Serge from Babka

As the Jewish new year is upon us, I've been searching for meaning and joy and I've been finding that in a book called "Superman Is Jewish?" which is about Superman, yes, and Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster of course, but so much more...

It's about the history of the comic book format, of art, of comic book values, myths and stories, about Jewish values, understanding of the book, and of encoded messages, of silly satire and deeply moving stories. It's a laugh and an academic dive through the history of what made comic books.

If you're Jewish and you like superheroes, this book will give you joy.

If you're not Jewish and you like superheroes, this book will give you an appreciation for the history and the Jewishness of the genre.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Superman-Is-Jewish/Harry-Brod/9781416595311

#Superheroes #ComicBooks #Mazeldon #Books #JewishJoy #Jews #Superman

Sep 26, 2025 at 2:01pmWeb
Show threadSerge from BabkaSep 26, 2025

And as if meant to light a fire under my feet to post about Superman is Jewish?, today's Canadian Jewish News is about using superheroes in Jewish student curriculum to help them make sense not only of their history but also of the present moment, to understand their identity, their values, and the connection between the experiences of today and the experiences of Jews past, to ground young Jews in their identity, but in the most fun and joyful way possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANZttE4aEls

Our Tallis is Our Cape

#Mazeldon #JewishEducation #Jews #ComicBooks #Superheroes

Mensch of Steel? Comic books are on the curriculum at this synagogue’s Sunday school

YouTube
Show threadJames M Branum - יעקב מתתיהו ☮Sep 27, 2025

@serge You might enjoy this issue of HJ magzine

https://shj.org/jews-and-comics-summer-2025-humanistic-judaism-magazine/

Jews and Comics - Summer 2025 Humanistic Judaism Magazine - Society for Humanistic Judaism

If you are not yet an SHJ member, supporter, or subscriber, please enjoy the preview edition [PDF] here. If you are, please scroll down while logged in for access to the full version.  Summer 2025

Society for Humanistic Judaism
Show threadMiriam GlitshSep 27, 2025

@serge I’m hyper cancelable for this, but this is what irks me about people using Superman for the Palestinian plight. Perhaps, since it fits, we should self reflect about that, but since we’ve never had a country, nor institutional power on the world stage, I don’t think the similarities to the golem and shtetl really translate… nor the history of violence… etc……..

But it’s Jewish! So little is Jewish! Please I’d just like it to not be used in anti-Semitic fashion!

Show threadSerge from BabkaSep 27, 2025

@miri

I feel like I'm missing a ton of context here.

Is this in reference to the movie (I didn't see it)?

Is this in reference to I said?

I do think that Superman is associated with the Golem; why is that offensive?

Show threadLilah לילה גליטש✡️🏳️‍⚧️🇮🇱Sep 27, 2025
@serge @miri I think Miriam (because she's said as much to me irl) is commenting on the inappropriateness of Superman being used as a pro-Palestine-anti-Israel icon for the Palestinian struggle, given the Jewishness of Superman.
Show threadSerge from BabkaSep 27, 2025

@lilahglitch

I've largely been shielded from this narrative other than knowing it exists.

My interpretation is that this is simply more Jewish erasure.

"Jesus, he was Palestinian."

"Superman... he's Palestinian."

etc.

I see it as both inversion, similar to Holocaust Inversion and paired with de-Jewification, which already happened to Superman years ago- something that the book (published in 2012) illustrates and addresses when the modern movies invert the immigrant message of Jor El sending Kal El away to a New World because Krypton is about to explode (as Europe did for the Jews) to the film depiction of Krypton as a white, crystal city and Jor El sending his "first and only son" to "save the people of Earth".

People can't deal with the Jewyness of Superman, and so they erase or invert it.

@miri