New Film Depicts a Gunslinging Rabbi Battling Anti-Semitism

A new indie thriller, Guns & Moses, presents a provocative story of a Hasidic rabbi armed to fight back against bigotry in a world that resembles today’s hostile environment toward Jewish communities. The film focuses on Rabbi Mo Zaltzman, a fictional leader of a Southern California synagogue, who transforms from a spiritual guide to an avenger after a congregant is murdered.

The film highlights real-life tensions that have escalated in recent years. Director Sal Litvak, inspired by headlines about synagogue shootings in 2019 and 2018, reflects on the ongoing threats faced by Jewish Americans. The tragic Poway attack, where Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was wounded while attempting to protect others, exemplifies the violence that fuels the movie’s narrative.

Following a surge in anti-Semitic incidents and attacks on Jewish institutions, many synagogues have increased security, deploying armed guards and encouraging self-defense training. The recent attack on Israeli civilians and the ensuing conflict in Gaza have further intensified calls within Jewish communities to defend themselves.

In Guns & Moses, Neil McDonough, Dermot Mulroney, and Christopher Lloyd star alongside Mark Feuerstein, who plays Rabbi Zaltzman. Feuerstein described his role as a defining moment in his life, emphasizing the importance of Jewish resilience and activism. Lloyd portrays a Holocaust survivor who schools a neo-Nazi about tolerance in a powerful scene.

Feuerstein affirms pride in representing a strong, proactive Jewish character, opposing stereotypes of weakness. “We are strong, we are proud and we are brave,” he states, underscoring the movie’s message of resilience in the face of rising hatred.