Jewish Leaders Say Gibson's "Passion" Could Lead to Violence

associated press ^ | August 28, 2003 | anonymous

[ultima ratio]

Jewish Leaders Say Gibson's 'Passion' Could Lead To Violence Assemblyman: 'This Film Is Dangerous For Jews All Over The World'

POSTED: 5:58 p.m. EDT August 28, 2003 UPDATED: 6:04 p.m. EDT August 28, 2003

NEW YORK -- Jewish leaders said Thursday a major film distributor has decided not to release Mel Gibson's "The Passion" and urged others to follow suit, saying its theme that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus could trigger anti-Semitic crimes.

"This film is dangerous for Jews all over the world ... and takes us back to the Dark Ages," said Dov Hikind, a Democratic state assemblyman and Jewish community activist. "I am concerned that it will lead to violence against Jews."

At a sidewalk news conference outside News Corp.'s midtown Manhattan headquartecon has indicated to us that it has a number of alternative distribution options that it is pursuing. In light of that, Fox and Icon have agreed not to partner on this project," said the e-mail, signed by Juda Engelmayer, a spokesman for News Corp.

While Fox held first rights to the film, Hikind said Miramax, Paramount and other distributors should also reject the picture because of the "potential for violence" generated by its portrayal of Jews.

A spokesman for Icon did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

"The Passion," which actor and Academy Award-winning director Gibson spent nearly $30 million to produce, has spawned controversy well ahead of its scheduled spring release.

The Catholic church formally rejected Jewish culpability in Christ's death nearly 40 years ago. Many conservative Christians say the film powerfully depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus' life.

Gibson has defended it as faithful to the Gospels and said it is intended "to inspire, not offend." The film's dialogue is entirely in Latin and Aramaic.

Hikind, joined by City Council members Simcha Felder and David Weprin, noted that Gibson and his father, a "Holocaust denier," belong to an ultraconservative Catholic movement that rejects Vatican authority, including its 1965 edict absolving Jews in Jesus' death.

Although Gibson has shown the "The Passion" to selected audiences, Hikind said he had seen only a seven-minute clip, which he called "graphic beyond description ... enough to scare the daylights out of me."

He said Gibson had a right to make the film and he was not trying to censor it, but he was asking distributors and others to recognize Jewish "sensitivity" on the subject.

"It's not a question of censorship," Hikind said. "I am expressing my feelings, my right of freedom of speech, and others are doing what they think is right. ... Mel Gibson is doing precisely the same. Others will have to make their own choices as to what they do or not do."

Weprin said his Queens neighborhood had seen a recent spate of swastika-scrawling vandalism.

"Anti-Semitism is on the rise," he said. "This is just going to lead to additional anti-Semitism."

About 50 supporters backed Hikind, some with signs reading "`The Passion' is a Lethal Weapon Against Jews," a reference to the series of "Lethal Weapon" action movies starring Gibson.

Malka Moskowits, who identified herself as a Holocaust survivor from Brooklyn, was close to tears as she compared the film with anti-Jewish propaganda that led the Nazis to kill millions of Jews.

"This is how it began in Germany," she said, "with the Hitler youth venom."

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[ultima ratio]

This is a vile anti-Christian hit job, the attempt to destroy the most powerful pro-Christian film in our lifetime. Those who hate the Christian faith will try to keep this movie out of as many theaters as possible and will use the Big Lie to do so. Tying Mel Gibson to his 92 year old father is beneath contempt. So is the claim this will fuel anti-Semitism. The movie closely adheres to the Gospel accounts--which makes any attack on the film an attack on the Gospels.

This is intolerable.

[xJones]

If anything, these objections made by a few so-called Jewish leaders to a Biblically-based movie based on Christ, a Jew Himself, could lead to backlashes.

The question could be asked if no more movies based on the life of Christ be made, except such ones as "The Last Temptation of Christ" which is anything but Biblically based?

No, these false leaders are the problem-makers.

[rmlew]

'The spawn of Sol Weprin is trying to creat trouble between Christians and Jews.
Remind me to plaster his house and car next time.

[xJones]

Remind me to plaster his house and car next time.

