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.

[af_vet_1981]

This is the 21st Century - why don't you stop living in the past and get into it.

I'm watching it unfold on this thread.

[Light Speed]

Many comments on what Torah is..what the Bible is.

One point to address right off..is both are *Redactl.

That means people have had their hands on the last script conveyence..and..

This can be a traumatic theme to the Christian...
"What..the word of God does not change"... Well..yes it does : )

remember..Judaism came before...and before their was a written record..their was an oral record..of *One omnipotent all present Creator.

The Legacy that is Judaism has never been a traumatic thing when exact perfect retention ident of all letters spelled in a script which conveys rememberence of the Light of Life is weighed.

The Jew has allways understood the the Creator is with him/her...and so too...Salavation if you need that ident.

Thats right..The Jew has Salvation allready..it came with *relationship.
no need to work anything to get.

The Jew has prayed for millenia and understood when he/she lifts their voice to the One Creator...

"Ki bayom haze y'chaper aleichem" ..."For on That Day...you shall be forgiven of all your sins" it happens more on Shabbat..but with the one who is free before their Creator..and not day/duty religious....they understanding is clear.

"I am..because you are"..
I AM encompases everything..

The Jew is whole...not needing to go get *Fixed when meeting their Creator.

The Ruach Ha Kodesh...Christians call this the Holy Spirit.

The Jew knows the unseen ones Glory strides with them each day...for the understanding was conveyed thru Avraham..who the Ancient of Days called.."My Freind".

The many Jewish commentaries ..the Zohar even.

The Jew has been dilligent to return the favor of relationship...
the design is to teach/instruct...and then let go.
the learner journeys...
The Ancient of Days is with them on that journey.

*There is no rejection.

[maestro]

Thanks for your# 236......Very good post!

(But,...your 'mars/earth' thought,...no way!)

JEREMIAH 33:7......is EVERYTHING.

Northern Germany's Lutheran churches were 'de-constructed' for fear of a revival?

[Piranha]

Is it possible to you that Mortara's parents, though Jewish, were good, loving people who should have raised their son despite his forced baptism and kidnapping?

[Piranha]

Not only were books rare and expensive, but Christians who wouldn't leave the Jews alone were forever poring through the Jewish holy books in order to find language that they could call anti-Christian (or else evidence from Jewish sources of Jesus' divinity). Jewish leaders on many occasions were forced to debate Christianity with Christian leaders, on penalty of death. Nachmanides' disputation perhaps was the most famous of these debates.

Moreover, when the Jewish books were found objectionable they were confiscated and burned. As this was before the invention of movable type, and these books were written by hand, the loss to Jewish posterity was immeasurable.

Finally, the Catholic church also tried to keep its own religious books out of the hands of the hoi polloi (who, for the most part, were illiterate anyway). One of Luthor's reforms was to make the Bible accessible to everyman. The Catholics at the time were opposed to this doctrinal change.

[Chris Talk]

The Middle Ages were a bad time. You are describing them from a Jewish perspective. A Christian perspective would be different, but would still not make them other than ugly. The people who did evil [to Jews] were not really Christian in any event, as mere goers along with whatever was in power so as to get power and money.

But I must mildly echo a prev poster. This IS the 21st century, those days ARE over. Continuing to try to divide Jews from Christians is not merely mean spirited and passe, but will only result in an Islamic takeover of the world. Daniel 12 says that if the Jews and Christians will finally get together and quit shattering [dividing] the [spiritual primarily, but earthly too] power of the holy people, then Messiah can come.

[Paleo Conservative]

Perhaps 20 times the number of words as the whole Christian Bible. Maybe more, if all the marginal notes are included.

So it's maybe one-tenth the size of the US tax code.

[Piranha]

What do you mean exactly when you suggest that the Jews and Christians should "finally get together"?

[missyme]

I don't think people should kidnap other people's children? If his parents were good loving people they should of had there child to raise...

[John Lenin]

Are they worried about anti-semitism ? doh

[Chris Talk]

Work WITH each other for the improvement of the world and for the sooner rebuilding of the Temple and the sooner coming of the Messiah.

