Should killing Nazis be entertaining? Should we watch a shoot ‘em up comic book stylized TV series about Holocaust survivors who try to hunt down and murder Nazis in 1970s America while they are trying to reconstitute a Fourth Reich? If your answer is no, then don’t watch Hunters.
Hunters is a new Amazon Prime video series created by David Weil and executive produced by Jordan Peele. It follows Peter Parker-esque Jonah Heidelbaum whose Holocaust survivor grandmother is murdered. When he tries to find her killer he runs into wealthy and enigmatic Meyer Offerman (think Bruce Wayne meets your Zadie) and his motley crew of Nazi killers (think any bank heist movie). The whole thing is kind of like Quentin Tarantino meets Holocaust survivors.
Hunters is not based on a true story. It’s about as fake as Al Pacino’s Yiddish accent.
But should Quentin Tarantino really be meeting Holocaust survivors? Spoiler alert: the answer is no.
Hunters is not based on a true story. It’s about as fake as Al Pacino’s Yiddish accent. But there are kernels of truth buried beneath the surface which unfortunately get lost. There were indeed Nazi “hunters” who existed after the war, the most famous of whom was Simon Wiesenthal who helped find Nazis including Franz Stangl, the commander of the Treblinka and Sobibor camps. In 1977 Rabbi Marvin Heir created the Simon Wiesenthal Center and hired Ephraim Zuroff as their resident Nazi “hunter” whose work helped lead to the trials of more than 40 Nazis and their collaborators. But the operative word there is “trials”. There was no revenge taking vigilante murders. There were trials by courts of law.
Hunters tries hard to cloak itself in Jewish values. In fact, at the outset of the series Meyer Offerman says as much: “This is not murder, this is a mitzvah.” Later, Mindy Markowitz, one of the gang of hunters tells Jonah, “Your savta had no choice but to be involved in this because she went through the war, but you do Jonah. She chose the darkness so that you could have the light.” But that’s not the Jewish approach, is it? We never fostered a culture of Holocaust survivors bent on bloodthirsty revenge. Their best revenge has been to rebuild vibrant Jewish families with children and grandchildren who carry on the faith that the Nazis tried to snuff out.
But Hunters creator David Weil had other ideas. He said, “…to be able to show a Jewish superhero with might, with power, with strength, not just a Jew who is as the media often portrays us, as ineffectual or intellectual only or nebbishy … that was so important to me.” Great idea, poor implementation.
Here’s a thought: maybe there are lots of Jewish superheroes out there but people are just using the wrong definition of what makes a superhero?
Jews don’t believe in turning the other cheek. We practice robust self defense, not vengeance.
Now, some anti-Semites out there might say, “Of course there’s a gang of bloodthirsty Jews seeking murderous revenge – it’s called the Israeli Army!” But we know how to answer those anti-Semites, don’t we? Israel is the lone Jewish country in the middle of a sea of hostile Arab nations many of whom are committed to Israel’s destruction. There are countless terrorist groups operating inside Israel’s borders and the Israeli army has to do whatever is in its power to defend its citizens. That’s why the Israeli army is called the I.D.F. – the Israeli Defense Forces. Mistakes surely happen in the fog of war, but even still the IDF is the most moral army in the world.
“Well,” our anti-Semite may retort, “What about the film Munich that documents how the Mossad hunted down those responsible for killing the 11 Israeli Olympic athletes?” Those terrorists were still actively engaged in operations against Jewish people. As the Talmud says, “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.” Jews don’t believe in turning the other cheek. We practice robust self defense, not vengeance. That’s the crucial difference.
The way we honor the memory of the six million is by committing ourselves never to forget. We rebuild our Jewish families and our Jewish state in their honor. We perform acts of loving kindness, not acts of vengeance. That’s the Jewish definition of a hero. And we want to be heroes, not hunters.
(56) Mariel, March 31, 2020 6:05 AM
Love the series
I wish more Jews would have been involved in the hunt. Revenge in this case is the only answer
(55) Marlene Milden, March 21, 2020 6:34 PM
Strongly disagree with this summary and evaluation!
As a 2nd generation Jewess I strongly disagree with the writer of this article. First of all the series states it is fiction based on historical events (noting it was fiction. secondly, Al Pacino sounded and looked like my grandfather and did an excellent version of an older Jewish man in speech and intonation - that one could totally believe. And finally, in the end of this season's episode he turns to be an imposter who was acting the part of the Jew he killed... a total surprise to the viewer. My husband and I watched the entire first season episodes spellbound and cannot wait for next season which we assume will take place in South America rather than in America.
