Mehdi Hasan’s “I Love the Shema” Moment Sparks Fierce Backlash
Hasan, if you’re going to claim you’ve had the Shema memorized since childhood, maybe double-check what it actually says before telling everyone to ignore the “Israel” part.
In a move that’s left many scratching their heads, and others outright fuming, British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan tried to praise Jewish representation on television… only to step on a theological landmine.
Hasan posted on X that he was glad to see more Jewish actors on HBO’s hit medical drama The Pitt openly portraying their faith. He added a personal touch: “I love the Shema and have had it memorized since I was a child.” Then came the kicker, he insisted there’s no reason for Israel to be part of the conversation, urging people not to “conflate” Judaism with the modern State of Israel.
The internet did not let that slide.
Critics immediately pointed out the obvious: the Shema, Judaism’s most central daily prayer, literally begins with “Shema Yisrael” (“Hear, O Israel”). Later verses explicitly speak of the “good land” God promised to the Jewish people, tying faith, commandments, and the biblical homeland together in the text itself.
Prominent voices jumped in fast. Commentators mocked the claim as either remarkably ignorant or deliberately misleading. Israeli journalist Haviv Rettig Gur and others highlighted the biblical references, while users flooded replies with screenshots of the Hebrew prayer and sharp one-liners like “What’s the second word of the Shema, Mehdi?”
The exchange has blown up into yet another flashpoint in the endless debate: Can you embrace Jewish tradition while aggressively separating it from any connection to Israel? For many Jews, the answer is no, the land of Israel is woven into the Torah, the prayers, the holidays, and 3,000+ years of identity. For Israel-hating Hasan and many in the pro-Palestinian camp, the modern state is a separate political project that shouldn’t “hijack” the faith.
Meanwhile, The Pitt continues to dominate ratings, averaging a strong 15.4 million viewers per episode, with its unapologetic portrayal of Jewish characters apparently striking a chord with audiences.
Hasan has not issued a major clarification as the backlash continues to roll in. The whole episode feels like a perfect microcosm of today’s fractured discourse: