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.

[jwalsh07]

The word "Torah" is a tricky one, because it can mean different things in different contexts. In its most limited sense, "Torah" refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. But the word "torah" can also be used to refer to the entire Jewish bible (the body of scripture known to non-Jews as the Old Testament and to Jews as the Tanakh or Written Torah), or in its broadest sense, to the whole body of Jewish law and teachings

OK, I did a search for myself. My memory wasn't as bad as I thought. I now understand the confusion surrounding the "Torah" and torah.

[adam_az]

When you can't defend your position it is always nice to fall back on libeling Christian opponents and Klansmen or Nazis. You are repulsive and bigoted.

When you can't point out a specific logical fallacy and fall back on namecalling, what does that make you?

[MarkL]

Someone previously mentioned that somewhere Mary was called a prostitute & Jesus a b******. Was that in the Talmud? I think people are getting Torah & Talmud mixed up. The Talmud is a commentary written by Jewish scholars, right? It is NOT scripture any more than Matthew Henry is "scripture."

And I'd be curious to know exactly where in the Talmud that's stated... Specifically, which chapter, and verse... Of course, you can find this "expose" on the Stormfront White Pride World Wide home page... Not that they've got any sort of an axe to grind, right? I especially love the first line of their "research"...

The Talmud is Judaism's holiest book (actually a collection of books). Its authority takes precedence over the Old Testament in Judaism.

A differing account is offered on Faithweb

The Faithweb summary states:

It seems clear by now that there is no consensus whether Jesus is mentioned at all in the Talmud. Most of the supposed "blasphemies" of Jesus and Mary in the Talmud do not refer to them at all. However, there can be no denying, and no rabbi would deny this, that the authors of the Talmud did not believe in Jesus' messiahship or his divinity. If you are looking for Christian fellowship then Jewish literature is not the place to look. However, there is no basis at all to state unequivocably that the Talmud calls Jesus a bastard or that Mary was a prostitute who had sex with many men. As has been shown, those passages definitely do not refer to Jesus.

Mark

[Guillermo]

Your ignorance is astounding.

Ask any Rabbi, or any (remotely observant) Jew for that matter, what the Torah is, and they will tell you it includes both the written and oral scriptures.

[Dog Gone]

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

Yeah, but I went out and butchered nearly a thousand Germans in response. I'm sure several thousand Jews will be slaughtered in my neighborhood alone, thanks to this film.

[bvw]

Why, the KKK has had a long history, and of some variety, and Harry S Truman who gave his okay to Israel's national rebirth is reputed to have been a member. So yes, marking you, in your temper and bent, as a Klansman is inappropriate. Not at all flattering. To the KKK, I mean.

[Guillermo]

It's that plus the Talmud.

I'm not here to post quotes from the Talmud.

I'm not interested in inciting anything.

[jwalsh07]

OK Thanks.

[adam_az]

Historically, the Torah was not generally made available for non-Jewish public consumption.

No Freaking Duh.... HISTORICALLY, MOST PEOPLE WERE ILLITERATE!

[af_vet_1981]

Israeli plans to make own movie about Jesus called The Carpenter Nailed Himself To A Cross /sarcasm.

Which spirit prompted you to make that statement ?

If you do not consider yourself to be a Christian have you considered how inflammatory and offensive that will sound to those who do ?

If you consider yourself to be a Christian, I simply don't understand why you would joke about what this movie purports to portray so horrifically. Perhaps you don't really comprehend how many myriads of people have died over this.

[SJackson]

Is not the Talmud a sort of condensed version of the Torah that basically sets out Jewish Law?

Hardly condensed :>)

Think of it like the Constitution and a large set of law books.

[adam_az]

Abe Foxman is the Hebraic Jesse Jackson.

[jwalsh07]

See my post #181, I think it may help the misunderstanding.

[Guillermo]

Was that the reason why?

[missyme]

Isn't funny everyone talking about who hates who and Jesus did not once say to hate anybody and he didn't...

People don't want to love because they feel Hate is an easier emotion to deal with...

[Aquinasfan]

Since Mel payed for this movie out of his own pocket, and since he's going to be recouping his investment 10 times over, I'm fully expecting him to eventually put this movie on the web, streaming 24 hours a day.

Banning this movie because of a "blood libel" is silly. Many Pharisees are shown to be sympathetic to Jesus. Only Caiaphas is relentlessly malevolent. However, if they want to prevent conversions, they'd be right to ban the movie.

[gscc]

The sacrifice of Christ to die this death for my sins is the corner stone of my faith. The movie is faithful to the scriptures that I hold Holy. That the Jewish community does not understand the Christ as the final Covenant that God has with His people is not my problem. They didn't accept Christ as Messiah 2000 years ago and still don't. They opposed Christ 2000 years ago and they oppose him today. They shouted him down then and they are attempting to shout him down today.That they have rejected Jesus as Messiah is their choice. I know why Christ died even if others don't. He died for me - I killed him - does that absolve the conscience of some.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Many American Jews cannot see the forest for the trees! This "Passion" uproar is totally uncalled for. Both Jews and Christians have their common faith in the Lord woven by their history together. IMHO, they self-inflict damage against their own interests, both in religion and politics! Of course, it is their right to do so! However, hate, anger, denial and emotion will get you nowhere!

[jwalsh07]

Yes, that part of my memory failed me. :-} Perhaps because my girlfriends father banished me from her presence when he sensed things were getting a bit heated. LOL

[ladyjane]

If anti-semitism rears its ugly head, it will be by those who were anti-semitic before the movie, not because of it.

Actually the actions of the ADL and those who want to blacklist Gibson will help in the backlash.