(54) Anonymous, March 13, 2020 12:51 PM
Stupid Whiney Show
This show is the stupidest thing I’ve even watched, couldn’t make it thru the 1st episode. It likely has the OPPOSITE (of intended) effect, making Jews appear craven and ridiculous. No sane person would buy into this self-aggrandizing, sniveling victimhood to justify revenge. All peoples throughout history have been victimized by various regimes, but the attempt to painted certain peoples as incarnately evil, as nonhuman, utterly fails. Get OVER yourselves. Blatant attempts to manipulate other minorities into shared outrage is so exhausted, as if there is some boogeyman of the entire world, throughout history pursuing evil against a people is simply unreal and again, has the OPPOSITE effect. The whining is all that comes through on this show. The ostensible “good guys” become the ones you loathe and wish would just shut up. Denying the balance between good and evil in all human beings, and even movements, is boring because one cannot suspend disbelief for a moment...too remedial and trite. No one can “get onboard” or on the side of the “protagonists” - They’re all self-righteous victims against an imaginary enemy.
(53) Jonathan Merrill Gross, March 11, 2020 8:34 PM
You're right, its not Marathon Man.
"Quentin Tarantino meets Holocaust survivors". Um, not the best analogy but I get the point. I didn't watch past the first episode because I can't suspend my disbelief at this age. Besides, William Goldman's Marathon Man did it better over 40 years ago with Larry Olivier and Dustin Hoffman. In that film, the cost of Hoffman's pursuit of the "Veis Engele" was his own soul. Even Tarantino had a human touch. This is pure Jewsploitation. Pacino did Shylock but he's painfully too Italian for this and, frankly, too old. The racial element is not apropos for the time period (See Mrs. Maisel for worse) and even Germans can take a little offense. Bottom line, however, yes it is wrong.
(52) Bobby5000, March 6, 2020 1:27 PM
don't we have to address current immigrant horrors instead of the past
There are many in danger of death or starvation in Syria and in some areas of Guatamala. There were Nazis involved in murder and a large number of others who said- not my issue, not my problem, not my concern. How do we criticize them, saying why didn't people help the Jews, while saying immigrates problems are not a priority for me. We can't change the Holocaust but we can alter what is happening now.
No doubt the issues today are heard but they were then- the U.S. would be allied with Stalin who starved or killed millions of Ukranians and others. We need to maintain the same standards that we advocate for others. .
(51) Lennie Lurie, March 5, 2020 3:57 PM
Hanokdim - Jews killing Nazis after the end of WWII
Abba Kovno was the leader of a group of Jews who deliberately set out to murder Nazis responsible for the Shoah immediately after the end of World War 2. In fact, they even planned to poison the drinking water in the Hamburg reservoir. Likewise, Jewish soldiers from the Jewish Brigade also undertook a similar campaign of killing Nazis.
(50) alan, March 5, 2020 12:58 PM
true?
your statement about the Jewish killing of the terrorists at Entebbe was not revenge was baloney. You say they were killed because they would have gone on to more killing. It was revenge and it was right to kill them. If the terrorists said it was only a one time attack and they were done, the Israeli soldiers would still have killed them in revenge for what they did, and it would have been correct.
(49) Judy, March 4, 2020 11:00 PM
Perfectly Said
WHen my husband asked if I wanted to join him watching this show, I declined but couldn't explain why, You just explained it !!
(48) Anonymous, March 3, 2020 5:02 PM
Nazis should be hunted
The Holocaust was such an unparalleled atrocity that any act of justified retribution was a Kidush Hashem As we pray every day Hashem loves Tzedakka and Mishpat
(47) Anonymous, March 3, 2020 3:46 PM
I did not watch the series... but...
Based upon the little that I saw here:
1. What is the response when the world INCLUDING the U.S. decides to "work with" Nazis rather than put them on trial? Ideally, I think that it should be the Israeli Government extraditing / kidnapping these monsters and trying them in Israel. However, that is not likely to happen -- almost certainly not in the United States.
2. *If* there are neo-Nazi groups actively working against Jews, are they different from any other terrorists? the original article mentioned "Munich" and noted that these were "working terrorists" who were hunted down. If the show's premise is that there are such groups in the U.S., and the courts / police / etc. do nothing, should we assume that this is similar to "Munich" and hunt them down?
3. I do NOT believe that it is correct to use the term "Mitzvah" in this context. Even if one were to figure out that it is halachically permissible, I suspect that one would be told / advised to try to use OTHER means rather than acting as a "murder squad".
4. The expressed motivation of "Jew as Superhero" appears to me to be WRONG. We do not claim to be super heroes. We -- instead -- try to follow the Halachah and do what [we think] G-d wants of us and NOT simply what will "empower" us.
