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.

[mr.pink]

Funny that you didn't mind allouette's "pornography".

[missyme]

What the heck is this! Get this off!

[Chris Talk]

Where have you BEEN, restornu? What's a nice guy like you doing on a thread like THIS?

[Guillermo]

Wow, are you sure off the mark.

[Lead Moderator]

Don't link from there again. They were making it so that http requests coming for the image from a page not on their site would instead get porn.

Thanks, LM

[SJackson]

Right, my slander. The Torah is severely restricted, only Jews get to see it, but now you're liberated by the internet. Congrats.

[rbmillerjr]

Keep kidding yourself that The Passion of The Christ is just a movie - lol.

It's a retelling of the Crucifixtion of the Son of Man, primarily from the Gospels.

[Guillermo]

That's not what I said, but, OK.

Take care.

[Piranha]

Joesnuffy, you are all wrong about Abe Foxman.

I believe that on this issue Foxman probably is speaking from his heart.

Foxman was born in Vilnius (then Vilna), Lithuania, home of possibly the most religious intellectual Jewish community in Europe (most of the prominent yeshivot in Europe centered around Vilna). He was saved from the Nazis by a Christian nanny who had him baptized as a Catholic, and he actually considered becoming a priest.

After the war he was reunited with his parents -- after a bitter custody battle. After 5 years in displaced persons camps, he emigrated to the US with his parents in 1950.

He studied in modern orthodox yeshivot through high school and is a practicing member of an Orthodox synagogue in Teaneck, New Jersey, one of the leading modern Orthodox communities in the United States.

[mr.pink]

I appreciate that instruction, but I also don't appreciate the graphic flourishes added by another poster that was directed towards me.

In my years here, I have never once complained about any insults directed my way, however I have never backed away from returning fire either.

I apologize to any anyone I have offened, but I will not aoplogize to the scum my post was directed to.

[SJackson]

Funny that you didn't mind allouette's "pornography".

I assumed the porn was an accident, guess not. IMO an apology would have been in order for posting naked women on the thread, not attacks on other posters.

[bvw]

So a movie passes for Holy Text in your book, eh?

As far as being kidded goes -- movies are all about that. Trust the Word, man. No mere movie is The Word.

[af_vet_1981]

Get over yourselves, Jew apologigists.

Is that how you want to be remembered, with that type of language, as an expression of your faith and devotion ?

[toupsie]

Not my belief but my view of Christ on the Cross. I already had belief but not a good understanding of the torture and suffering of Christ before he was nailed to the cross. The images of Christ I have had on the cross were nothing what Gibson portrayed on the screen. Look at any crucifix and you will see a smooth, polished Christ, not the blood, ripped flesh Christ portrayed in the movie.

Settle down. If a movie assists one in understanding their faith and their view of the suffering of Christ, it is a good thing. Sorry you can't appreciate what I appreciated from the film.

[missyme]

So are Orthodox Jews liberals? he has very liberal views on quite a few social issues...

[Ronin]

Ditto.

[Piranha]

I respectfully suggest that you watch over yourself, unless you are a moderator on this thread.

[af_vet_1981]

The Torah (and the rest of the Hebrew scriptures) were translated into Greek 2300 years ago.

I think Guillermo wants to return it to us for a refund. It had no effect on him.

[Piranha]

Please, Restornu, tell me why this proposal by Shas shows that there is a small group why really hate Christians. I sincerely would like to know how you reach this conclusion.

[kenth]

wonderful example of what Christ has done for mankind, and I left thinking maybe I can try just a bit harder to be the kind of individual G-d wants me to be...

This is what everyone who came out of the sold out theater with us seemed to be thinking. We didn't throw together a posse to go look for the Jews responsible. We knew who was responsible - us.

If anti-semitism rears its ugly head, it will be by those who were anti-semitic before the movie, not because of it. The only thing the movie has brought to light so far is anti-Christianity.