We are in the golden age of the hot rabbi.
There’s Adam Brody’s Rabbi Noah Roklov in “Nobody Wants This,” who makes us all swoon. There’s Elsa Guedj’s Rabbi Léa Schmoll in “Reformed,” who brings us hot Jewish liturgy. And now, there’s the literally smokin’ hot Mark Feuerstein’s gun-toting Chabad Rabbi Mo Zaltzman (no relation to this writer, although, maybe?) in the movie “Guns N’ Moses.”
“Guns & Moses” is a Western-like film set in a small California town. When a shooting takes place at a synagogue event and a local Neo-Nazi is accused of the crime, Rabbi Mo goes on a journey to protect his community and expose the truth.
Feuerstein is perfect for the role of hot rabbi; the actor grew up Jewish in New York, was bar mitzah-ed at Park Avenue Synagogue and has never shied away from his Jewishness. He’s famously played the very handsome nice Jewish Dr. Hank Lawson in “Royal Pains,” and we swooned over him as Rose’s (Toni Collette) NJB-love interest in “In Her Shoes.”
Kveller talked to Feuerstein about taking on this role, singing “Adon Olam” and why he would make an amazing rabbi in real life.
So what drew you to this role of a gun-slinging rabbi?
I got the script through my manager, who was contacted by Sal and Nina Litvak [the husband and wife duo behind this movie]. When you’re reading a script for an indie film, most go the by the wayside, because they’re just not good enough to commit to the time and the travel and the agita. You’re wondering, how bad is it going to be? How thin is the comedy? How poorly constructed is the plot?
I just kept reading like — when is this going to get bad? And it didn’t. It’s so good and engrossing. I get to play a character who’s funny and dramatic and an action hero. I put [the script] down, like, oh yeah, let’s do it. The whole process with Sal felt bashert — meant to be.
Multiple times throughout the movie, you sing the Hebrew song “Kol Ha’Olam Kulo.” Did you know it before making the movie?
You know, my nephews and niece, they go to Jewish day camp, but I never went to Jewish camp or school. So that was not one of my songs. I would do the concluding ceremony of Maariv on Shabbat and lead the congregation in “Adon Olam,” but not “Kol Ha’Olam Kulo.”
What was it like then to learn the song?
It was beautiful. I mean, the words… what is it? What is a narrow bridge?
“The whole world is a narrow bridge. And the most important thing is not to fear.”
It was wonderful to sing it in the movie, to sing it with Alona [Tal, who plays Mo’s wife, Hindy]. We sing it and it’s moving, it’s powerful.
It was very touching to see that on screen. Also, it’s so rare to see a Chabad rabbi on screen, at the center of a film!
Sal was inspired by what happened at the Poway Synagogue. He heard about Rabbi Goldstein rushing at the shooter. And though one woman was killed, he saved many other congregants, and lost a finger doing it. In the Orthodox community, they communicate about how you know, you can’t take your time. You must act. It’s all about action.
And then, in such a beautiful gesture, instead of saying “antisemites be damned,” he said to the to the world: “Do a mitzvah.” In honor of this tragic moment, go do a mitzvah. Compensate for the ills of the world with mitzvot, with good deeds. So my character says that too, because Sal was so inspired by that gesture.
That’s so lovely. You’re always very physical in your roles, but was this your first time doing these kind of action stunts?
Well, my first time with weaponry was in the movie “Defiance,” another movie about badass Jews.
About Jewish WWII partisans! It is such an important and well-made movie.
Oh, thank you. I take full credit. No, just kidding.
But [in terms of stunts], shooting a gun like a Glock — this was really my first time. Sal has a friend named Yossi, who founded Magen Am, the security arm of many synagogues in Los Angeles, California and around the country. He taught me how to shoot a gun.
I’m not a gun guy per se, but I had to learn for the role, and I was happy to learn. But I appreciate that Sal always says, you know, God forbid we should ever have to use it. In the movie, Hindy says to Mo, “Are you afraid you won’t be able to pull the trigger?” And I say yes — and I’m afraid that I will, because there’s no joy or desire to shoot. But Jews have recently become aware that not everyone is their friend. We knew that for centuries, but it became a little more apparent recently. And so, you know, one of the many lessons of the movie is — the crass way to say it is — in a place where no one’s got your back, you got to have your own. The Rabbi Hillel quote is “in a place where there is no man, be the man” or the woman, and that’s beautifully said.
Rabbi Mo is someone who is a reluctant hero. He didn’t ask for [his circumstances], but like so many great characters in the Torah, they didn’t ask to be the one. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses… they didn’t ask to be the one.
Mark, you’re ready to be a rabbi.
I’m on my way! I have a congregation of one! You’ve gotta start somewhere.
“Guns & Moses” is now in theaters.
