I have had the privilege of giving a presentation on the subject of "Jews and Superheroes" a couple of times during the past few months. While at first glance, the idea of spandex-clad, cape-wearing crime fighters may have little to do with Judaism, there are some interesting things to consider. An overwhelming number of the people who created the classic American superheroes were Jewish! Superman (Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), Captain America (Joe Simon and Jack ?King? Kirby),The Fantastic Four,The Hulk, and The X-Men (Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) were all originally written and illustrated by Jews, the children of Eastern European immigrants! The character of Spiderman, created by Lee and Steve Ditko (who is not Jewish, but is of Eastern European immigrant descent) was very much the stereotype of the ?Woody Allen? Jew of the 1960's: Brilliant but socially inept high school kid living in Forest Hills, Queens with his overprotective aunt, who becomes a crime fighter out of guilt! While they weren't intentionally trying to write "Jewish characters," many of these classic American superheroes display a number of Jewish values and ideals in their never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.

It is in this spirit that we will be celebrating a superhero- themed Purim this year. The shpiel will be a loving tribute to the classic superhero stories of the 1960s, as "Captain Mordechai" and "Bet-Woman" attempt to save the Jews of Shushanopolis from the dastardly designs of "Doctor Ha- man!" So channel your own inner superhero (or super-vil- lain), wear a cape and a mask (spandex optional), dress up as a classic superhero or make up your own super-person, and join us on Wednesday, March 7 as we celebrate "Super Purim!" "Up, up, and Oy Vey!"

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