Adam Brody drew a sharp response from Rabbi Steve Leder after publicly sharing his views on Gaza and Palestine.
Leder previously worked as a technical consultant on the first season of Nobody Wants This. He criticized Brody after the actor said in a recent GQ interview that he considered the situation in Gaza a “genocide” and supported a “free Palestine.” Brody also expressed hope that a future U.S. administration could change policies affecting the situation.
Adam Brody’s comments on Gaza prompted a sharp response from Rabbi Steve Leder
Leder addressed Adam Brody’s Gaza comments in an Instagram video and reminded the actor of their previous professional connection.
“My job was to make sure that your character was authentic and that everything in Season 1 about Judaism was authentic,” Leder said.
Brody played Rabbi Noah Roklov in Nobody Wants This. His character began a relationship with agnostic podcaster Joanne Williams, played by Kristen Bell.
Leder then challenged Brody’s use of the word “genocide” and rejected the actor’s characterization of events in Gaza. “You, by your own admission are a relatively ignorant Jew, and your ignorance really showed the other day,” Leder said.
The Adam Brody-Rabbi exchange became particularly pointed when Leder criticized how Brody had phrased his position.
Brody had told GQ, “Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide. Put me down as wanting a free Palestine.”
Leder objected both to that assessment and to Brody’s wording. He argued that the actor should understand the term before applying it to Gaza and told him to avoid commenting on subjects he did not sufficiently understand.
The disagreement carried an additional connection because Leder had previously advised the production of Nobody Wants This. He helped the show with Jewish customs and details during its first season.
Brody had also previously acknowledged that he needed guidance on some aspects of Judaism while portraying Noah. The supplied source said Leder assisted with details ranging from Hebrew pronunciation to the presentation of Shabbat traditions.
Neither Brody nor Leder had provided further comment to the publication at the time of the report.
The exchange ultimately centered on Brody’s political comments about Palestine and Gaza, with Leder publicly disputing both his terminology and his understanding of the subject.
