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."

[Williams]

Christ was crucified in a Roman Empire and Judea that no longer exist. It was 2,000 years ago. An historical event. Christ WAS a Jew as were his followers. Some Jews participated in his condemnation. This does not even remotely cause me to have bad feelings about Jews. Any more than a movie about WWII makes me hate modern Japanese or Germans. It's a movie and if you think it's inaccurate say so. But what movie is truly historically accurate?

[Hacksaw]

No, it wasn't at the behest of "the Jews". It was, according to the gospel accounts, at the behest of a few collaborationist Jews who were politically powerful in Jerusalem.

Who were Jews.

[malakhi]

I think you understood my point.

I hope you understand mine.

[Conservative4Ever]

Thanks sweetliberty...for saying it like it is. Although the Jewish leaders by law had to turn the criminals over to Rome as they were under Roman rule at that time. The reason Pilate was involved during the trial.

Red

[ZULU]

Sorry I didn't get your message. Perhaps it lost something in the absence of face to face discussion.

At any rate, there are apparently a surprising number of people who don't really get the message and still are arguing whether or not Jews or Romans killed Christ.

To find the real killers we need only look in the mirror.

[mr.pink]

"Two of the nation's most prominent Jewish leaders"

LOL...prominent con artists is more like it.

Two very shady operators......do a google on the good Rabbi Heir and Global Crossing...seems he was a busy boy.

[malakhi]

You do understand that to say "the Jews" implies all the Jews?

"The American people" elected Bill Clinton. I don't know about you, but I didn't vote for him, and I won't take responsibility for it.

[Conservative4Ever]

She was seeking healing for her daughter.

[Arpege92]

The only way anti-semitism will grow is if they try to keep the public from seeing this movie. It's stupid to believe that Christians like myself will begin to hate Jews because of this movie. Do I blame the Jews today for Christ's death. Absolutely not....that would be like blaming white folks of today for slavery.

Nothing and NO one is going to stop me from seeing this movie.

[ZULU]

I think the movie would have been more effective if Gibson superimposed modern ativities like murdering babies, mass pornography, homosexuality and scenes of Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Kosovo and other human made horrors over parts of the film.

It might have gotten the message across better.

[Dead Dog]

Thank God or G_d for dark eyed jews!

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.

[af_vet_rr]

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."

Jews, and later Christians, in that area had dark hair and dark eyes as well as dark complexions. It's the middle east, it's not exactly Sweden. Even Jesus had to have had dark hair and eyes and a dark complexion and the actor in the movie has that look.

Sounds to me like they can't find much wrong with it.

[sweetliberty]

"To find the real killers we need only look in the mirror"

Point made....and taken. You are right, of course. And because He was rejected by His own people (in the natural sense) the rest of us were able to receive His sacrifice.

"Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:11)

[jscd3]

with dark beards and eyes, "like Rasputin."

Apparently the Good Rabbi is upset about all of the blonde blue-eyed Jews that lived in the Middel East 2000 years ago not being represented

Moreover, it was members of the Roman Army at the time that used to stand out in a crowd by being clean shaven.

[Inyokern]

HELLO!! Idiots! It WAS the Jews that crucified Christ....

First of all, I am amused at the way this movie is engendering responses dripping with Christian "love."

Secondly, even if one accepts the gospel accounts as truth, there were two major leadership groups among the Jews at that time. There was the official, Roman appointed Jewish leadership centered around the High Priest and there was the popular, largely anti-Roman leadership who are referred to as the "Pharisees."

According to the gospels, it is the Roman appointed offical leadership that is behind the trial and execution of Jesus. The Pharisees seem to have had little, if any, participation.

So, if one blames the Jews for the execution of Jesus, one is blaming them for the actions of Jewish leaders whom they did not choose, but were chosen for them by the Roman occupiers.

[Texas Federalist]

I was upset after I paid $4 to see "Anger Management" this weekend. How come that didn't make news?

[jtminton]

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John told me.

[SkyPilot]

[eastsider]

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 ...

If he's referring to Mt 27:24-25, I'm glad to hear that Mel has put it back in:

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

[Capt. Tom]

If Gibson followed this line, the production would be both more accurate and less antagonizing.

I think Gibson followed this line from Matthew:,p. [19] And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

[20] But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away.

[21] And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas.

[22] Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.

[23] The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.

[24] And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it.

[25] And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children. (Capt. Tom here. Ouch that hurts)

[26] Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.

So what should Gibson do; re-write the bible to be politically correct??? - Tom