Regarding religion, Mel Brooks stated, “I’m rather secular. I’m basically Jewish. But I think I’m Jewish not because of the Jewish religion at all. I think it’s the relationship with the people and the pride I have. The tribe surviving so many misfortunes, and being so brave and contributing so much knowledge to the world and showing courage.”
Brooks has consistently expressed pride in his Jewish identity. In 2021, Brooks told NPR’s Terry Gross: “I love being a Jew, I love Jewish humor…”
On Jewish cinema, Brooks said, “They can be anything and anywhere … if there’s a tribal thing, like, the ‘please God, protect us’ feeling … we don’t know where and how it’s gonna come out. Avatar was a Jewish movie … these people on the run, chasing—and being pursued.”
