Jews make case versus Mel's movie (People can we stop this insanity?)

NY Daily News ^ | Frb, 19 2004 | TRACY CONNOR

[dinok]

Coming soon to a synagogue near you: "The Passion: The Counteroffensive." Jewish groups across the city are gearing up for the premiere of Mel Gibson's movie with sermons, forums and press conferences on the death of Christ. Their aim is to fight any suggestion that Jews - two millennia ago and today - are responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. Only a handful of Jewish activists have seen the movie, which chronicles the last 12 hours of Christ's life, but they've raised the alarm about its message.

They believe Gibson faults the Jewish high priest Caiaphas rather than the Roman tyrant Pontius Pilate for sending Jesus to his death, and they're upset Gibson did not cut a line implying Jews are cursed by God.

The Anti-Defamation League is planning an interfaith forum March 10 at Rodeph Sholom on the upper West Side, where Rabbi Robert Levine already has a full slate of discussions about the movie. "We've got ‘Passion' everywhere," Levine said.

The New York Board of Rabbis plans to see the movie when it opens Wednesday — Ash Wednesday — with Christian leaders and hold a press conference.

The American Jewish Committee has a symposium next month, and the Board of Jewish Education of New York is updating its Web site with materials about the movie for schools.

[dinok]

As a Christian and supporter Israel, I have a message for my Jewish friends who seem to be terrified that the Mel Gibson film Passion of Christ will lead to a new holocaust or pogroms: GET A HOLD OF YOURSELVES WILL YAH? The film is not a condemnation of all Jews. In fact it’s a condemnation of Rome and the traitors who collaborated with the Roman occupation forces. Has everyone forgotten that the Romans brutally suppressed the Jewish population? Does anyone doubt that the "Jewish leaders" Pilate "asked" to decide Jesus’ fait were but scum who sold out their own people? Folks Jesus was a Jew. He had a philosophy that was deemed revolutionary and as such he was a marked man. No more or no less than any other person under Roman rule that dared question the order of things. His death was decided before he was even arrested. The use of the Bible, and the gospels by anyone to hate Jews today is just a pure excuse to be stupid. The real Jew haters don't make movies. They climb on busses with nail bombs, or are elitist snobs who rationalize terrorism against Jews in Israel and across the planet. The same people in the media who are trying to tell you this film is Anti-Semitic are the ones who make excuses for the Hamas and Arafat’s murderers.

[King Black Robe]

Do you think they are really afraid that some Jews will come to Christ? Do you think that could be their real fear, cause what they are claiming is just irrational.

[tiamat]

This movie isn't even out yet! And a lot of the previous "sneak-peeks" got modified!

HOW can anyone judge the thing yet?

[CharliefromKS]

The same people in the media who are trying to tell you this film is Anti-Semitic are the ones who make excuses for the Hamas and Arafat’s murderers.

True and well said!

[ellen_rometsch]

Jesus was a jew ...in the same way that Luther was a Roman Catholic. His whole known ministry was a critique of judaism as it was practised at that time.

That being said I can't see the fuss over this movie. I look forward to seeing it.

[Spok]

As is typical, all of the left-wing support the suicide bombers get in this country get gets no comment from the ADL. At least no comment that the media deems newsworthy. Did the ADL ever responded to the lionization of Rachel Carrie?

[roylene]

Yes. There is a fear in the liberal Jewish leadership that Jews will accept Jesus as the Messiah.

[andy58-in-nh]

As a Jew and a friend of Christians: thank you for a breath of fresh air to help clear away the smog of irrational fear and loathing that surrounds this film. Those of us who do our thinking for ourselves know who our friends - and who our enemies are.

[dinok]

I spent my teenage years in Long Island, New York. I went to school with Jewish kids and dated Jewish girls. One thing I was surprised was how some truly believed that Christians could do to them what the Nazis did in Germany.
I think Jews have been conditioned from way back to not trust Christians. Christian conservatives are Israel's biggest backers, yet most New York Jews still think the Klan is out to get them and vote democrat.

[King Black Robe]

Hmmm...how irrational of them.

[dinok]

"Those of us who do our thinking for ourselves know who our friends - and who our enemies are."

I hope you are right.

[dinok]

"Hmmm...how irrational of them."

People who have been brought up to fear and be suspicius have a hard time accepting the helping hand of their pervieved foe.

I have been pro Israel since the early seventies when I was a teen ager. Yet my Jewish girlfriend's mother still used to call me a Goy...(Non Jew to you people in Rio Linda.)

[Integrityrocks]

....Their aim is to fight any suggestion that Jews - two millennia ago and today - are responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. ...

Well... there is a bright spot here. There is an admission that Jesus Christ existed and was crucified. In some circles, that could be considered as progress for those who deny the entire event ever happened or that He ever lived at all!

[dinok]

I think Jews who deny the historical excistance of Jesus are in the same denial as Christians who actually belive that the decision to kill Jesus was not made my Pilate. The so called trial and choise of Jesus or Barabas was a sham. Not even Clinton and his spin machine could have made people buy that.

[TheDon]

What? No pogroms? Sigh....

[per loin]

I think that it is time to whine about the lack of Chinese actors in this film.

[steve50]

The so called trial and choise of Jesus or Barabas was a sham. Not even Clinton and his spin machine could have made people buy that.

I think the scriptures warn about people who add or take away from it.

[Reagan Man]

Have you seen the film?

[Caipirabob]

I don't think the issue is "Jew vs Gibson's 'Passion'" it's "Secular Liberals vs Gibson's 'Passion'" of which many are secular/liberal Jews. You find more support for the movie coming from conservative Jews who respect our faith. On top of that, both groups are united in our common cause against secular/liberals.

[dinok]

"I think that it is time to whine about the lack of Chinese actors in this film."

Don't get the Chinese in to this. We have enough trouble as is.