In other words: without denying the atrocity, horror, and evil of the Nazis -- including those who "escaped", it seems that one can not decide on one's own to act as vigilante. If a Posek "rules" that this is proper to do, it is one thing but for individuals [on their own] to make this decision seems WRONG
(46) Patrick Jarvis, March 3, 2020 8:11 AM
Your criticism of “Hunters” is spot-on.
Thank you, aish. I, too was greatly offended and horrified by “Hunters”. I regrettably watched episode 1; Absolutely Not. Not Entertainment. Never. That would-be human chessboard scene....Words fail me. Your review was gentle, to say the least, but effective and somehow made me laugh in the face of it all. You’re the mitzvah! Keep up the great work. Grrrrr, to Amazon Prime, Jordan Peele, et al. As a former Broadcast Television Executive myself, I am reminded of Jay Leno’s now-Legendary question to Hugh Grant: “What were you Thinking?!” Unfortunately, I predict that this debacle will indelibly, permanently tarnish Mr. Pacino’s otherwise-stellar career. Shalom, Patrick B. Jarvis Palm Springs, CA USA ch
(45) Sarah, March 3, 2020 6:48 AM
Remaining Nazis are heroes for younger neo-nazis
This is indeed a complicated issue. And some issues are best left unpublicized. Other Nazis who hear about the removal of a murderous Nazi, will know and live in fear that they may be next. Even if states and governments protect them, the Nazis will not feel safe. And that's an important message for today's neo-Nazis to hear. Because they are eager to do it all over again.
(44) julian rich, March 2, 2020 3:04 PM
How many of your relatives were murdered?
Your lack of empathy is disturbing.
(43) Anonymous, March 1, 2020 6:43 AM
Immediately post war retribution hunters in Europe
What you say is true. However Historically there were very active Jewish units immeadiately after the war who hunted out SS crimminals in particular and killed them. They struck utter fear in these murderous thugs who were forced to confess before being killed. Kol hakavod, as I can understand the Yidden soldiers wanting catharsis from the horror they discovered. But now our journey is to show the Nazis and antisemitic people today what being a Jew is in Tikkun Olam. We can be proud and humble in our Divine giftedness.
(42) Anonymous, February 29, 2020 9:49 PM
What about purge mainstream program where it’s ok to kill for no reason There are indeed nazi hunters There was a Holocaust which shd never be forgotten Purge has no purpose but to make nonsense killing ok just what our children need to see!!!!!
(41) Anonymous, February 29, 2020 7:37 AM
I agree and I am against films that twist basic moral values and justify them as acceptable vengeful behaviour in the interest of making money. How do we expect our children to develop sound moral values when we feed them this twisted tripe. There are many wonderful stories based on either real events or on the imagination of writers who have a sound ethical basis that could be used instead.
(40) ABRAHÃO FINKELSTEIN, February 27, 2020 2:49 PM
86 years old, deeply anti nazi. I was born in Brazil where I live in 1934 fortunately.
HUNTERS is great. We can't subestimate the power of is message to non Jews. And revenge considering the bestiality of the Nazi, even in a film, makes me feel great. KOL HAKAVOT ALL PACCINO. May got bless you.
(39) esthe lubel, February 27, 2020 1:43 PM
Hunters: Should Killing Nazis
I was very disappointmentI have no words to describe the series.
I am happy that my grandparents are not alive to see it .
Very sad I am glad was not true!
(38) Anonymous, February 27, 2020 11:13 AM
We do NOT know who is Amalek today.
The mitzvah is to remember. There is no debate about this from reputable Rabbis. The Amalek comments here are misguided and deeply disturbing.
(37) Anonymous, February 26, 2020 8:21 PM
About the show Hunters
Hi, I read your article on this show Hunters and although I agree with most of it I will add that after watching the entire series it was eye opening to see how many Nazi scientists were brought here by the USA. I am not sure the public realizes this fact. Also the show is more action than anything and is showing a side of what the world might be like.if the Nazi leader was alive. The character played by Al Pacino has a nasty twist at the end. What I took from the.series is the horrors committed against the Jewish people and the fact that so many who did these crimes ended up having sanctuary in America and had a huge influence on things like NASA. It.also showed how.the Catholics took I'm many Jewish children, the way these children were treated and then forced to convert. What I got out of it was not that Nazi's where being hunted down and then killed. They where hunting them to stop more from happening like a 4th Reich. It made me wonder if the rise in antisemitism has a connection to the teaching of Nazi's.
chaim Galant, February 28, 2020 2:03 AM
Finally someone in the crowd that watched the series to the end
My take was an undercover Nazi "The Wolf Played by Al Pacino", who was trying to incite Jews to kill like Nazi's thus tarnishing their souls and spirituality. Both of these attributes make up a Jew. The modern day Nazi know this and if they can bring us to there level of anger, hate and revenge they accomplished their mission.
