While we can look back on darker ages with amusement, the world need not be so medieval anymore. Nations and institutions hold no monopoly on beliefs, convictions and personal doctrines. We must rescue the innocent from the yoke of religious violence, and reclaim faith as something true to oneself.

If you are a fellow Jew, know that the only way to preserve both Israel and some form of justice is to speak out loudly and unerringly against Netanyahu. Condemn his actions, call for accountability within Israel and the United States, and work tirelessly to depose him as our unwanted head of faith.

If you're a non-Jew, know that Netanyahu is not our head of faith. Do not presume that his government's actions have the support of Jews internationally, or even a majority of Israelis. Let his cruelty radicalize you not against one specific faith, but against religious conservatism as a whole.

If you've made it this far, you can see I'm not a fan of Israel's current president, as I am no fan of America's. I believe Israel deserves, needs a better representative, as does Judaism as a whole. But while he lays waste to Gaza and its people and we look on feeling helpless, I beg the following:

As a result, like a medieval head of faith, Netanyahu has endorsed a stricter definition of the national religion that excludes a majority of the world's Jewish population, all while enjoying the tacit support of many of those he's ostracized as the chosen leader of the fight against antisemitism.

Before the vicious attack against Israel on Oct 7, Israelis marched in record numbers to protest Bibi's swerve towards autocracy. Before that, he only won reelection by allying himself with the country's worst religious extremists, as has happened in the United States and abroad.

Too often when discussing the practical modern Jewish doctrine, Netanyahu's cruel reign is held up by critics as the final word on what Jews believe. And worse yet, due to fears of abandoning support for Israel's existence, too few Jews are willing to condemn him outright for his crimes.

It's altogether for the best that there is no Jewish Pope, even one in the style of Francis. But miserably, in the discourse surrounding the shared sentiments of Jews across the world, this void has provided the worst possible figure with a de facto endorsement: Benjamin fv#&ing Netanyahu.

What does this all have to do with modern Judaism? As mentioned, there is no official head of the Jewish faith. No one to point to as an authority on evolving religious attitudes, to in the best of times temper the excesses of organized faith, or in the worst of times, fan the flames of zealotry.

It's also common knowledge, though, that the late Pope Francis was admired, if not revered, by progressives of all faith backgrounds for speaking truth to state power, and holding his own institution accountable. Unlike previous Popes, he did not cater to the worst instincts of Catholic orthodoxy.

We all know about heads of faith, from High Priests to Dalai Lamas to Ayatollahs. But undoubtedly the most familiar figure in western culture is the Pope. The medieval history of Catholics and Jews is, to put it mildly, fraught, and as stated, I'd never want to see a Jewish head of faith like this.

I began weighing the benefits and historical implications of this decision against my own belief system. For the record, I am a non-practicing reform Jew who strongly opposes religious institutions that warp sincere aspects of faith, including state religion. But this is roleplaying, after all.