When I was growing up in Brooklyn, avidly devouring each new issue of Superman, Superboy or Action Comics, I never even considered the possibility that the Man of Steel could be Jewish. He grew up on a Midwest farm next to a town called "Smallville" and his parents were named Jonathan and Martha Kent. How much less Jewish is it possible to be?

I ignored, however, one crucial fact. Superman did not have one set of parents - he had three.

The Kents were his adoptive parents. His birth parents were Jor-El and Lara, both identified as being of the "House of El". Superman's name at birth was Kal-El.

Here comes the intriguing part: "El" is Hebrew for "God" - and this would not have been unknown to Superman's third set of "parents": his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, both of whom were Jewish.

What were Siegel and Shuster trying to tell us by making Superman part of the Hebrew "Family of God"? Indeed, were they saying that Superman, himself, was the long-awaited Jewish Messiah when they gave him the name, "Kal-El" (which translates to "Easy God")? He certainly acted as a savior to many people on earth during his long (and on-going) career.

There is one other interesting factor concerning Superman's background. His ancestral home, Krypton, had been destroyed - just as ancient Judea had been destroyed by the Romans, and he was forced to emigrate. Unlike the traditional "Wandering Jew", Kal-El did not go from country to country but rather from one planet to another.

Of course, when growing up Kal-El/Superboy/Clark Kent would not have known this. He was undoubtedly raised as a Christian and discovered his background later in life. Here, too, he follows the path of a number of Jews - especially those from Spain known as "Marranos". When the Jews were required to convert or be expelled from Spain in 1492, quite a few decided to pretend to become Christians. This group, known as "Marranos" were under a constant death threat. If their secret was discovered they would be burned alive by the Spanish Inquisition.

It was much too dangerous to let their children know that they were Jewish so it was kept a secret from them until they were old enough to be told the truth.

Interestingly enough, Superman's story has several parallels to that of a Jew who was born 2000 years ago: Jesus. As noted above, Superman was destined to be seen as a savior by many. Superman was born into the "Family of God" and raised by adoptive parents. Mary, of course, was Jesus' natural mother but Christians believe that Joseph was an adoptive father - and together, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are known as the "Holy Family".

Kal-El was aware that he had remarkable powers even when he was "Superboy" but did not know who his real parents were until much later. Jesus was shown, as a young child, astounding the rabbis at the Temple in Jerusalem with his knowledge of the Law - but the New Testament does not tell of his being informed that he was the Son of God until early in his ministry when God announces, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Moreover, Superman was indestructible - meaning that he was immortal. Yet more than once, he died - only to be resurrected.

Superman, of course, is a fictional character and, as such, there can be no real "truth" about him. Still, it makes for interesting speculation. When I was growing up in the '50s the answer might have been provided by seeing what Superman ate for breakfast but today, with chains like Einstein Bros in operation throughout America - including small towns in Kansas - you won't get a hint as to his background even if you see Clark Kent start his day with a bagel and lox.

Learn more about this author, Josh Wilde.
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