(36) Sérgio Greif, February 26, 2020 5:40 PM
The mitzvah #599, according to Maimonides and based in Deut. 25:19 is " Wipe out the descendants of Amalek".
chaim Galant, February 28, 2020 2:29 AM
Obliterate Remembrance is not synonymous with Wipe out. Check with Rashi.
Mitzvot 599
"REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE"
Nothing about wipe out. Obliterate the remembrance does not say Kill or Murder.
19[Therefore,] it will be, when the Lord your God grants you respite from all your enemies around [you] in the land which the Lord, your God, gives to you as an inheritance to possess, that you shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget!
chaim Galant, February 28, 2020 2:39 AM
Obliterate the Remembrance
ref; mItvot 599.
Opinion - Remembrance of the sin of Murder, hate and revenge that is the by product of the act of Amalek. Further referencing Deut 25:1
1If there is a quarrel between men, and they approach the tribunal, and they [the judges] judge them, and they acquit the innocent one and condemn the guilty one. And in turn apply the appropriate sentence according to the courts. There is no mention of vigilantism or WIPE OUT as you profess.
(35) Bobby5000, February 26, 2020 2:56 PM
suffering and
"The baby wasn’t moving. Her body had gone hot, then cold. Her father rushed her to a hospital, going on foot when he could not find a car, but it was too late. At 18 months, Iman Leila had frozen to death.Syria’s uprising began in a flare of hope almost exactly nine years ago. Now, amid one of the worst humanitarian emergencies of the war, some of those who chanted for freedom and dignity in 2011 want only to ward off the winter cold."
Sorry, it does not make sense to ruminate over what occurred 75 years ago instead of discussing the suffering and human rights tragedy occurring today.
Syria is a difficult question, some in Idlib were Isis supporters, but we need to have some discussion. Not my issue, not my problem, not crazy about these people anyway is what the world community said about Jews in 1939.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 3:21 PM
Forgetting the Past
The philosopher George Santayana famously reminded all of us that "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." We must remember the Holocaust no matter how long ago it occurred, so that it never happens again. This is called learning our lessons from history.
Rachel, February 26, 2020 10:17 PM
Thank you
I believe in remembering, and the best way to remember is by working to prevent similar horrors from happening again, to any child, anywhere
(34) Anonymous, February 26, 2020 2:19 PM
I do not believe the comments
are you people out of your mind? how can you condone murder for revenge? I have no doubt that the Nazis deserve the death penalty, but this is not your job. you can ONLY kill someone if he is holding a gun or weapon at you. stop glorifying revenge seekers. THIS IS NOT THE TORAH WAY. secondly, this will only AMPLIFY anti semitism, giving non jews good reason to hate us more and call us MURDERERS. WE ARE NOT MURDERERS. LET the courts or g-d himself take care of these monsters
Raymond, February 26, 2020 3:18 PM
Perfect Justice
It is not murder to kill nazis. It is giving the nazis exactly what they deserve. It is called Perfect Justice. It is allowing nazis to live that is the real crime.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 10:18 PM
The law of the land is the law
Please be careful with this rhetoric.
Anonymous, February 28, 2020 2:08 AM
Totally agree !
I watched the series in it's entirety this is the message at the end. The last 10 minutes of 10 hours of horror.
The lead Hunter played by Pacino was infiltrating a Jew who was actually an undercover Nazi "The Wolf " his whole focus was to incite Jews to kill like Nazi's thus tarnishing their souls and spirituality. Both of these attributes make up a Jew. The modern day Nazi know this and if they can bring us to there level of anger, hate and revenge they accomplished their mission in destroying our faith.
(33) Man Of Mystery ?, February 26, 2020 1:16 PM
Great series
The acting in this series is amazing! Especially Al Pacino. The opening scene of each episode that depicts atrocities by the Nazis at Auschwitz is very emotional and I am sure that a lot of the audience wept too.
(32) Ephraim Ponce, February 26, 2020 4:55 AM
Maybe, but it is a nice change to see Jews being proactive in their survival
It is a fiction, just like any other 'superhero' film. It is fiction, but it is satisfying to see the idea of Jews rising up to kill their killers. Come to think of it, a return of the JDL would not be amiss at this time.
