The Dividers: The "Passion's" critics fail.

National Review Online ^ | February 25, 2004 | Rabbi Daniel Lapin

[jla]

^

[cripplecreek]

My problem with some jews has nothing to do with the movie, I havent seen it. My problem is the result of those jews who have chosen to attack my beliefes and attempt to tell me whats wrong with christianity.

When i do see the movie jews can rest assured i wont exit with a swastika carved in my forehead. Nor will i seek out people who "look jewish" to attack.

Jews in America would do well to recognize thier true enemies. its not the right wing in america that threatens them, it's the left. The American right is mostly very supportive of Israel and actually wants to fight islamofascism.

[pcx99]

My third prediction is that the faith of millions of Christians will become more fervent as The Passion uplifts and inspires them. The Passion will propel vast numbers of unreligious Americans to embrace Christianity. The movie will one day be seen as a harbinger of America's third great religious reawakening.

After seeing this film this morning I'd have to say this prediction probably won't come to pass. "The Passion" is a movie for the faithful and the believers and sometimes not even them. The film's gore and unending suffering is painful to watch and overshadows the message.

If the Christian community had not been neglected for so long by the mass media this film would be quickly forgotten. There was a time when the great Hollywood Directors recreated the stories from the bible to everyone's benefit, now every easter we're lucky the networks drag out half century old faded movies from an era when Christianity wasn't a four letter word among the Hollywood elite.

My prediction is that many who see "The Passion" will wish that they had not, but that the movie's success despite the fact that it is such a problematical film may have a very good and tangible benefit into goading Hollywood into producing more biblical films that are true to the Christian Community (IE -- NOT the last temptation of Christ variety).

We can only hope.

[Prince Charles]

Well said. Bttt.

[jwalburg]

I had never seen Washington's letter to the Hebrews at Newport before. That was interesting, especially his idea about tolerance or toleration:

All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of once class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.

[dirtboy]

This man happens to be a respected rabbi, and a good one, but he too has bought into the preposterous proposition that Jews will reeducate Christians about Christian theology and history. Is it any wonder that this astonishing arrogance spurs bitterness?

Say no more.

[Ditto]

bump

[rbmillerjr]

Excellent commentary by the rabbi.

He said it perfectly.

[Dialup Llama]

>Second: The Passion will become famous as the most serious and substantive Biblical movie ever made

This is true. Gibson has broken out of the religious and devotional modes that non-blasphemous movies about Jesus have been trapped in. The movie will be more effective because of that.

[per loin]

The Jewish community needs to take Lapin seriously, and do some deep introspection into why so few noble voices, like Lapin and Medved, are coming from the Jewish community.

Just as the Chrstians have learned to marginalize their David Dukes and Richard Butlers, the Jews must learn how to remove vile voices like that of Abe Foxman from the role of "Jewish Spokesmen".

[PaulaB]

I agree...this was a great read....Christians understand that their savior was born a Jew...his apostles that spread the teachings that we study today...were Jews...the only one that hates and wants to kill the Jews is Satan and we don't work for him!!!

By the way...the freeper above that posted most will see this and wish they hadn't?? I will have to disagree with you....believers and non believers need this ...it's not about what "you feel" it's about "open your eyes and see the sacrifice" I'm sure Jesus didn't feel good that day either..the least we can do is pay our respects to the horror that he faced

[WOSG]

That's a great statement, and the included letter from Washington was wonderful too.

Many of the most anti-Christian Jews are not religious at all, but are secularist leftists of the 'red diaper baby' variety.

Do not confuse the whines of the Jewish secularists with the viewpoint of the Jewish faithful. Because of the ongoing assault on Judeo-Christian values by the secularists, men like this Rabbi recognize that there is more that unites the faithful of different sects than divides them.

I agree with him.

[The Electrician]

Rabbi Lapin is making so much sense here. In the same way that Rush Limbaugh's commentaries resonate with so many millions who otherwise had rarely heard their own thoughts expressed correctly in the mainstream media, what a breath of fresh air it is to hear the Rabbi do the same on this issue.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

[Stoat]

One of the most moving and memorable moments in public oratory was, for me, an evening at a theater in Seattle several years ago featuring Rabbi Lapin as well as about four other radio talk show hosts who had gathered to deliver lectures on issues of the day.

This lecture happened to fall on a Friday.

Rabbi Lapin is an Orthodox Jew, and as a result he is prevented from using any voice amplification on Fridays. The other hosts delivered their lectures using the massive house sound system, and we all sort of chuckled in expectation of Rabbi Lapin's address not because of who he is, as the thousands of assembled people in the big theater already knew him quite well, or at least as well as the common person can know a public figure or celebrity. We were all anxious to hear his words, and that was the issue....he wouldn't be able to use the P.A. system.
After a jovial introduction, Rabbi Lapin walked to the edge of the stage, set the microphone off to one side, and proceeded to fill the theater for over an hour with one of the most inspirational speeches on our society and culture that I have ever heard. What was inspiring was not only the fact that this man, who is not a giant by any means, was able to so effectively speak unaided to such a multitude, but the feeling that what was amplifying his voice was his passion and towering intellect. Thousands in the theater sat in silent, rapt attention as Rabbi Lapin moved our hearts, unaided by any technology.

As a Christian, I consider Rabbi Lapin to be "my Rabbi" and I hope that he will gain greater prominence in both the Jewish and Christian communities as the truly brilliant man and solid voice of reason that he is.

BTW, after the lecture, he took his wife and many children home on a city bus, because on Fridays he cannot drive.

[af_vet_1981]

Just as the Chrstians have learned to marginalize their David Dukes and Richard Butlers, the Jews must learn how to remove vile voices like that of Abe Foxman from the role of "Jewish Spokesmen".

I would love to see Abe Foxman publicly rebuked for his liberal bias and anti-Torah alliances (for example, "The Anti-Defamation League believes that the increasing call for the government to post the Ten Commandments in schools, government buildings, courts and other public places -- while often well-intentioned -- is both unconstitutional and bad policy."). I would like to see Hutton Gibson publicly rebuked for his Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism. Can I get an Amen ?

[onyx]

Thank you for posting. Rabbi Lapin is a man I admire and treasure.

[N. Theknow]

Jews who think this movie gives rise to anti-Semitism or labels them as Christ killers are giving themselves far too much credit.