'Passion' Needs Postscript

ADL ^ | Feb 3rd 2004 | By Abraham H. Foxman and Rabbi Granatoor

[missyme]

In a recent interview for a Christian television network about his film "The Passion of the Christ," director Mel Gibson, complaining about his critics, repeated the following phrase four times: "He is an anti-Semite" - suggesting this was the accusation repeatedly being made against him.

We have never accused Gibson of being an anti-Semite. But judging from the E-mails and letters we have received since we spoke out after seeing the film last month - some blatantly anti-Semitic, many more suggesting our criticism was somehow dishonest - there is a need to clear the air.

First, let us repeat that we do not believe that Gibson intended his film to be a passion of hate. Our concerns stem from history. For nearly 2,000 years, Jews have been the victims of persecution and pogroms fueled by the age-old canard that Jews bear responsibility for the death of Jesus for all time.

The charge of "deicide" or of Jews as being "Christ killers" has persisted through the presentation of Passion plays despite the Catholic Church's historic Vatican II pronouncement in the early 1960s. It denounced anti-Semitism and stated clearly that the Jews of the past, as well as the Jews of today, bear no responsibility for Jesus' death.

Gibson's film rejects the modern church reforms. We were saddened and pained to find that "The Passion of the Christ" unambiguously portrays Jews as being responsible for the death of Jesus.

We are shocked that Gibson has not fulfilled his promise to remove the most troublesome aspects of this film. We are especially concerned with a scene in which a mob of Jews who are present when Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus to death calls down a blood curse (Matthew 27:25). This scene so far remains intact, even though Gibson indicated that he was removing it.

Even if that particular scene were removed, there would still be ample material in the film to reinforce the image of Jewish responsibility.

We are troubled that Gibson continues to spurn our requests for an audience and that he feels the criticism of his film is part of a campaign to label him an anti-Semite. Gibson's only response to our numerous requests for a meeting was a brief letter, sent last week, in which he failed to address any of the concerns we have raised.

Our concern is that the images could be used by those who are disposed toward hatred to harden their hearts.

Jewish and Christian leaders have not given up hope. We have urged Gibson to consider adding to the movie a postscript with him coming on screen at the end to implore his viewers not to let the film turn some toward a passion of hate.

[af_vet_1981]

Are you saying the Sanhedrin and the High Priests, Caiaphas and Annas (one of whom had been deposed and installed by the Romans in place of the other), did not represent the Jewish "establishment," at least in Jerusalem?

They were appointed by Rome, collaboraters in an ungodly occupation of the land of Israel by the Gentiles. They represented the party of collaboration. You can fault the Jewish people for many sins, but the betrayal, torture, and murder of Yeshua of Nazareth, was committed by some hundreds of men; Roman rulers, Jewish collaborators (one disaffected apostle), and Gentiles from neighboring provinces working for the Romans.

[af_vet_1981]

I have already said that my Church teaches that there is no collective responsibility of the Jewish people, either at the time or later, for the death of Jesus.

I am grateful for that. Do you know which Church taught contrary to that during the time of the Crusades ?

[rmlew]

Now the issue is, what do you do with their statement, and with their treatment of Jesus the Messiah? Agree, or disagree?
1.Whose statement?
2.Jesus may be your Messiah and your son of God. I do not see him as anything more than a leader of a radical sect who confronted the collaborators and was put to death.

[missyme]

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN:19 6:12
When the Chief Priests therefore and officers saw him they cried our Crucify him! Crucify him! Pilate stated I found no fault in him. The Jews answered; We have a Law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of G-d

Pilate said to Jesus: I have the power to crucify thee or release thee..

Jesus answered; Thou couldest have no power at all agaisnt me except if it were given to thee from above, therefore he that delivered me unto thee have the greater sin.

Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out saying:If thou let this man go thou are not Ceasar's friend whosoever makest himself a King speaketh agaisnt Ceasar.

Jesus knew he was predestined to die. There is no guilt on any single person. This is in the New Testament...

[Unam Sanctam]

Some Church fathers did teach that, such as St. Jerome as quoted in the Catena Aurea of St. Thomas Aquinas, but there was no unanimous consent of the fathers, and it was therefore not an article of faith part of Apostolic Tradition, the deposit of faith or the ordinary and universal magisterium, and was clarified as being erroneous by the proper authorities in Nostra Aetate.