(31) Buzz, February 26, 2020 4:28 AM
Nazis
For 10 years I led the Jewish Defense League in a major US city. I worked very closely with our police undercover unit. We helped each other. The only thing Nazis understood was force. We confronted them time and again, even in their own neighborhoods and beat the hell out of them. Some Nazis stopped coming because it wasn't fun anymore to dress up in a Halloween costume with swastikas and take a beating . The glory of the costume lost its flavor. We Jews kept coming, even if injured previously. I was nearly killed 4 times, but I never got tired of it. Every punch I threw was for Judaic survival. I hated hitting people, even Nazis, but it had to be done. No more shuffling into gas chambers, no more apologies for being a Jew and most of all--no more turning the other cheek to be hit again. We drew the line and when they crossed it we kicked them back over it. In particular the Irish Catholic cops supported us with only one exception and in 10 years no JDL member raised a hand to a law enforcement officer. The police respected that. The city's Jewish leadership tried desperately to have the FBI arrest me. The G men hounded me, but the only law I broke was fighting the haters in public. Some rabbis and Jewish leaders publicly stated in the press that if Nazis marched in our neighborhoods, we should pull the shades down. My dear and late friend, Simon Wiesenthal didn't accept that and neither did the JDL. Such thinking by our leaders only caused Jews to die without a fight in the Holocaust. We said "Never Again" and meant it. The Nazi leader, Frank Collin, knew it and "begged" (per a state senator on the negotiating team with the FBI) for an alternative site away from the JDL . He said we'd kill him to the senator. Because of our efforts the survivors did not have to see the ghosts of the Holocaust marching down their streets with their swastikas. To this day I am not sure who hated me more, the Nazis or the Jewish leadership.
Clifton, February 26, 2020 12:16 PM
Great story
Dear Buzz. Now that is an interesting story. It left me wanting to hear more. Just don’t have Weil involved in writing it.
Fictionalizing true events gives anti Semitic knucklehead holocaust deniers more ammunition for their idiotic argument to ignorant readers or viewers.
I got about 15 or 20 minutes in to this TV program and felt embarrassed for the cast. Video games have more depth and believability of characters.
Weil may think he is honoring his grandmother with this junk but it was stupefying to behold.
I hope some creative type gets a hold of your story. I would enjoy reading more. And thank you for doing what you did.
chaim, February 26, 2020 5:08 PM
I agree, However, see the last episode.
Big twist on this series. You'll find that the creator or this series supports your contention. See the last episode.
Raymond, February 26, 2020 3:04 PM
Response to Buzz
To Buzz, while I am in awe of your putting your moral ideals into real action, I will say my support for what you did is conditional. What I mean is, if you physically fought people who had physically harmed our fellow Jews, then I have zero problem with what you did, and more power to you. But if you assaulted people who merely expressed antisemitic opinions, then I will have to differ with what you did, as I am a firm believer in the freedom of speech, even when that speech offends us. Now, there is a gray area in all this, such as when the neo-nazis tried to march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, where many Jews lived who had been concentration camp inmates in the Holocaust, so let me put it this way regarding that situation, namely that those neo-nazis crossed the line, so that if I were, say, the Mayor of that city, I would give my unofficial yet tacit approval for what you did. And so all in all, I thank you for so courageously defending our Jewish people.
chaim galant, February 26, 2020 3:22 PM
At the end of the Day
Your efforts have netted nothing except admiration from vigilante lovers. Nazi's are still among us trying to destroy are values and souls by bringing us to there level. In fact, I felt a sense of pride by your efforts at that time. So, where is the JDL today ?
Has the JDL grown into a legitimate organization protecting Jews ? My Shul has to hire off duty armed police every shabbos to protect are members from threats since the NAZI'S have contacted our Shul. Our shul pays 25,000.00 dollars per year for this security. This money could go to education and charity.
Why isn't the JDL protecting our Shul today ?
Sérgio Greif, February 26, 2020 5:53 PM
Buzz, you are the real hero
(30) Rambo, February 26, 2020 4:27 AM
Great show!
I loved this series and look forward to more series. All other religions get put in series and falsehoods so I dont get why jews are upset about this show which shows the killing of Nazis.
(29) Chaim Galant, February 26, 2020 4:20 AM
Missing the point
It appears no one has seen the entire series. I have and the message is that the Nazi's want us to be angry hateful and revengeful. They've studied our beliefs and know that these actions destroy ones soul. Something a Jew trys to protect with mitzvots. The very last episode of the Hunted drives this point home. Were all being manipulated by Nazi Hate. If they physically can't kill us. kill our spirit and humanity. If you want to have revenge against Nazi's have baby's teach them torah and donate to your Shuls. For every dollar I donate I feel I'm kicking Hitler and his children in the balls.
