Last week Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ was released on Ash Wednesday. It is a very graphic portrayal of the final twelve hours of the life and death of Jesus. As I expected, Jews and Christians are seeing two different movies. Many, if not most, Christians, and all religious Christians, see a passionate, inspiring, religious depiction of the great sacrifice made by their Lord, Jesus Christ. Most of them have not paid much attention to the people around Jesus. The Romans, the Judeans/Jews and others, are simply there to make it possible for Jesus to give his life for the sake of humanity. Most, if not all, Jews focus on the Jewish High Priest, on the mobs who are clearly Jewish by their appearance, especially in contrast to the clean shaven, light skinned Romans, and on the history of previous Passion plays.

I do not believe that this movie will create anti-Semitism. I do not even believe that it will inflame existing anti-Semitism. At the very worst, anti-Semites will use this movie as an excuse for anti-Semitism. But, I believe that the Christian community will react swiftly against such acts, because they want to prove that this movie, which correctly portrays a traditional interpretation of the Gospels, is not anti-Semitic.

While my doctoral studies of the Gospels gives a very different interpretation of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, Gibson and the traditionalists are entitled to their interpretation as well. As Jews, we will not agree with Gibson's view, but we should respect his faith and conviction. And as Jews, we should not like the way he used the Jewish community to create a controversy to generate publicity for his movie. The leaders of the Jewish interfaith community were sucked into this fight, and Gibson used it for the public relations advantage of his film. In the end, I think this has hurt the credibility of the Jewish community. I do not think that this is permanent nor even long-term damage, but I do believe that it could and should have been avoided.

So what should we do in our local Jewish community? Because I teach at St. Mary's, and because I have been interviewed for the local ANG newspapers, the J. (Jewish Bulletin), and because I have been invited to speak on the radio and in several other venues, I went to see the movie. But should you go to see it? I do not believe that this movie should be boycotted. I think that religious Christians should go to see it, and even take non-religious Christians to share their faith with them if they so desire, (but I also think they should leave non-Christians alone!).

If you decide to go to see the movie, (and I do not think that you have to go), go with a good Christian friend. Do not say anything about the movie when you come out. Listen to what your friend says. If your friend talks about how passionate, meaningful, and/or spiritual it is, you will know that the Passion of the Christ is no threat to the Jewish community. If your friend is appalled at the anti-Semitism, and is disgusted at the way the Jews are (mis-)portrayed, you will know that the Jewish community is safe because we have good friends who will stand up for us. If your friends ask you how you felt about the movie, tell them the truth. Tell them that you saw Jews being misrepresented and that you fear Jews will be accused of the responsibility for the death of Jesus. Then listen again.

Let me know if you see the Passion of the Christ with a Christian friend. If enough of us do this, perhaps we will set up a program to discuss it all together. Then we can make this an opportunity for dialogue. Perhaps we can squeeze these lemons into lemonade.

—Rabbi Harry A. Manhoff, Ph.D.

Dr. Dr. Rabbi

On Sunday, March 21st Rabbi Manhoff will be awarded a Doctor of Divinity honorary degree at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. The D.D. is conferred on Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist Rabbis who have served in the rabbinate for 25 years. Rabbi Manhoff will be honored at the New York campus of HUC - JIR so that his parents, brother and daughter will be able to attend the ceremony. Any Temple Beth Sholom member that will be in New York City on the weekend of March 21st and would like to attend the festivities is invited to join the rabbi's family. Please call the synagogue office as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements.

Just imagine after the ceremony on March 21st, the rabbi's desk plate could read: Rabbi Harry A. Manhoff, AB, MAHL, PHD, DD.

We will honor our Dr. Dr. Rabbi on Shabbat, March 27th. At the service Rabbi Manhoff will be honored with an aliyah to the Torah, and he will be asked to give the drash. Afterwards everyone is invited to a luncheon in Rabbi Manhoff's honor. In lieu of gifts the Rabbi has asked that donations be made to Temple Beth Sholom. Please watch for your invitations.

Torah School Students' Purim Carnival for Preschoolers

The Students of the Temple Beth Sholom Torah School are going to present a very special Purim Carnival this year. They are preparing a Purim Carnival geared for children in the TBS Preschool and all of the other preschools in our area. The Preschool Purim Carnival will be on Sunday, March 7th, from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM (??) and will feature games, prizes, food and fun, fun, fun. Please join us and bring your children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends to the friendliest Purim Carnival in town!

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