[Unam Sanctam]

And so Jewish individuals were involved. I didn't blame the "Jewish people" -- you are putting words into my mouth!

[af_vet_1981]

I didn't blame the "Jewish people" -- you are putting words into my mouth!

Where did I write that you wrote the "Jewish people" ?

Did I attribute a quote to you that you did not write ?

Normally I would use italics around any of your comments.

[Dataman]

The holocaust is an historical fact,

Of course I don't deny it. However,I utterly reject the liberal Jewish revisionist tactic of blaiming Christians for Hitler's deeds. That is not history. It is not even good fantasy. By twisting history as they do they become the antagonist that they claim Gibson is. Who else has a pattern of projecting their behaviors on their opponents? Liberal Democrats!

[af_vet_1981]

Perhaps you misunderstood when I wrote "You can fault the Jewish people for many sins." I meant it in the generals sense of "One can fault the Jewish people for many sins," and not attributed to you personally. I know it can get hot in here ...

[missyme]

Just be aware that the Messiah you are waiting for, that will re-build the temple, bring PEACE to Israel and the world...A great Political Leader, is what billions of Christians believe will be the Anti-Christ, to be blunt "SATAN" A wolf in Sheep's clothing....

Christians know what will happen in End Times Prophecy so they won't be fooled, can you say the same for yourself?

[af_vet_1981]

However,I utterly reject the liberal Jewish revisionist tactic of blaiming Christians for Hitler's deeds.

Interesting

What do you call Caiphas and Annas ?

Do you know what religion Adolph belonged to ?

[Dataman]

Could you tell the audience what the the official conservative version of the holocaust is ?

Just the historical one. No lying embellishments, no revisionism. Anti-Christian Hitler and his pagan henchmen were responsible alone for their atrocities.

[af_vet_1981]

There is no guilt on any single person.

We part ways here. I consider every individual who betrayed, condemned, tortured, and crucified this man to be guilty. I even fault those who did not risk their own life to defend his.

[af_vet_1981]

Just the historical one. No lying embellishments, no revisionism. Anti-Christian Hitler and his pagan henchmen were responsible alone for their atrocities.

1. How many Jews did they kill ?
2. Were all of the Nazis and their collaboraters unbaptized ?

[missyme]

Another thing I posted another Thread today regarding what is happening at the Temple Mount. A Jew posing as a Palestinian video taped the Muslims literally starting to destroy the Temple, in fact it's on the verge of collaspe

But it will be re-built, you see this is part of Prophecy and I read about it 10 years ago,trying to follow a chain of events, are you? I hope you will be.

[rmlew]

Just be aware that the Messiah you are waiting for, that will re-build the temple, bring PEACE to Israel and the world...A great Political Leader, is what billions of Christians believe will be the Anti-Christ, to be blunt "SATAN" A wolf in Sheep's clothing....

Christians know what will happen in End Times Prophecy so they won't be fooled, can you say the same for yourself?
I have no desire to get personal or to attack any religion. However, you started by saying that I await Satan. Therefor, the gloves are off.
I didn't fall for a self-proclaimed Messiah, who failed to live up to the requirements.
I didn't fall for the idea that there is a "son of God" as idea taken directly from Hellenistic and Paganizsm and Mithraism.
I didn't fall for a religion that was founded by a man killed by Hellenistic Collaborators and Romans, but later was tailored to attract the very same.

[Dataman]

This thread could be a good springboard for the next Twilight Zone. Would the complainers be appeased if the truth were denied and their fantasy embraced? No! I have learned that those who deny reality cannot ever be appeased because appeasement is never the goal.

[missyme]

Well then you have to go back further than that in fact all the way to ADAM and EVE? Human beings have betrayed G-d ever since....Look at the world today we still our not standing up for G-d...

[rmlew]

I do not presume to know when the Messiah will come. However, I too see signs. The influx of Jews and converts to Judaism to the Third Commonwealth, is promising.

[af_vet_1981]

I'm asking that the truth be acknowledged.