BOYCOTT THE PASSION ?


America's favorite pop-Ortho Rabbi, Schmuely Boteach, argues that is precisely what Jews should do in response to Mel Gibson's soon-to-be released cinematic blood libel. According to reports, Gibson has cut out the "his blood be on us and our children" line from Matthew (in other words the "yes we did it, so don't feel bad about massacring us Christians"). This of course, is a step in the right direction, but clearly insufficient, given the film's retro-passion play approach that exacerbates, rather than mitigates the Gospels anti-Jewish polemics.


One positive step that might make a difference would be for Gibson to add a coda that addresses the film's potential to inspire modern day pograms. While its pretty clear Gibson has no intention of taking the ADL's preferred approach (Gibson personally speaking to the audience to inveigh against anti-Semitic reponses to the film), he has been offerred a more palatable alternative by Dallas-based evangelical minister Tom Evans, who suggests the film end with the following line: "During the Roman occupation, 250,000 Jews were crucified by the Romans, but only one rose from the dead." Obviously, as a Jew, I can't say I agree with the last sentence, but at least I can respect those that do. Then again, if Gibson had made a movie that had any respect for the historical accuracy, the point that Jesus was a Jewish victim of Roman tyranny would have made clear long before the movie's end.