British Jews Outraged by 'Passion' Epic

Times UK ^

[HostileTerritory]

BossLady, I found this column by Dennis Prager explained a lot about how both religions are reacting to the film. Perhaps you'll find it as interesting as I did.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1086120/posts

[jwalsh07]

I am beginning to suspect that what we are seeing is less about anti-Semitism and more about an anti-Christian agenda.

Ya think?

[Steve Eisenberg]

I'll bet a lot of those protesting this film aren't even Jewish, but rather people with other agendas.

Yes. This is just one of several London Times articles slamming the film. Here is another one's lead:

One of the most frightening aspects of the latest work of fiction from Mel Gibson was the willingness of so many Christians in the invited audience to believe in its absolute veracity.

The London Times, which over there, by the way, would have few Jewish writers, is featuring these foolish rabinnical comments to justify its own rebellion against Christianity.

[Terry Mross]

Did these people want Mel to make a movie where Caiaphas washed his hands and Pilate yelled "Crucify him!"?

Maybe they would have been happy if Mel would have had it take place in the South and it was rednecks who crucified Him.

Or maybe they'd have been very happy if Mel would have shown Jesus as a black man and it was the KKK who crucified Him. OH, wait a minute. That's already been done. It was called MISSISSIPPI BURNING, another work of fiction in that the FBI did little to solve that crime.

[teresat]

This movie was beautiful who the hell cares who it offends...all groups throughout history have been persecuted at some point or another...

[af_vet_1981]

Anyone catch the God Squad on Imus this morning? Rabbi Gellman made an interesting point about the anti-Semitism charge. He said that if the movie was anti-Semitic because it showed some Jews participating in Christ's crucifiction, then the Bible must be anti-Semitic.

That is not the real issue. No reasonable view could ask Mel Gibson to deviate from the NT text. The issue is the history of the last 2000 years and how many Jews have been persecuted by those who were thought to believe The Passion. There were many Gentiles who suffered as well. It is a difficult history to ignore. I in no way blame Yeshua of Nazareth or those who believe in him and behave righteously.

[giotto]

Mel Gibsons "Movie" seems to rile them more than actual HAMAS'cide bombings of Israeli school children.

Excellent point. As usual, the annointed ones are worried about how the great unwashed (that's us) will interpret a work of art about something that happened 2000 years ago, while actual news reports of hate crimes by Jew-hating Arabs don't bother them at all.

[GulliverSwift]

Mel's critics also conveniently ignore the fact that it is his hands which are shown nailing Jesus to the cross.

[Michael81Dus]

Then excuse my rant. It wasn´t clear for me what you meant with your post, since the article reported of hatred against Jews because of "the Passion".

[elbucko]

"Braveheart" was not very kind to the Brits either.

Nor should it have been.
Alba Go Bragh!

[elbucko]

I think the Jews of 2000 years ago were not culpable either, as I believe one of the points of Christianity is that Christ died to obtain salvation for man.

I agree. It is hypocritical to condemn Jews and at the same time profess being a Christian. I have never been able to figure out the people who do that, unless they learned on dad and Grampa's knee when young.

[Paul Ross]

A nice compendium of verses which the Pharisees, and those like-minded today, would find bitter pills.

[Sam Cree]

"all groups throughout history have been persecuted at some point or another..."

Forgive me for saying this, but that comment comes off as callous.

I don't doubt that the movie is beautiful...I think I hope it does well.

[teresat]

I stick with the same comment, every group in history has been persecuted...whether Indian, Irish, Polish, Black, Jewish...etc...etc...What is callous about that comment? The movie was wonderful because the pain and suffering of one man and his love for all of mankind...I just went and saw it for a second time tonight and all I can say is that Jesus rocks. A better feeling for me than the movie Rocky because for me this movie is truth...if you view it as the truth it is a truly miraculous and beautiful movie. When you see it let me know, the only thing that I wish had been shown to a greater extent was the suffering of Mary and I hope that she ends up as co-redemptor for the pure suffering she must have felt having to watch the pain and suffering of her only child. Peace be with you...

[Sam Cree]

I probably should not have used the word "callous."
My apologies.

I do think though that the persecution of Jews, which has persisted for centuries, and culminated in a somewhat successful attempt to exterminate them, the Holocaust, is in a different class than, say that of the Irish or Poles.

I therefore think it more than prudent for Jews to be wary of anti Semitism, and more than understandable that they fear it.

I'm glad you liked the movie, it looks like Gibson has hit a home run with it, which is great.