Adam Brody has faced criticism from a rabbi who served as a consultant on his hit Netflix series after the actor voiced support for the “free Palestine” movement and described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a “genocide.”
Rabbi Steve Leder, a former technical consultant on Nobody Wants This, condemned the 46-year-old actor’s comments and called him an “ignorant Jew” after Brody spoke out following the arrests of fellow Hollywood performers at a United Nations protest.
In a recent interview with GQ, Brody said: “Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide. Put me down as wanting a free Palestine. It’s awful that it’s taken so much death and misery, but it does feel like it’s reaching a breaking point that it should have a while ago.”
He added: “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.”
On Wednesday, Leder, who previously served as senior rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, responded to Brody’s remarks in a video shared on Instagram.
“Hi Adam, you might not remember me,” Leder said. “My name is Rabbi Steve Leder, and I was the technical adviser for Season 1 of Nobody Wants This.”
Adam Brody, pictured at last month’s Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, has been criticized by a rabbi who worked as a consultant on his Netflix series over the actor’s support for “free Palestine” and his description of Israel’s Gaza campaign as “genocide.”
Rabbi Steve Leder, a former technical consultant on Nobody Wants This, attacked the 46-year-old actor’s recent comments and referred to him as an “ignorant Jew.”
“My job was to make sure that your character was authentic and that everything in Season 1 about Judaism was authentic,” Leder continued.
The Daily Mail has contacted both Brody and Leder for comment but has not received a response.
In Nobody Wants This, Brody portrays Rabbi Noah Roklov, who begins an unexpected relationship with Joanne Williams, an agnostic podcaster played by Kristen Bell. Their romance creates tension between their families as Joanne becomes increasingly immersed in Noah’s Jewish culture and considers converting to Judaism.
Leder said Brody’s statement about the Gaza war was “truly shocking,” accusing the actor of misusing and mischaracterizing the term “genocide.” Leder asserted that genocide was not taking place in Gaza, while pointing to other conflicts around the world that he said involved genocidal violence.
“You, by your own admission, are a relatively ignorant Jew, and your ignorance really showed the other day,” Leder said.
The rabbi, who has written several books, ended his video by continuing to challenge Brody’s use of the word “genocide.”
“If you’re going to use a word like ‘genocide,’ you ought to know what it means,” Leder said. He also criticized Brody’s casual phrasing, comparing “put me down for thinking it’s a genocide” to someone making a restaurant reservation, which he called “disgusting.”
“Here’s some more technical advice: if you know nothing about something, you should say nothing about it,” Leder added.
Leder said Brody had described himself as a relatively uninformed Jew and argued that the actor’s lack of knowledge was apparent in his recent comments.
In Nobody Wants This, Brody plays Rabbi Noah Roklov, whose romance with agnostic podcaster Joanne Williams, portrayed by Kristen Bell, unsettles both families as she explores his Jewish faith and considers conversion.
Leder, who has written multiple books, concluded his Instagram video by rebuking Brody’s choice of the word “genocide.”
Israel has faced growing international isolation during the Gaza war. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
At least 73,922 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s subsequent offensive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government whose numbers are generally considered reliable by the international community.
A ceasefire agreed to by Israel and Hamas last October halted the heaviest of the fighting and led to the release of the remaining hostages yet further steps have since stalled.
Israel maintains control of most of Gaza and continues to carry out airstrikes on Palestinians near military-held zones.
Hamas has not disarmed or relinquished power and there has been no progress toward reconstruction in the mostly destroyed territory.
Meanwhile back in September 2024, Leder talked about how he coached the Hollywood stars on all things Jewish for the on-screen interfaith romance.
‘Anything in the series that is, for lack of a better way to put it, overtly Jewish — I did my best to make sure it was done with authenticity and respect,’ Leder told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about his behind the scenes role at the time.
Brody and Bell are seen in the Netflix series
Leder, former senior rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, was called in to coach the Hollywood stars on all things Jewish
The coaching seemed to work as Brody earned Best Actor in a Comedy Series at the Critics Choice Awards in February 2025 (pictured)
From teaching the proper pronunciation of Hebrew words to arranging the perfect Shabbat table, Leder left no kippah unturned in his quest for on-screen authenticity.
Brody, who plays a charming LA rabbi in the show, confessed two years ago that he was in desperate need of Leder’s guidance.
Despite being famous for playing Jewish characters like Seth Cohen in ‘The O.C.’, the actor admitted, ‘I barely got bar mitzvahed and retained nothing from it.’
The coaching seemed to work as Brody earned Best Actor in a Comedy Series at the Critics Choice Awards in February 2025.
