The Mandalorian and Modern Jewry

The Mandalorian concluded its third season on April 19. It was interesting to see how many YouTube reviewers drew parallels between the Mandalorians' return to Mandalore and the Israelites return to the Promised Land. One such example would be Bo-Katan Kryze’s small scouting party of the penultimate episode (named The Spies) paralleling the spies in the book of Numbers, chapter 13. While they drew many parallels about what was similar. I wish to share my thoughts on why they are similar, and how these parallels can inspire some serious self-reflection.

From the beginning of season two, viewers were presented with opposing ideologies of Mandalorian culture. There are those who follow The Way of ancient Mandalorian orthodoxy, and never remove their helmets in public. Conversely, there are modern Mandalorians who do not follow The Way, and only wear their helmets in battle or in formal ceremony. In Jewish terms, the latter would be those who are off the Derech, an expression used by religious Jews to describe secular Jews who have lost their way.

In the concluding episodes of this season, we see the modern tribe and the ancient tribe join together to reclaim their home world. It is a difficult process of reconciliation, but once they are attacked by the Empire, an enemy that seeks to exterminate their people, ideological choices about head covering become meaningless, as all Mandalorians must unite, and fight to survive. Spoiler alert, ultimately our heroes prevail. They drive their enemies from their home world. They re-enter the Great Forge and reignite its fires, thus paralleling the Jews' reconsecration of the Holy Temple.

The episode concludes with two events, first a coming of age for ceremony for a boy whose father died heroically in battle, and second, the aforementioned reigniting of the Great Forge. During the boy’s ‘Bar Mitzvah’ the secular Mandalorians in attendance all keep their helmets on—out of deference to the family of the fallen member of the orthodox tribe, and out of deference to the somber and ancient history of the occasion. During the latter and more joyous celebration, the modern tribe members have their helmets off, and the Orthodox tribe doesn’t mind; as they find far more joy in the resurrection of their ancient culture than disdain for the alternative mode of observance of their more secular brethren.

The parallels between the Mandalorian tribes, and the Jewish ones may be fun and sometimes poignant, but I think the timing of this series finale is eye-opening. It was released the day after Yom HaShoah—Holocaust remembrance day, and during a time in modern Israel’s history where we are seeing more internal division than ever before. I don’t see how the showrunners, Favreau and Filoni, could have planned this, but God doesn’t do things by accident. Given the timing of the season finale and given the clear message of “united we stand-divided we fall,” is this not possible that God is reiterating this age-old message to his people? There have been Jews engaging in off the derech behavior since we left Egypt, and God has let a lot of it slide, as long as his people were working together.

So, the questions I have are thus:

Is it possible for Jews of even the most extremely different religious observance levels to agree to disagree? Is it possible for said Jews not to view one another as an existential threat? Is it possible for said Jews to accept that internal division has been, and always will be their greatest existential threat? Finally, do we have to wait until we face extermination before we realize the answer to these questions is unequivocally, 'yes!'?

Finally, I ask for your forgiveness, as I know you’ve heard this refrain countless times. Sure, everyone wants to be a magic unicorn pooping out magic rainbows that magically help everyone get along. I get that and again, I beg your pardon. But perhaps this particular delivery of this age-old message will resonate with certain readers.

To those of you for whom this message did resonate, whether you are amongst the ranks of the Star Wars fandom, or of the Jewish people, or of any nation, race, or creed that sees itself fractured by internal division. Be the example for the rest of us. Show us the way.