(28) Raymond, February 26, 2020 3:31 AM
Measure for Measure
Too bad I am entering this discussion when there have been so many comments already, but maybe some people might be interested in what I have to say here. Actually, this time around, my thoughts on this is relatively short and simple, mainly that while it is true that success (in this case, building up our Jewish lives) is the best and most lasting revenge, I really think that there is room for the other, more pure, yes, even primitive kind of revenge as well. I have to say that when I found out just a few years ago that Golda Meir made sure to rid the world of as many of those Munich Olympic terrorists that she could, that I had a newfound respect for her. Terrorists and other murderers have no moral right to get away with their murders, and if the courts fail to convict and execute them, then I think it is our moral duty to do whatever it takes to remove such monsters from the face of the Earth.
(27) Avraham Sonenthal, February 26, 2020 1:40 AM
The answer is yes
If this show inspires Jews to learn how to deal out violence to Jew haters when necessary then kudos to them. The Torah teaches in many places the need to be able to deal out violence. "...we want to be heroes, not hunters..." is clearly contradicted by kohelet. I don't know which religion you are basing this on, but it is not Torah Judaism
(26) Sue, February 25, 2020 11:47 PM
Honor
Sorry, I honor my dead grandparents (on both sides) young baby uncles (both sides) in avenging their murders. Some people, nazis, are not fit to breath the same air as i do. My grandfather was murdered 2 weeks before the war ended in ebensee Austria. Ebensee is now apartment buildings. Unless you really know what went on and saw how your parents suffered, DOnt judge.
(25) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 9:48 PM
Nazi Murderers deserved the death penalty
Nazis and Collaborators actively involved in the Holocaust deserved the death penalty .
There was some debate about Eichman in Israel where there is no death penalty but for massive war crimes against humanity Israel has the death Penalty .
Franz Stangl was the Commandant at death camps Sobibor and Treblinka that killed 900,000 Jewish men women and children And lived free for decades after .
Stangl was NOT killed he died in prison in 1971 after being convicted in 1967 in West Germany .
It was a terrible injustice he got away free for so long .
A disgrace .
(24) Teri, February 25, 2020 9:25 PM
“Hunters” review
I watched a few minutes of it the other night before going to bed because I heard part of a review on NPR and was curious. After your review, I’m not going to watch it. The few minutes of the first episode was too gory for me.
(23) Esther, February 25, 2020 8:58 PM
The Hunters review scored a bullseye
Great article by Gideon Silverstone. The Hunters was painfully cringeworthy. Silverstone tells us exactly why.
(22) Arlene, February 25, 2020 8:55 PM
WW11 Nazi’s are better dead.
I think “Hunters” is an excellent show. The acting is spot on.
chaim galant, February 26, 2020 4:31 AM
Twisted ending of Season 1
The last episode is going to blow you mind. Keep watching.
(21) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 8:49 PM
Actually, killing Nazis is a mitzvah. Specifically the ‘wipe out Amalek’ one. Funny how everyone likes to forget that it actually IS a Mitzva to kill Amelekim...
(20) Valerie, February 25, 2020 7:26 PM
Yes!
There is nothing wrong with taking joy in killing killers. This is why a family gets to witness the execution of an inmate on death row. Makes the family feel better, right? As they said on "Hunters", the best revenge is revenge. Or as my Catholic mother would always, always remind me "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", especially when it came to the Germans.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 2:59 AM
Non-Jews should stop misusing the Hebrew Scriptures.
Your mother misinterpreted that phrase.
Dvirah, February 26, 2020 6:47 AM
Too True
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" refers to fair monetary compensation for an accident, not for wholesale revenge as usually misinterpreted.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 3:15 PM
Eye for an Eye
Like so much of Talmudic thought, there is a subtlety worth mentioning here. True, that the Torah phrase Eye for an Eye is not taken literally by any of our Talmudic sages, and that the consensus ends up being that monetary damages are paid for that missing eye. However, that is not because our sages reject the idea of a kind of revenge, or what I would call Perfect Justice. Rather, it is because Eye for an Eye would not necessarily bring perfect justice. For example, what if the person who had destroyed the first person's eye, had himself only one eye to begin with? Well, then destroying his one remaining eye, would do him more damage than he did to his victim, which would clearly not be perfect justice. Since it is so difficult to determine how to harm the perpetrator as much as he harmed his victim, our Torah sages determined that the only way to enact perfect justice would be through monetary compensation. Well, but if that is the case, then why didn't the Torah say so in the first place? The answer is, because the phrase Eye for an Eye is there to remind us what this is all about, namely to enact perfect justice, which consists of making the perpetrator suffer an equal measure of suffering that he caused his victim.
