The half-hour documentary short Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space asks the question that is on everybody’s mind: will Judaism survive in space?

Heading Home and Israel Swings for Gold filmmakers Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger make the obvious callback to Jews in Space, first teased during the credits of History of the World Part I. Mel Brooks would be kvelling. Of course, Fiddler on the Moon has the required references to Fiddler on the Roof because of course it serves the first introduction to Judaism for no shortage of people. If only Hollywood could do something about Jewish representation, but I digress.

Judaism has a long tradition of asking questions—and often answering with multiple opinions. Two Jews, three opinions! Can Judaism survive in space? That’s one of the questions that Fiddler on the Moon tries to answer. With the way things are going, there will come a point in which Earth no longer stays habitable and at that point, we have to go somewhere.

But we cannot discuss this without bringing up the topic that is Jewish astronauts. They bring nachas to all of us. But of course—as Fiddler on the Moon reminds us—this raises the age-old question of what happens when Jews travel to outer space. Every ninety minutes, Shacharis, Mincha, Maariv! Shacharis, Mincha, Maariv! Houston, we have a scheduling problem. Judaism has strict rules about davening, and praying in outer space poses unique challenges. This is one of those fun topics within Judaism and I’ll touch on that in a few paragraphs from now.

In getting their questions answered, Fiddler on the Moon turns to Jewish astronauts Jeffrey Hoffman and Jessica Meir, rabbis, researchers, and a little-known astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, who, spoiler alert, is not Jewish but is apparently the universal constant in any documentary involving space. In answering the question, they look at how Jews have done in remote parts of the planet or in space simulations. They also explore which Jewish traditions and values might benefit communities in outer space.

Fiddler on the Moon isn’t without a tragic side. When Ilan Ramon was selected to be on a Space Shuttle Columbia mission in 2003, he brought nachas to the Jewish people. There are not many Jewish astronauts, but we take nachas in all of them—it’s basically a mitzvah.. Ramon was not just the first Israeli astronaut to go into outer space, but the first to request kosher food and keep Shabbos. I remember that tragic day all too well, so this portion of the film isn’t without tears. It’s sad just writing about it—I was too young to remember the Challenger explosion, but Columbia left its mark on me.

Before Ilan Ramon went onto Space Shuttle Columbia, he worked with rabbis to determine davening times, etc. In space, this is easier said than done because flying in space means there is no sunrise and sunset. That means keeping the zmanim of the nearest city—much like observant Jews in polar regions, where sunrise and sunset don’t align with normal Shabbos, Yom Tov, or weekday davening times. Sadly, the first Israeli astronaut never returned from space as the shuttle disintegrated somewhere over Texas and Louisiana on February 1, 2003 (29 Shevat 5763). May his memory be for a blessing.

“Last year, Ilan Ramon turned to me with a question, ‘How does one mark the Sabbath in space?’ Jerusalem, we have a problem!” said Rabbi Zvi Konikov of the Chabad Jewish Community Center of the Space Coast in a clip from the Columbia memorial service.

Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space manages to accomplish plenty within a half-hour’s time. But if and when humanity does leave Earth, can we please leave the Jew-hatred behind? We’ve already got enough baggage to check.

DIRECTORS: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger
SCREENWRITERS: Daniel A. Miller
FEATURING: Josh Breindel, Sheyna Gifford, Jeffrey Hoffman, Zvi Konikov, Jessica Meir, Ben-Tzion Spitz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith

Future Faith Films released Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space in theaters on September 12, 2025. Grade: 5/5

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