`Exodus Expert

abbi Burton
Visotzky did not
look for media
exposure, but the
media found him.
After conducting seminars
on Genesis. he was asked to
appear on the PBS "Genesis"
series with Bill Moyers.
Similarly, his Exodus seminars
led to work as a consultant for

The Prince of Egypt.
"DreamWorks continually
reached out to the religious
community," explains
Visotzky, who teaches at the
Jewish Theological Seminary
(JTS) in New York City "I
first [met with them] with
hundreds of clergy just before
the Moyers series started and
found they were very open."
The rabbi, chairman of midrash and
interreligious studies at JTS, was asked
to make sure that as much film content
as possible remained faithful to the
Bible. He explored diverse issues, such
as pacing of narrative, color tones and
relationships of characters.
"I think they did a wonderful
job," says the rabbi, who has written
a book to relate the narrative of
Exodus to modern morality — The
Road to Redemption: Lessons From
Exodus on Leadership and
Community. "What they have on
film is breathtaking and deeply mov-
ing. It will strongly encourage people

'Y.re

Above: Moses
to return to the origi-
seeks
the truth
nal."
As Visotzky looks at about his heritage
the completed film, he in the hieroglyphs
of Egypt.
can note issues he dis-
cussed with the pro-
Right: Rabbi
duction team. He con-
Burton L.
siders changes made
Visotzky: "It's
for dramatic effect,
even a good date
such as the woman
movie — mov-
adopting Moses being
ing, gorgeous and
Pharaoh's wife instead
a great story"
of his daughter, "good,
modern midrash."
says. "If DreamWorks does it, it's
"When Hollywood turns its
attention to something, our culture
important, and it supports what
deems it more important," Visotzky
we've been trying to teach our kids

.rnwe

Ror.

Helen Mirren is
the voice of the
Queen who dis-
covers the baby
Moses in a bas-
ket on the Nile.

all along. An animated feature
speaks the language of children,
and the characters become real."
The rabbi's book covers the
same narrative as The Prince of
Egypt and also focuses on the
story. It shows how communities
are formed, what constitutes lead-
ership, how a leader faces resis-
tance and how a people can find
a covenant with God.
"I think it's an obligation, par-
ticularly in the Jewish commu-
nity, that each generation has to
do its own reading and interpre-
tation of Scripture," he says. "It
struck me that the journey of
the Israelites helps us look for-
ward, and the stories help us
figure out who we are."
This is Visotzky's third book.
He also has written Reading the

Book: Making the Bible a Timeless
Text and The Genesis of Ethics. He
next will write a midrash on
Leviticus.
"Study is a lifelong process," the
rabbi says. "People who don't have
children should see the movie because
the message is there for adults. It's
even a good date movie — moving,
gorgeous and a great story
"I've read Exodus so many times
and saw the film in every stage, but
when I went to the theater to watch
the finished film, I had tears. It
seemed so alive."

❑

— Suzanne Chessler

;,'"<

The court magicians:
Martin Short, left, is
Huy and Steve
Martin is Hotep.

Patrick Stewart
gives voice to the
6
Queen's husband,
Egypt's powerful
ruler Pharao
Seri.

12/1S

1995

Detroit Jewish News

73