2 Jewish Leaders Upset After Viewing 'Passion'

NY-Times ^ | January 23, 2004 | RANDY KENNEDY

[Condor51]

Two of the nation's most prominent Jewish leaders said yesterday that they had watched recent versions of Mel Gibson's unreleased movie "The Passion of the Christ" and found it anti-Semitic and incendiary in the way it depicted the role of the Jews in Jesus's death.

One said he was angered that a scene he and other Jewish leaders had found particularly offensive remained in the version of the movie he saw, though Mr. Gibson had once said publicly he would remove it.

~~snip~~

Rabbi Hier said he was "horrified" by the movie, which he said depicted all Jews, except those who were Jesus's followers, as villainous, with dark beards and eyes, "like Rasputin."

[Condor51]

NOTE; on the World Net Daily link to this article they headline it as;
Jewish leaders pan 'Passion' after posing as pastors
Say Gibson Film contains offensive stereotypes about role in crucifixion

The NY Times piece doesn't mention the 'posing' part.

[NativeNewYorker]

The Times hates Israel and Judaism, yet keeps pushing this idea that somehow a *film* is dangerous, while Palestinian lunatics are folks who can be reasoned with.

They're nuts.

[Hacksaw]

From what I have read, Foxman lied and violated a non disclosure agreement in order to see the film. Gibson should sue him.

[LS]

NRO, in the "corner," has an excellent discussion of this passage, and Jonah Goldberg posts a link to an essay about the "offending" passage that blows these criticisms out of the water. The fact is, Caiphas said it. Now, what it meant in the context of the day requires some scriptural sense.

[JeepInMazar]

HEADLINE: TWO ALBANIAN MIDGETS UPSET AFTER VIEWING THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

What's the point? People are upset after seeing some movies. So what? Besides, Mel Gibson makes a movie about historical truth and some people are upset.

[Blzbba]

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo. The non-Christians don't like a movie about Christianity's origin.

Who cares what these people think?

I have a 100% perfect solution for them to avoid getting their wittle Jewish feewings hurt: DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE!

Idiots.

[Maceman]

Just out of historical curiosity -- besides Pilot and the Roamn minions, did Jesus ever meet anyone in his life who wasn't Jewish?

[GungaLaGunga]

"NEW YORK TIMES FINDS 2 PEOPLE PISSED OFF ABOUT SOMETHING".

Shocking.

[ex-snook]

"It is, as it was". Maybe the "Two of the nation's most prominent Jewish leaders" should apologize for past actions of Jews just as Pope John Paul II apologized for past actions of Christians.

[Paradox]

Two of the nation's most prominent Jewish

Ok, so what did Greenspan and Wolfowitz have to say about the movie...?

[fortunecookie]

NOTE; on the World Net Daily link to this article they headline it as;

Jewish leaders pan 'Passion' after posing as pastors

Say Gibson Film contains offensive stereotypes about role in crucifixion

The NY Times piece doesn't mention the 'posing' part.

How convenient. Well, how many people will never know or believe that these rabbis went in under false pretenses and will believe their 'review'? How many more people will know that these rabbis went in under false pretenses and believe their reviews even though the rabbis demonstrated their willingness to lie?

[elbucko]

Rabbi Hier said he was "horrified" by the movie, which he said depicted all Jews, except those who were Jesus's followers, as villainous, with dark beards and eyes, "like Rasputin."

Probably visually and historically accurate. The Jews were Semitic peoples living in a desert climate, without razors and probably did appear bearded and "swarthy". The Jews had not wandered to Europe at the time of Jesus, and as such, had not mixed with Northern Europeans to become Ashkenazi. Perhaps the Rabbi would be more pleased if the entire cast were blond and blue.

[NJConservative]

Yes, that area was a major cross roads for various trade routes. People from all over the known world would travel through Jerusalem and Palestine. There are also encounters in the Gospel with other local cultures, such as the Samaritan woman. But Christ and his disciples were all Jewish.

[highlander_UW]

Mr. Foxman said he did not sign the agreement. He said he had initially felt bad about sneaking into the showing, but later changed his mind. "I decided yesterday, `Why am I uncomfortable? Let him be uncomfortable,' " he said, referring to Mr. Gibson. "For him to say, `You can only see it if you love it?' I felt it was my moral duty to see it."

I wonder if I can get away with sneaking into a movie without paying if I use this line.

[jtminton]

Maybe somebody should tell these Jewish 'Leaders' that the reason Jews are portrayed as being involved with the killing of Jesus in this film is because Jews, in fact, were involved with the killing of Jesus.

[mr.pink]

Gibson should sue him.

Nope. That's exactly what these two creeps would want.

Gibson should ignore them as their actions speak so loudly as to the quality of men they are.

[curmudgeonII]

A few days ago we had a flare up over the actions of the Israeli Ambassador to Sweden trying to prevent viewers from looking at a Palestinian work of art [and I'm using the term very loosely]. Today we have a couple of rabbis perturbed over the content of a motion picture.

Have we established a new censorship board of adherents of a particular religion.

[sweetliberty]

HELLO!! Idiots! It WAS the Jews that crucified Christ....and in case you weren't aware of it, Jesus was also a Jew! DUH! The truth often hurts. Deal with it or avoid viewing stuff you know is going to upset you. Here's a hint for you, Jesus' life and ministry upset Jewish leaders too.

[BlessedByLiberty]

AH, but not everyone is upset and that's what they're trying to do - rouse the Jewish base into a frenzy over this and hope it bleeds into the election.

Unfortunately for the sake of accuracy,they omitted a Jewish man named Matt Drudge saw the movie and he said he had no problem with it. Wonder if someone has a link to that story?

I wonder if the NYSlimes will ask Mr. Drudge about his review?

[Siamese Princess]

Maybe somebody should tell these Jewish 'Leaders' that the reason Jews are portrayed as being involved with the killing of Jesus in this film is because Jews, in fact, were involved with the killing of Jesus.

It's anti-semitic to portray any jew in the history of the world doing anything wrong, even if historically accurate.