[HANASHIR:16922] Re: "The Passion" and our passion

[rahel <rahel...>]

Bravo! Kol HaKavod! Well said.

Rahel



At 08:24 AM 2/25/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Friends,
>      I have been reading comments and articles about Mel Gibson's movie 
> for most of the last few months.   Last night, I read the Gospel passion 
> narratives in preparation to see the film this afternoon along with a 
> priest, an evangelical minister, a liberal protestant minister and the 
> religion writer for the local paper.  I plan to read another translation 
> of those texts this morning.   I have already been interviewed 5 times 
> about the release of the film by TV, radio and 2 newspapers.
>       I think people should go see the movie if they so desire, and I 
> think there are measured but sincere ways to express if the movie 
> perpetuates anti-Jewish impressions.  What is important is not only if 
> Christians will act on any anti-Jewish images in the movie.  Our response 
> is just as important - and we can respond by engaging Christians of all 
> denominations in dialogue - including expressing if the movie seems, to 
> us, to perpetuate anti-Jewish images and stereotypes.
>       There are many websites that have important information about the 
> film, with statements by Christian and Jewish scholars on the New 
> Testament.  The Gellman-Hartman article has merit (I greatly respect them 
> and what they have to say), but one cannot say for sure whether or not 
> Jesus was a Pharisee.   Some rabbis responded on another e-mail list to 
> this assertion with great skepticism and doubt.  We just don't really 
> know if that is true.
>       What we can do in our music sessions is to use some of the best 
> music we know that we think will bring our students closer to God and 
> express pride in their heritage.   They need to be reminded how the 
> Jewish people have remained strong through connecting with each other and 
> by extending a hand to people of all religions and backgrounds.  This is 
> what we should continue to do.  And we know how powerful music can be in 
> communicating these important messages.  Let's continue to do just that, 
> as we always do, as we move towards Purim, Passover, Yom Hashoah and Yom 
> Haatzmaut.   Jewish music and the feelings and dedication and commitment 
> it helps to convey is, after all, our passion.
>       E-mail me privately after this afternoon if you want to know what I 
> thought about the movie.
>L'shalom,
>Larry Karol
>Rabbi, Temple Beth Sholom
>Topeka, Kansas