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Hold on freepers.......is this the same person who was a buddy of Whacko Jacko and said he would trust him with his kids?

Yep. He was originally a rabbi of the ultra-orthodox (but in a moderate way) Chabad grouping, and was more or less thrown out. (More or less because Chabad doesn't go in for defrocking.) I was wondering what a real Chabad rabbi would say about the movie. Not much, since they don't go to movies! I did find one article. This doesn't reach any real conclusions, but I thought was within yelling distance of being nice enough, when you take into account that the author comes from a tradition which regards walking into a church as forbidden:

Thank You Mel Gibson

I hope no Christians look at the above link the wrong way because the rabbi is really just talking to Jews -- as Mel Gibson is, I presume, primarily addressing Christians. As a Jew I really could not see myself seeing this film, but if it strengthens the faith of Christians I am all for it.

I would wholeheartedly agree with the author that this is not a movie for children. The imagery is just too strong, the visualizations too powerful, the subject matter too intense.

I can understand how Jews could look upon this movie with trepidation. I can also understand why some Jews could be fearful of an increase in antisemitism as a result of this movie; if a person does not consider Jesus the Messiah they will interpret this movie from an entirely different point of view than would a Christian.

As a Gentile, this movie drives home how great His sacrifice was for me. It caused me to shed tears several times over the cost paid for my transgressions. In my heart of hearts I cannot blame Jews for the crucifixion of Christ any more than I can blame the family pet. Those stripes on His back are the result of my sins. Mea culpa . . .

This movie left me wanting and wishing I could do something, anything to remove or prevent even one of those stripes. It has strengthened my resolve to try harder to avoid transgressions in the future. It has not caused me to be antisemitic. If anything, the opposite is true.

I would recommend you not see the movie as it may very well shake you to the core. Knowledge is pain . . .

Steve, Christians who blame the Jews for Christs' death are wrong, imho. This death was pre-ordained according to scripture with sins of mankind being responsible. The Christians are the Jews greatest ally, because our Savior was a Jew. Forgive me for a simple-minded reply, but that's the way I feel in my heart.