What's the fuss?
Passion is no more anti-Semitic than the Gospels
It's gratifying that the Jews suddenly have so many friends fighting against anti-Semitism.
Trouble is, these newly-minted defenders think that anti-Semitism is to be found in Mel Gibson's new movie, The Passion -- where it isn't -- instead of the Arab world, the UN and the world's leftist political movements -- where it is.
The Passion debuts this Wednesday, and Gibson has kept a tight lid on the film. Which means most of its critics did not see the movie before denouncing it as anti-Semitic.
Why condemn it before seeing it?
I saw a 90-second trailer of the movie last July, and "reviewed" that in the Sun. If the whole movie was like that, I wrote, it would be a spectacular piece of film-making -- and an inspiring depiction of the Gospels.
I finally saw the whole movie last month at a private screening at Calgary's First Alliance Church -- I was the only Jew in the house. Because I had publicly defended the movie trailers, I had hoped that I would not have to recant upon seeing the entire film.
Not only was the movie not anti-Semitic, it tinctured the violence of the crucifixion with respites of kindness. During the movie's most wrenching moments -- where Jesus is scourged and crucified -- Gibson cuts away to a scene where Jesus teaches forgiveness and love. It is a powerful reminder of the meaning of the crucifixion -- not a call for vengeance, but a lesson in forgiveness and a reminder of the sinfulness of all Mankind. That is certainly what the Christians sitting around me at the church took from the movie -- that Jesus' suffering was for them, because of their sins, that he suffered willingly and lovingly embracing the opportunity to sacrifice himself for them.
Its detractors cannot seriously criticize the film. It adheres closely to the Bible and the rest is merely artistic licence.
As the only graduate of Hebrew school in the room, I probably found the movie more familiar than most, at least in its sound -- everyone but the Romans spoke Aramaic, a close linguistic relative of Hebrew. Even the Passover Seder was accurate, including the customary Jewish recitals. I wish a Jewish film-maker would do such a beautiful rendering of Passover -- in Hebrew! -- that I can watch in a commercial theatre.
The Passion is no more "anti-Semitic" than the Gospels upon which they are based. It is a historical fact that Jesus of Nazareth was tried and condemned by a Jewish court and executed by the Roman army.
For some, that might be an uncomfortable fact, but it is a historical fact, confirmed by secular and Jewish sources.
So what should Jews do about this fact? Not condemn a movie-maker for simply animating what the Bible has always written. Not look with a magnifying glass for reasons to be offended. When the movie opens on Wednesday -- at a blockbuster 3,000 theatres -- all that will happen is that millions of people will realize that the critics were hypersensitive complainers -- or worse, condemning the Bible itself, not just the movie.
That is the real risk posed by the alarmists -- their splenetic criticism, and not the movie itself, will drive a wedge between Christians and Jews.
After the movie ended, there were no shouts of anti-Semitic rage. The mood of the audience was quiet gratitude and deep obligation to live up to Christian standards.
How different from a Saudi mosque after a Wahhabi sermon.
Oh, we Jews could use some help against anti-Semitic rants. Where are these philosemites when we need them? http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/levant.html
Letters to the editor should be sent to callet@calgarysun.com.