Local leaders have various views
So what should Jewish individuals do about “The Passion of The Christ,” Mel Gibson’s controversial new film about the death of Jesus that some Jewish leaders say could foment anti-Semitism, and that is opening next week?
Should we see it to learn what the fuss is about and to be prepared for dialogue with our Christian friends and neighbors? Will doing that be tantamount to helping line Gibson’s pockets and supporting his message? Should we demonstrate against the film or boycott it?
There is general consensus among local Jewish leaders that the community should not mount a “boycott” of the film or protest demonstrations against it.
“I think boycotts and demonstrations are a bad way to go,” said Harriet McKinney, executive director of the American Jewish Committee-Milwaukee Chapter. “I think that we always, as a minority religion, need to remember that one of the wonderful things about the United States is that all of us get to interpret our own faith and faith traditions in ways consistent with ourselves.”
As Steven H. Morrison, executive director of the Madison Jewish Community Council, said in his Feb. 9 statement: “Mel Gibson has every right to make this movie. Movie theaters have every right to show it. Those who want to see it have every right to do so.”
In fact, at least one local leader, Rabbi Shlomo Levin of Lake Park Synagogue, said the film is “not relevant to the Jewish community” at all. “To me, this is by and for Christian believers,” and the Jewish community should “let it go” and not watch it, “not because I want to boycott it, but because I don’t think the message is in any way relevant.”
Besides, said Rabbi David Cohen of Congregation Sinai and president of the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, “I don’t think that in the big picture it will make a bit of difference economically” to the box office whether Jews see it or not.
Others, however, believe that “it’s important that we see” this film, among them Rabbi Gideon Goldenholz of Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue. “It is important for those of us who are interested in being able to take any kind of action or make any response to know what we’re talking about.”
Rabbi Jacob Herber of Congregation Beth Israel agrees. “[T]o be able to respond to any charge or argument, you have to understand the position of the other side.” Even so, “I am really loath to financially support the film. At this point, I am undecided about whether I’m going to go to a theater to see it.”
But Rabbi David Brusin of Congregation Shir Hadash said he wouldn’t want anybody, Jewish or not, to see this film “without studying” the issues that the movie raises about the reliability and contradictions of the sources of the story, and the history of “passion plays” in the Middle Ages and later, with their fomenting of anti-Semitism. And he pointed out that a lot of material is available now on these topics.
“Those who read the material coming out now could view the film, appreciate what of it is worth seeing, be prepared for the exaggerations and know what is missing and what has been added,” Brusin said.
Leon Cohen
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