(19) Esther, February 25, 2020 7:15 PM
I like the program with Jews fighting back. The so called trials let too many Nazis of the book!
This series is. Great follow up to “The Nazis among us”
(18) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 7:03 PM
Anti Semetic
This show depicts Jews as caricature. The accents and Yiddish are deplorable. The TV show that mimics anti Semitic traits is fodder to anti semites and doesn’t come off as parody. Truly disgraceful depiction of the holocaust and survivors.
(17) Shelly, February 25, 2020 6:53 PM
REVENGE
I have not yet seen the show. I do plan on at least giving it a shot. As a G2 (my father was a holocaust survivor -Auschweitz), I fully believe it is up to the survivors to decide the fate of their tormentors. My father died when I was 11 years old (he was only 49. A short life is what he received for all of his years of suffering!). Therefore, I never had a chance to have any discussions with him regarding his experiences. But my mother speaks of my father, after liberation in Germany, running into Nazis and killing them. I am very proud of him. I can’t imagine what I would have done being in the shoes of survivors. NEVER FORGIVE NEVER FORGET!
(16) bernie lubran, February 25, 2020 6:28 PM
Fiction
Surveys, especially of young people, taken around the world show an ignorance of the events that took place before, during, and after the Holocaust. Even though there are many new films and books about post-Holocaust efforts to seek revenge against the Nazi's ("Operation Finale, Labyrinth of Lies, etc"), the world needs to be constantly reminded about what happened to our people.
I have not watched the "Hunters." However, I support the opinion of others who say that telling stories about the evils of the Holocaust, even in a fictional format, will help keep the memory of those that perished alive. This series was intended to be controversial, which at least generates conversations about the Holocaust. After, who will tell the stories of the Holocaust when there are no Survivors?
As to Al Pacino, his performance as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice was outstanding.
(15) shalom hakol, February 25, 2020 6:09 PM
NASA.........
ironic that Nasa and Nazi sound so similar.........there would never have been a NASA or such advances in military rocket/missle without the nazis that were taken & hidden by the US secret service;
(14) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 6:07 PM
Revenge is not a Jewish value
Justice is a Jewish value. My husband and I began watching the series, but I can no longer do so. It is philosophically antithetical to what I was taught as a Jew. My husband still watches.
(13) Avrohom, February 25, 2020 6:02 PM
I highly discourage taking justice into your own hands
Like the article is saying use reasonable measures to bring abusers to justice, courts of law etc. but don’t corrupt yourself and the world by using vengeance. Know that God does not forget even a single murder and will hold those accountable if not in this lifetime then in a future lifetime. Remember vengeance belongs to God. Of course you have every right to protect yourself and family and should but don’t mix self defense with vengeance please for your own sake.
(12) Gene Agress Berkeleymills, February 25, 2020 6:00 PM
Boring
The movie was boring and offensive, Nazies should be held accountable found tried and punished.
(11) Dr. Joyce, February 25, 2020 5:50 PM
Offensive show
I tuned into the preview and turned it off. Highly offensive! I agree with Gideon Silverstone when he mentioned Quentin Tarantino as I had the same thought. Exploitive violence without regard for those who truly lived the nightmares. Yes, let's honor the memories with loving kindness and respect. We remain heroes when we live the words of our Torah. Baruch Hashem
(10) Sam Ramos, February 25, 2020 5:38 PM
I saw the series and get mad watching because the sublime bad message it is hiding
I appreciate this article because it describes exactly my feeling after watching the show. Coming from Amazons and his CEO, I was not surprised at the end because the way he and his crew of censors, act with all my post defending Israel and showing the terrorist behavior of the Arabs "palestines" .
(9) Howard Leder, February 25, 2020 5:37 PM
I am the son of 2 Holocaust survivors.... during Eichmann's trial in Israel, my parents finally had some justice but my father would work out "appropriate" tortures... nothing too gruesome... and was disappointed that public hanging was the only punishment... too swift, too compassionate. Golda Meir once said that it is not what our enemies do to us that is so horrible, but what they make us do to them to allow us to survive... Kudos to Tarrantino and Weil.
