Yishai calls for Gibson's Jesus film to be banned in Israel

Haaretz Israel ^ | 26 February 2004 | Amiram Barkat

[Hal1950]

Shas chairman MK Eli Yishai on Wednesday called for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" movie to be banned from Israeli cinemas, calling it a blood libel.

In the U.S., the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement saying that the film "repeats all of the stereotypes and myths surrounding the death of Jesus that have accompanied anti-Semitism for the last 2,000 years. Regretfully, Gibson refused all of our attempts for a dialogue aimed at preventing this harm to Jews."

ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said he was troubled by Gibson's claim of historical accuracy. "He made his choice," Foxman told a news conference after viewing the film. "And it's to blame the Jews."

"The Passion," which depicts in gruesome detail the final hours of the life of Jesus, premiered in the U.S. and other countries Wednesday, but not in Israel.

Jewish and other religious groups in Manhattan planned protests for Wednesday. Amcha, The Coalition for Jewish Concerns, planned to wear concentration camp uniforms at a New York theater to link the film's portrayal of Jews to the sort of hate that led to the Nazi Holocaust.

"The whole thing is a blood libel," said Yishai, from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, using a term that refers to a medieval slur that Jews used the blood of Christians to make unleavened bread for the Passover festival.

However, it appeared unlikely that the film would be banned. Few films have been barred in recent years, and the ones to be forbidden are usually pornographic. The Israeli film board, which makes these decisions, could not be reached for comment.

Yishai said the belief that the Jews had killed Jesus had led to "millions" of Jews being killed and persecuted in the last two millennia.

"This libel used to spread by word of mouth. Now the media are spreading it," Yishai told AP. "We should not accept this."

Yishai said he had also appealed to the Foreign Ministry to try to encourage other governments to bar the film.

Jewish leaders have said that the movie gives a harsh portrayal of Jews and blames them for death of Jesus. They have warned it could lead to a rise in anti-Semitism. Gibson, who also funded and co-scripted the film, denies that charge.

New York Cardinal Edward Egan, meanwhile, wrote to parishes to stress Jews were not responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus.

"He gave His Life for us," Egan wrote in a column to appear in next month's issue of Catholic New York. "No one took it from Him. This is, and has always been, Catholic doctrine.

[dinok]

The only Jewish leader I know is Sharron...

[billorites]

Israel is the only country between Turkey and India in which this film is likely to be shown.

[FormerACLUmember]

Maybe I am a little hazy here, but I could have sworn that Joshua ("Jesus" is Aramaic for Joshua) was a Jew. All of his friends, everyone he really ever knew were Jews. He was executed by Roman military occupation forces.

It is the Italians who should be carrying on I think.

[rmlew]

Morons in a sounding hall
They don't know or speak to Christian supporters of ISrael. Hekc, Shas is Sephardic. Someone should remind them that the days of Ferdinand and Isabella are over.

[Guillermo]

Vipers.

I won't mention what the Talmud says about Jesus.

[philetus]

What a bunch of morons.

[isthisnickcool]

There are 2000+ year old Jews? I did not know that. I bet Mel Brooks is one of them. /sarcasm off

Foxman is a little weiner (kosher I'm sure) who generates as much controversy as he can to get more donations to ADL so he can be paid the $500K plus he is every year. He is no different than Jesse Jackson and others that do the same thing.

As far as Israel? Long may she live and G-d bless the Jews.

[rmlew]

That is my take on it.
I consider Jesus to be a false prophet murdered by the Romans and collaborators.

[BykrBayb]

I won't mention what the Talmud says about Jesus.

Can I change your mind? I'd really like to know.

[sheik yerbouty]

"How to Make friends and Influence People"

[AlbionGirl]

Do you mind saying? You've piqued my interest.

[Chris Talk]

No, "Jesus" is Latin. Greek equiv is "Iesous." Hebrew equiv is "Yeshua." The OT character called "Joshua" in the KJV, is in the orig Heb "Yehoshua."

Yeshua= 386= yod-shin-vav-ayin

Yehoshua= 391 = yod-heh-shin-vav-ayin

[concerned about politics]

We sat through Shindlers list. No one bitched about the violence in that film. No one said a word.

[sobieski]

Our democratic ally that shares our values...

[rbmillerjr]

"I consider Jesus to be a false prophet murdered by the Romans and collaborators."

Why is it that you don't identify the collaborators?

[Chris Talk]

Google for it, no one will want to be the one to tell you.

[lilylangtree]

Jewish religious leadership was responsible along with the Roman govt. If left alone, the everyday Jew would have followed Jesus and his teachings. Who could not after seeing the many miracles that occurred. But Annas, Caiaphas, and the Pharisees couldn't have Jesus live and retain their power. The missing point is that Jesus was a Jew, the Messiah, and he came to this earth to die so that all who believed would be saved spiritually. That was the whole purpose so that all believers didn't have to pray in a temple or face someplace in the hinterlands for morning or evening prayers. Believers no longer needed blood sacrifices that God never wanted in the first place. All people could pray to God for deliverance anyplace, anywhere on this earth. The only requirement is becoming a believer (John 3:16). Jesus was a Jew, his disciples, apostles with his followers initially being Jewish. Paul, a Roman Jew, converted Gentiles into believers while Peter stayed within the Jewish community to convert Jews into believers. Both of these men were Jews.

[FormerACLUmember]

Any good dictionary will show the derivation or the history of the translation of Jesus through the various languages. All agree that the word “Jesus is a transcription or a copy of the Greek name … which is a derivation of the Hebrew Ieshoua, a common Jewish name” according to the book The Names and Titles of Jesus by Leopold Sabourin, S.J.