Why would you do that?

[Salman]

I suspect that all this hoopla will die down once the movie is released.

[ultima ratio]

The Jewish community has a powerful influence on movie distribution. If it shuts this movie down, there will be hell to pay between Christians and Jews. It would be censorship, pure and simple--which is intolerable in a democracy. It can't be allowed to stand that Hollywood producers can consistently back projects that assault Christian values while there is at the same time a shut down of a strongly Christian film like "The Passion" based on the Gospels.

As it is, the charges of anti-semitism are bogus. If they were real, there would be fear of a backlash by Christians resentful over Jewish propaganda tactics--tactics which appear in syndicated newspapers daily and will raise far more opposition and resentment than Gibson's movie ever would. The real fear is of the story of redemption itself, of its being told with power and truth in a way that affirms all Christians and rekindles their faith. That is the last thing in the world the enemies of Christianity would want.

[rmlew]

This is being done by 2 leftists, and Hikind who should know better.
Hikind is a fairly conservative Democrat who gets unofficial Republican backing and does not sit with the Democrat majority in the assembly. I suppose he is stuck in JDL mode.
Having dealt with hundreds of Black on Jewish crimes, he really thinks the Gentiles are out to get us.

[rmlew]

Cacique, Clemenza, and I were helping out Weprin's opponent, Stacy Kaplan-Villa.
The day after we "hit" his neighborhood (we put flyers on cars and played a loaudspeaker), the Villa office had its utilities shut off. I believe that the Post Office "lost" a major mailing that was supposed to be sent out to many Republican voters there. Accidents happen.

[xJones]

Having dealt with hundreds of Black on Jewish crimes, he really thinks the Gentiles are out to get us.

Whatever his racial prejudice, he should not take it out on a Christian film. There has never been a pogrom after any Christian movie released in America, and it's ridiculous to even claim one would happen now. This smacks of censorship, and if your excuse is true, this would also be an insult to Black American Christians.

[rmlew]

Look up "Crown Hieghts Riots"
Look up "Freddy's Fashion Market" and Al Sharpton.
Remember that this "reverend" who arguably has blood on his hands is running for president.

[xJones]

It's interesting to read how "accidents" happened opposing Weprin.

[xJones]

Re #10: Do you mean this man blames all Christians for the likes of Al Sharpton, a CINO?

That is as bad as the Russians, Polish, etc., that blame all Jews for Communism. Bigots can find any excuse they want to blame the vast majority of innocent people.

[Cacique]

Oh Mama Mia. I think Arnaldo is going to have to have a talk with Dov. As will I, I'll have to remind him that we kinda supported him in the old school days when he was with the JDL.

As for Monsieur Weprin, Stacy is going to do a lot better next time around and we'll have extra wattage on our public address system.

[rmlew]

Re #10: Do you mean this man blames all Christians for the likes of Al Sharpton, a CINO?

Not exactly. He probably sees it as another example of Christian leaders whipping up social, religious, and economic resentment against Jews. (Hate to say it, but it did happen in the Middle Ages.)
Al Sharpton is a "Reverand". I believe he actually has a congregation, unlike Jesse Jackson.
I don't believe that Sharpton represents blacks or Christians. It would help if Christians and Blacks would rebuke him.

That is as bad as the Russians, Polish, etc., that blame all Jews for Communism. Bigots can find any excuse they want to blame the vast majority of innocent people.
I'm not sure that is quite fair. Sharpton is a religious figure.
I do agree with you. However, you need to note taht Hikind belonged to a militant Jewish group, the Jewish Defense League.http://www.jdl.org

[Commander8]

Independent Fundamentalist Baptist layman says Jewish leader is an overnisitive petty crybaby.

[ultima ratio]

This protest by Jewish leadership is offensive to Christians for two reasons. First, because its real opposition is to the Gospels themselves, not with the film, and this can't be fixed. Second, because its assumption is that the mere telling of the story of the Crucifixion causes anti-Semitism. Both of these ideas are poisonous to Jewish-Christian relations because they attack the Christian faith directly. The Jewish community needs to deal with its own religious bigotry before it begins casting stones.