(8) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 5:27 PM
Another viewpoint
Let's start out by saying "raised conservative" but yet I daf everyday. My wife came from a non-observant family. So what does the show do- as I watch it with my son I explain that it's really true, there are people who hate you so much they would kill you because you're Jewish. There are people who don't consider you human so it's not killing. And if you watch between the spaces you will see the most dangerous group, those who stand silently and do nothing while others do the killing. Interestingly my son doesn't like to watch it because he say's it scare him. Assimilation has never particularly been a friend of Jewish culture. This fictional series may just remind even the least observant of Jew that the Nazi's (all haters) don't care if you haven't been to services since your Bar Mitzvah they're still going to shave your head and steal your belongings and identity. The thread of between the most orthodox and least observant may sometimes be very thin but the thread remains unbroken for all time past, and I suspect all time future. While the man who wears his kippot daily he has his constant reminder of his commitment to god but for those who don't maybe an Italian guy from the Bronx gets the job done.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 6:51 AM
Question
But does it really serve Jews and Judaism if we become as callous as our enemies?
(7) Golan, February 25, 2020 5:25 PM
Revenge
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth , this is what g_d said. In other words , revenge.
Rachel, February 26, 2020 2:57 AM
That’s not what it means
The Sages tell us that the true meaning is that the person who causes the damage to another must pay for the damage according to the cost to the injured party. It is not a criminal penalty. To my knowledge, there are no account in ancient history or archeology indicates that the ancient Hebrews maimed anyone as part of the legal system.
(6) Yitzchok, February 25, 2020 5:21 PM
Hunting Nazis was legitimate
I’m having trouble condemning Jews who killed Nazis out of revenge. I wasn’t in their shoes, I’m the son of a survivor, not a survivor myself. My survivor father took revenge. I can’t blame him. Others did also. I’m glad they did.
Annie, February 25, 2020 11:08 PM
I understand
I can understand survivors doing this. I can't blame them, either.
(5) Good Old Me, February 25, 2020 5:19 PM
Concerned About Amazons Fascination With Nazis
First there was the Man In The High Tower and now this - what is it with Amazons Nazi fascination? I'm not comfortable with it. Won't be watching it - what value does it provide? Isn't there enough killing on the screen? How about shows that make a difference -
(4) Shosh, February 25, 2020 5:10 PM
Give them what they gave
Always, yes
(3) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 5:06 PM
Let a survivor decide
It is interesting that people who did not experience the horrors of the Nazis have such strong opinions. I say let survivors decide and let the rest of us being sure that it happens NEVER AGAIN. Exposure to combat the Holocaust deniers is essential. It is true history,
(2) Suzannah B., February 25, 2020 4:59 PM
Jewish actor for Pacino role
The series is not my cup of tea but I am so sick of none Jewish actors being cast to play us. Our People mass Murdered over 6 million -- first terrorized discriminated against and it seems odd that the USA's entertainment industry making film and TV can't find any talented Jewish actors to play Jewish roles? Why?
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 1:36 AM
To # 2
I know what you mean. Most all of the films made about ancient Rome and other past Empires, almost without exception all the lead characters speak with a thick British accent. It has always erked me. Maybe it's because of them never really having a "true" Empire of their own? Jealousy of other achievements? Makes one wonder.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 3:08 AM
British actors are trained to handle classical material
British actors have the right training to play dialogue heavy roles. This is the same reason why a Nigerian-British actor was cast to play Harriet Tubman, and British actors played the March sisters in the current version of Little Women— to the irritation of many American actors.
Anonymous, February 26, 2020 3:02 AM
Films need stars
Pacino is a great actor. Studios need big stars. It is not that there are no talented Jewish actors, but that this talented actor was available for this role.
(1) Lenny, February 25, 2020 3:12 PM
You miss the point
I think the writer misses the point - Hunters is what "Inglorious Basterds" was, a hyper-stylized catharsis tale. You don't like violent tv shows? Don't watch it. God told us to eliminate Amalek - that was not defense, that was vengeance, sanctioned by God. Nazis are Amalek, they must be destroyed. There's nothing wrong with portraying that mission. Sometimes the law is not our side so we take out our frustrations on celluloid. You must have better things to write about than this.
Rachel, February 25, 2020 4:43 PM
This is Tarantino’s style
I was disturbed by Inglorious Basterds for 2 reasons. Given the appalling lack of historical knowledge among younger people, there may be some who saw the film and thought Hitler and his high-ranking officers met their end at the hands of the Resistance. Furthermore, it suggested that American troops violated the laws of war and killed their prisoners. As the daughter and niece of World War II vets who did not brutalize captured enemy soldiers, I thought it glorified something that rarely happened on the Allied side, instead of praising all those who served honorably.
Tarantino’s artistic vision is dark and revenge oriented (the same is true of Django Unchained). His alternative fantasy of how things should have been for the sake of the downtrodden might seem more just to human eyes. But the suffering of the righteous is one of the mysteries of the universe, with the reasons known only to G-d.