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Understanding 'The Passion'
T
he question isn't what we adults think
about The Passion of the Christ, the Mel
Gibson movie about the death of Jesus, but
what our children remember about it. Well-
made movies that seem to be factually accurate have a
way of sticking in the imagination as a basic truth.
By making the Jews of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago
appear directly responsible for Christ's agony, The
Passion lays the groundwork for a future undoing of
the last 40 years of notable progress in relations
between Christians and Jews.
With that in mind, the sensible thing for the Jewish
community to do is not to panic and run around
screaming about how the film is going to trigger a
global rebirth of anti-Semitism. Rather, it
needs to take a longer view. It should con-
centrate on activities that strengthen the
habit of religious tolerance that has been a
hallmark of the nation since its birth.
America has had periods in which a militant
Christianity threatened to overwhelm spiritual diversi-
ty. And Jews can hardly forget the quotas and exclu-
sions that discriminated against them as recently as the
mid-20th century.
In the larger context for Jews, however, we have rarely
had it so good as we do in this country, and one movie
is not going to change that fact overnight. We've got a
lot of resources we can use to combat the growth of a
new generation that would drag the nation backward to
the 13th century views of Pope Innocent III, who first
proclaimed open season on the Jews as Christ-killers.
We could, for instance, use the movie as a peg for
interesting our children in the history of Jewish prac-
tice both before and after the Roman destruction of
Dry Bones
ISRAELIS WILL BE
BANNED FROM LIVING
IN THEIR TOWNS AND
VILLAGES IN GAZA?!
SO WILL THE
EREZ CROSSING
BE CLOSEDANO
GAZANS BANNED
FROM ENTERING
ISRAEL?
the Second Temple. In talking about the role
of the high priests, we may prompt better
SRAEL NEED
appreciation of the reality of the flourishing
TO
SEPARATE
Jewish state that the Arab world is so eager to
ROM G ZAI
deny in its claims that there was no Temple.
We can use the film as an opportunity to
recommit to the interfaith dialogue that used
to be such an involving and enriching experi-
ence in so many of our communities. We
ought to be looking around for opportunities
to partner with churches and mosques in
social service programs. We can be more
aggressive in defending Holocaust education,
SOUNDS LIKE
ARE YOU AN
which is under pressure in many public
ANOTHER JOB FOR
OBSTACLE TO PEACE?
schools.
COURT OF
THE
GAZANS NEED THEIR
In our efforts, however, we need
JUSTICE!
JOBS IN ISRAEL!
to be careful not to lecture
Christians on their faith. We know
what the Second Vatican Council said about
deicide — "True, the Jewish authorities and
those who followed their lead pressed for the
death of Christ; still, what happened in His
passion cannot be charged against all the
Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor
against the Jews of today." — and we ought
to assume that Christians know it even bet-
www.mrdrybones.com
ter.
There isn't much that we can do about the
biases of adults. And we need to accept that millions of anti-Semitism. If we reach out intelligently and active-
ly, as we do on other issues, we will live up to our
young people will come away from this movie believ-
responsibility for helping young people understand the
ing that the man whom they accept as their savior was
past and the present.
brutally crucified at the demand of the Jewish estab-
The best thing that can happen for our children,
lishment in first-century Jerusalem.
Christian
and Jewish alike, is to have us behave as
But we should not lose our faith in the power of
responsible
adults and role models. ❑
education to keep that belief from changing into overt
r
Nit
EDIT ORIAL
Dialogue With Christians
A
s Jews, we would — and often do — resent
and resist the sometimes friendly and some-
times manipulative suggestions we receive
from those who are not of our faith, people
who might offer good will but who lack standing
because they are not Jews.
It's not that we don't appreciate good advice and
constructive criticism. It's just that some things are
family business and off limits to outsiders.
Recognizing the familial relationships we share as
Jews, and knowing our likely response to religious
advice from non-Jews, we stand on a precarious soap-
box in making any comment about Mel Gibson's new
film, The Passion of the Christ. We are hesitant to make
any comment on this film, as we should be, because
the subject matter belongs to another family, not ours.
We are aware, for example, that the film's presenta- .
tion of Christ's passion is both moving and unsettling
Sharona Shapiro is executive director of the
Bloomfield Township-based American Jewish
Committee-Metropolitan Detroit Chapter.
We do believe, however, that people of good
to many Christians. We know that there are
will — and good faith — will recognize the
debates within the Christian community
inflamed passions that already exist in this
regarding the use of specific religious refer-
world
and make every effort to channel those
ences and choices of language from Christian
passions
in appropriate and peaceful direc-
scriptures. We also know that the film is likely
tions. The sad reality is that we must be all
to stir passions in those who view it, regardless
alert at all times to ensure that religion is not
of their awareness of religious scripture or of
used as the justification for evil.
the underlying debates that have surrounded
Our view on this subject is delivered from a
this production.
S HAR ONA
respectful
distance, mindful of the importance
This awareness also includes the recognition
S HAP IRO
of
shared
faith
in our own lives and in the lives
that the film portrays Jews in the traditional
Comm unity
of
our
Christian
neighbors. It is up to us in the
passion play role of seeking Christ's death and,
Persp ective
Jewish community to open the window to dia-
as stated in one of the four Gospels, accepting
logue and education. It is up to us to discuss
responsibility for his death at the hands of the
how troubled we are about the film's anti-
Romans. And we are aware that such portray-
Jewish
elements
and the potential for polarization
als in other eras have led to both anti-Semitic responses
among
people
of
different faiths.
and, in many cases, acts of violence toward Jews.
I
encourage
you
to invite a Christian neighbor to_,
On this last point, we must tread very carefully and
learn more about you and Judaism. And to be very
slightly into the business of another family, our friends
honest when questioned on what we fear most... the
in the Christian community. It is not our place to tell
historic repercussions from passion plays and the
others how or what to believe. We don't even ask that
destructive potential of this film. ❑
our Christian friends decline the opportunity to see
this film.
2/20
2004
29