http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...0308/people_nm/leisure_passion_dc_4&printer=1 LA Rabbi Asks Mel Gibson to Reconsider Jesus Film Sat Mar 8, 1:52 PM ET LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A prominent Jewish leader on Friday asked actor Mel Gibson (news) to make certain that his new film on the last 12 hours in the life of Christ does not portray the Jews as collectively responsible for the crucifixion. Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said he was concerned because an article to be published in the New York Times Magazine portrays Gibson as a traditionalist Catholic opposed to the reforms of Vatican (news - web sites) II. Heir said, "Obviously, no one has seen 'The Passion' and I certainly have no problem with Mel Gibson's right to believe as he sees fit or make any movie he wants to. What concerns me, however is when I read that the film's purpose is to undo the changes made by Vatican II." He said that Vatican conclave was convened to deal with several critical issues, including the rejection of the notion that the Jews were collectively responsible for the death of Jesus. "If the new film seeks to undo Vatican II ... it would unleash more of the scurrilous charges of deicide directed against the Jewish people, which took the Catholic Church 20 centuries to finally repudiate," he said. Gibson is completing the self-financed film on the last 12 hours in the life of Christ and a friend of the Gibson family is quoted as telling the Times that Gibson will graphically portray the intense suffering of Christ, "perhaps as no film has done before." Gibson is directing the film. The friend, Gary Giuffre, a traditionalist Catholic, also said that the film will lay the blame for the death of Christ where it belongs -- a reference that some traditionalists believe means the Jewish authorities who presided over his trial, the article said. A spokesman for Gibson had no comment, saying he had not seen the article. Sources close to the actor said Gibson's religious views and those of his family were known. Discussing his film in a recent TV interview, Gibson was asked whether his account might particularly upset Jews. He said, "It may. It's not meant to. I think it's meant to just tell the truth."
Jesus's death is God's responsibility. That was the plan, for him to die for our sins. If people find this film a reason to hate Jews, they were going to hate Jews anyway, regardless.
actually it's my responsibility...i'm a sinner he died for. having said that, the historical accounts pretty well agree (particularly the account of Josephus) that the Sanhedrin (Jewish council) brought Jesus to Pilate for execution...Pilate determined that he had not broken any laws of the Romans...the Sanhedrin demanded his death... so if you're telling the story historically, with no theological emphasis one way or the other (like my view above), that's the way it plays out. but it should be noted that the Sanhedrin is not all of Judaism...
So Jewish leaders today do not want people to think that Jewish leaders in the past set up Christ to be arrested and executed by the Romans. Well since the movie will be based on the Bible, let's take a look at Mark Chapter 14, just after the last supper when he was betrayed by Judas... (emphasis my own) Mark Chapter 14 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " 59Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ,[6] the Son of the Blessed One?" 62"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 63The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" 65They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him. To say that the Jewish leadership was not responsible for the death of Jesus is absurd. Any Chrsitian knows that, but also (I hope) realizes that it was his sacrifice all of mankind.
I thought the Jewish curse was placed from God due to them crucifying Jesus. And I mean curse as in Isreal losing their country and spread across the world. Its one of those 'damned if you do; damned if you don't' kinda things.
they were already spread out...they were already overrun by the Romans. i've never heard of that kind of curse before...Gentile Christians talk about being "grafted" into the tree, the base of which is Judaism.
Space, you got a Bible reference for that? Since Max won't do my work for me, I dug around. So far, I've got this: http://nov55.com/rel/vat.html. It is commentary on Vatican II and says that it's primary focus was to alter the teaching that Protestants go to Hell. At the same time, the liturgy was changed to a much more casual system: switching from Latin to vernacular and having the priest face the congregation. It is just a commentary and not a great one but it doesn't mention anything about Jews or their part in the crucifixion.
