Superman Is Jewish: The Hebrew Roots of America's Greatest Superhero

Daily Beast ^ | 08/17/2014 | Rich Goldstein

[SeekAndFind]

Superman is as American as apple pie, in that both have their origins in the Middle East.

Apples, because they are thought to have been first domesticated in Turkey, and Superman, because of his oftentimes overlooked Jewish heritage.

Superman’s possible Judaism shouldn’t be a surprise. The hero’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were the children of Jewish immigrants. The comic book industry, where they spent a significant portion of their young careers, was created in New York by Jews like Max Ginsburg, Bob Kahn, and Jacob Kurtzberg, who hid their ethnicity behind names like Gaines, Kane, and Kirby. Over the years there have been scores of books and articles on the subject with punny names like Up, Up, and Oy Vey or “Mensch of Steel.”

However, recent portrayals of the character, particularly the 2013 film Man of Steel, focus on the Christ-like, messianic qualities of the Metropolis Marvel. In the run up to the movie’s release, faith based press relations company Grace Hill Media invited religious figures around the nation to attend select pre-release screenings, posted clips online, and provided notes for possible faith-based discussion topics related to the film. One example is focused around themes of fatherhood and instructs dads to “take [the kids] to see Man of Steel” and then use the guide to “discover new connections to your own life and God’s word.”

Along with web content, Dr. Craig Detweiller, Ph.D. of Theology and Culture, wrote a nine page essay titled “Jesus–The Original Superhero” to specifically link the Last Son of Krypton with the Son of God. Detweiller cited the oft repeated evidence about the suffix “el” appending Superman’s Kryptonian birth name “Kal-el.” In Hebrew, the “el” suffix is used to denote Elohim, or Yahweh, Jehovah, or God, like in the names Michael, Rachel, and Angel.

[Gay State Conservative]

Superman was also as Canadian as maple syrup...Joe Shuster was from Toronto.

Then why didn't he play for the Maple Leafs instead of working at the Daily Planet? ;-)

[Sans-Culotte]

Same can be said of the great Marvel Comics heroes, invented by Stan Lee (Stanley Lieber) and The aforementioned Jack Kirby (Jacob Kurtzburg).

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

His parents had to contract with a Laser-Mohel.

Superboy: “Do you expect me to talk?”

Laser-Mohel: “No, Superboy, I expect you to be circumsized!”

[albertabound]

because he bucked in the corners