism’s vision of justice and compassion extends to all human beings. Our tradition teaches that every person is created b’tzelem Elokim—in the Divine image. We are the spiritual descendants of Avraham, chosen to walk in the path of Hashem, “to do righteousness and justice” (Bereshit 18:19). Allowing an entire people to starve stands in stark contrast to this teaching.
As we reflect on Tisha B’Av, the words of our prophets ring with renewed urgency. The Haftorah of Shabbat Chazon reminds us: “Zion shall be redeemed through justice, and those who return to her through righteousness” (Yeshayahu 1:27). And on the morning of Tisha B’Av, the voice of Yirmiyahu echoes through our prayers: “Let not the wise glory in their wisdom...but in this: that they understand and know Me, that I am the Lord who practices kindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth—for in these I delight” (Yirmiyahu 9:23).
These are not just poetic phrases. They are the foundations of our ethical obligation—to demand policies that uphold human dignity, to provide humanitarian aid wherever possible, and to speak out when our government’s actions contradict the Torah’s moral imperatives, no matter how painful this may be to accept.
The future of Israel depends not only on its military strength but on its moral clarity. Let us be resounding voices for justice, righteousness, and peace for all people—even and especially in the hardest of times.
Governors Fight Back
As Trump’s authoritarianism spreads across America some governors are fighting back. California’s Gavin Newsom and his media team have been doing a brilliant job of trolling Trump by holding a mirror up to his bizarre behavior. Most notably, Newsom has taken to creating Tweets in Trump’s unhinged, all-caps style. It’s certainly getting under MAGA’s skin, but will it have a real impact? I don’t know, but it is sure as hell fun to watch!
Illinois governor JB Pritzker is more serious, but is also standing up as a crusader against MAGA tyranny. As Trump is threatening to bring National Guard troops to cities across America, as he did in Washington D.C. ostensibly for 'security' in a city where the crime rate has dropped precipitously, Pritzker effectively warned Trump, don’t you dare come to Chicago, we don’t need you. Further, he pointed out the perfidy that Trump’s budget bill reduced police funding in Chicago. He brilliantly stated that, “Trump is defunding the police”! Pritzker’s entire speech is worth watching.
High Holiday Video
This is the Jewish month of Elul, which precedes the “high holidays” of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Elul is traditionally a time for thoughtful introspection. I stumbled across this wonderful short video by self-described “cheerleader for humanity” Kristina Kuzmic. It’s definitely worth the 2 minutes whether or now you’re psyching up for the “days of awe”.