A Rabbi Speaks Out On Mel Gibson's Movie

Correct On Virtually All Counts.

Thoughtful, Incisive, Forthright And Provocative:
-------------------------------

"Why Mel owes one to the Jews"

February 13, 2004

By Rabbi Daniel Lapin

Two weeks before Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" flashes onto
two thousand screens, online ticket merchants are reporting that up to
half their total sales are for advance purchases for the film. One
Dallas multiplex has reserved all 20 of its screens for "The Passion."
I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic. I am merely an Orthodox
rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about "The
Passion."

One, Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money.
Those distributors who surrendered to pressure from Jewish organizations
and passed on the movie will be kicking themselves, while Newmarket
Films will laugh all the way to the bank. Theater owners are going to
love this film.

Two, "The Passion" will become famous as the most serious and
substantive biblical movie ever made. It will be one of the most
talked-about entertainment events in history. It is currently on the
cover of Newsweek and Vanity Fair.

My third prediction is that the faith of millions of Christians will
become more fervent as "The Passion" uplifts and inspires them. It 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.

Those Jewish organizations that have squandered both time and money
futilely protesting "The Passion," ostensibly in order to prevent
pogroms in Pittsburgh, can hardly be proud of their performance. They
failed at everything they attempted. They were hoping to ruin Gibson
rather than enrich him. They were hoping to suppress "The Passion"
rather than promote it. Finally, they were hoping to help Jews rather
than harm them.

Here I digress slightly to exercise the Jewish value of "giving the
benefit of the doubt" by discounting cynical suggestions growing in
popularity that the very public nature of their attack on Gibson exposed
their real purpose-fund-raising. Apparently, frightening wealthy widows
in Florida about anti-Semitic thugs prowling the streets of America
causes them to open their pocketbooks and refill the coffers of groups
with little other raison d'etre. But let's assume the groups were
hoping to help Jews.

However, instead of helping the Jewish community, they have inflicted
lasting harm. By selectively unleashing their fury only on wholesome
entertainment that depicts Christianity in a positive light, they have
triggered anger, hurt and resentment. Hosting the Toward Tradition
radio show and speaking before many audiences nationwide, I enjoy
extensive communication with Christian America, and what I hear is
troubling. Fearful of attracting the ire of Jewish groups that are so
quick to hurl the "anti-Semite" epithet, some Christians are reluctant
to speak out. Although one can bludgeon resentful people into silence,
behind closed doors emotions continue to simmer.

I consider it crucially important for Christians to know that not all
Jews are in agreement with their self-appointed spokesmen. Most
American Jews, experiencing warm and gracious interactions each day with
their Christian fellow citizens, would feel awkward trying to explain
why so many Jewish organizations seem focused on an agenda hostile to
Judeo-Christian values. Many individual Jews have shared with me their
embarrassment that groups, ostensibly representing them, attack "The
Passion" but are silent about depraved entertainment that encourages
killing cops and brutalizing women.

Citing artistic freedom, Jewish groups helped protect sacrilegious
exhibits such as the anti-Christian feces extravaganza presented by the
Brooklyn Museum four years ago. One can hardly blame Christians for
assuming that Jews feel artistic freedom is important only when
exercised by those hostile toward Christianity. However, this is not
how all Jews feel.

From audiences around America, I am encountering bitterness at Jewish
organizations insisting that belief in the New Testament is de facto
evidence of anti-Semitism. Christians heard Jewish leaders denouncing
Gibson for making a movie that follows Gospel accounts of the
crucifixion long before any of them had even seen the movie.

Furthermore, Christians are hurt that Jewish groups are presuming to
teach them what Christian Scripture "really means." Listen to a rabbi
whom I debated on the Fox television show hosted by Bill O'Reilly last
September. This is what he said, "We have a responsibility as Jews, as
thinking Jews, as people of theology, to respond to our Christian
brothers and to engage them, be it Protestants, be it Catholics, and
say, 'Look, this is not your history, this is not your theology, this
does not represent what you believe in.'"

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

Many Christians who, with good reason, have considered themselves to be
Jews' best (and perhaps, only) friends also feel bitter at Jews
believing that "The Passion" is revealing startling new information
about the crucifixion. They are incredulous at Jews thinking that
exposure to the Gospels in visual form will instantly transform the most
philo-Semitic gentiles of history into snarling, Jew-hating predators.

Christians are baffled by Jews who don't understand that President
George Washington, who knew and revered every word of the Gospels, was
still able to write that oft-quoted beautiful letter to the Touro
Synagogue in Newport, offering friendship and full participation in
America to the Jewish community.

One of the directors of the AJC recently warned that "The Passion"
"could undermine the sense of community between Christians and Jews
that's going on in this country. We're not allowing the film to do
that." No sir, it isn't the film that threatens the sense of community;
it is the arrogant and intemperate response of Jewish organizations that
does so.

Jewish organizations, hoping to help but failing so spectacularly,
refute all myths of Jewish intelligence. How could their plans have
been so misguided and the execution so inept?

Ancient Jewish wisdom teaches that nothing confuses one's thinking more
than being in the grip of the two powerful emotions, love and hate. The
actions of these Jewish organizations sadly suggest that they are in the
grip of a hatred for Christianity that is only harming Jews.

Today, peril threatens all Americans, both Jews and Christians. Many of
the men and women in the front lines find great support in their
Christian faith. It is strange that Jewish organizations, purporting to
protect Jews, think that insulting allies is the preferred way to carry
out that mandate.

A ferocious Rottweiler dog in your suburban home will quickly estrange
your family from the neighborhood. For those of us in the Jewish
community who cherish friendship with our neighbors, some Jewish
organizations have become our Rottweilers. God help us."
-----------------------------------------------------

Exitus Acta Probat

D. Spencer Hines

Lux et Veritas et Libertas

Sholem Aleichem

Vires et Honor

"D. Spencer Hines" <D_SpencerHines DeleteThis @usa.yale.edu> wrote in message
news:AX03c.156$Oo5.6085@eagle.america.net...
> Correct On Virtually All Counts.
>
> Thoughtful, Incisive, Forthright And Provocative:
> -------------------------------
>
> "Why Mel owes one to the Jews"
>
> February 13, 2004
>
> By Rabbi Daniel Lapin


A pity most Jews don't think like the good Rabbi.

Go to SCJM and read the posts on there.