|
Commission
On Interreligious Affairs
of Reform Judaism
Let's
Go to the Movies: It's Important
by
Rabbi Joshua S. Taub
On February 25, coinciding with Ash Wednesday, Mel
Gibson's much discussed movie, The Passion of the
Christ, will open in 2,000 cities across the United
States. I am confident that St. Louis will be one
of those cities. The Passion of the Christ, filmed
in Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin, is a feature length
Hollywood movie capturing the last 12 hours of the
life of Jesus of Nazareth. Many in the Christian community
believe this film may well be the best outreach opportunity
they have had in the last 2000 years.
Some Christian leaders, who have had an opportunity
to view an early version of the film, say that it
represents a tremendous opportunity to reach the unchurched
with the message of salvation. Diane Sawyer will be
interviewing Mel Gibson on "Prime Time."
The film has already generated a flood of discussion,
intentional and unintentional publicity. The Passion
of the Christ is a significant film and - as Jews
- it is vital that we view it.
Mel Gibson intended to create a film depicting what
he called, "the most historically accurate version
of Jesus ever." This claim raised concerns among
scholars of early Christianity (Catholic and Jewish)
who have long known that the gap between the "historical
truth" and the "religious truth" of
the Gospel literature is wide in some places. The
questions that concern us might be:
1) Will this movie generate anti-Jewish feelings?
2) Will this film be a setback in Jewish/Christian
relations?
3) What is the Passion narrative in the Gospel literature?
4) Why do we, as Jews, need to know about it and understand
what it means?
While some of us have non-Jewish family members, we
all have non-Jewish friends and co-workers who are
going to see this film. After the film is over, they
are going to have questions: questions about Judaism
in Jesus' time; questions about the Passion from a
Jewish point of view; and maybe questions about Jewish
responsibility. Knowing what the Passion narrative
is and understanding what it means to Christians will
help us maintain a healthy perspective on the Gospel
literature. It will also strengthen our understanding
of our own faith. For these reasons, it is tremendously
important for us to study the Passion narrative before
we view of the film The Passion of the Christ.
I have identified two opportunities for studying the
Passion narrative. On Sunday morning, February 22,
from 10:00 to 11:15 am, or on Monday evening February
23, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, I invite you to join me
at the Temple for study. At both sessions, we will
introduce ourselves to the text of the Passion narrative,
understand the historical context in which it occurs
and begin to identify the gaps between "religious
truth and "historical truth." Everyone at
Temple Emanuel should have an understanding of the
Gospels and the Passion and everyone at Temple Emanuel
should view the film The Passion of the Christ.
I do not see this film re-igniting anti-Semitic hatreds.
I anticipate that the film will emphasize the evangelical
theme "He died for you/us," rather than
"who killed Him?" I am more concerned about
how ideas presented in the film might manifest themselves
as conservative, fundamentalist and evangelical leaders
give sermons across the country this Easter season.
However, on both matters, we have no control. The
Christian Bible is not going to be rewritten. Mel
Gibson's film is already 'in the can.' So I will worry
about my own sermons.
What we do have control over are our own responses.
How we respond to this film will affect the quality
of Jewish/Christian relations today and tomorrow.
The Passion of the Christ may well be one of the greatest
opportunities we Jews have had in the last 2,000 years.
|