They will be two distinct peoples till Messiah comes, we all know that. That is how God willed it.

I and my neighbor here are two different people, we will never merge and become one man in this life. But if one of our houses is on fire, we will certainly work together and not keep yelling how his ancestors persecuted mine 700 years ago.

When Messiah comes, then if he is Jesus, the Jews can say the Christians were right. If he is NOT Jesus, the Christians can say the Jews were right.

Keep up this stupid battle like on this thread, and the Muslims will kill us all and that will be the end of the whole shebang right there.

[missyme]

This is what I don't understand if you are going to Ban Jesus from Israel (The movie the Passion) then why not ban Homosexuality, would you rather be a Christian or turn to salt..okay just talking out of frustration, But I don't understand people hating Jesus yet embracing the sin of immorality..

[Chris Talk]

Put it this way, those who embrace immorality will certainly hate Jesus, that is sure.

[Piranha]

Chris, I agree with you.

[Chris Talk]

Good. The redemption of the world begins with just one Jew and one Christian understanding each other and not talk past each other like has been going on for 1970 years.

Spoiled children now aged 80 arguing over whether Mom and Dad liked Junior best, or Sis, or Sid. All the while the Islamic wolf is at the door.

If we can get the leaders of those of our faiths who still believe anything, who still have the faith at all, to think like I have just set forth above, the Messiah will be at the door, whoever he turns out to be, let us quit arguing NOW and HERE over who he is and whether he was ever in Jerusalem before.

And get rid of Muslim abomination of desolation atop Temple Mount, which Christians in the South today want even more than the Jews seem to at least outwardly...

[Imal]

Indeed, Romans the world over are no doubt bracing themselves for the inevitable backlash.

[Piranha]

The homosexual parade in Jerusalem is by Israelis for Israelis. A similar parade could be held in Washingtoh, D.C., Austin, Texas or Rome, Italy (it could not, however, be held in Riyadh).

This is very different from requiring Israel to show an American movie in its movie theaters.

The fact is that Israel is very open to Christianity. There are churches all over the country, and there is a regular FR poster who is a Christian American living in Israel (in Jerusalem, as a matter of fact). Israelis are grateful to the Evangelical Christian community, which has continued to visit Israel during the current Oslo War, when visits by many others (including American Jews) have been sharply curtailed.

Israel typically has a live-and-let-live attitude. Where Israel draws the line is in matters of mandatory religion, both Judaism and Christianity.

In Israel, there is a good deal of antagonism between the so-called ultra-Orthodox, many of whom do not recognize the existence of the State of Israel because it was founded by men, and secular Israelis who regard religious families as parasites.

One thing that religious and non-religious Jews agree upon is their attitude toward proselytisation. Simply put, proselytisation into Judaism is not a Jewish value, and proselytising by others is regarded as repulsive.

I agree with Chris above. Jews and Christians can work together on all kinds of issues, and can be quite friendly with one another. When the Messiah comes, we can ask him if he's been here before. If he says yes, I'll be the first to apologize.

[Piranha]

At the end of the Amida, the central prayer of all Jewish religious services, Orthodox prayer books include the following, from the book of Malachi (3:4) (translation from Artscroll):

"May it be Your will, Hashem (the "name" -- the euphamism for the divine name), our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days. Grant us our share in Your Torah, and may we serve You there with reverence as in days of old and in former years. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to Hashem, as in days of old and in former years."

[SJackson]

This is what I don't understand if you are going to Ban Jesus from Israel (The movie the Passion) then why not ban Homosexuality, would you rather be a Christian or turn to salt..okay just talking out of frustration, But I don't understand people hating Jesus yet embracing the sin of immorality.

This is one MK speaking, like a Congressman. It's not clear he speaks for his party, but if he does that's 17 seats of 120. Jesus isn't going to be "banned in Israel". I'd worry more about his banning in Bethlehem after a few decades of sharia law. Think Mosque of the Nativity.

[restornu]

Because I don't feel it is ALL just a small amount!