Rabbi Mier on The Passion

Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, who recently was able to covertly screen Mel Gibson's Passion movie, has written an excellent Op Ed piece which explains Jewish reservations about Gibson's movie. He brings up several points that have contibuted to ill feelings concerning this film. For instance:

* Gibson's involvement in a splinter Catholic group which has rejected the last 3 Popes and the reforms of Vatican II, during which the Church declared that "the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God." Particularly troublesome is the rejection of John Paul II, who has done more for Jewish-Xian relations than any other Pope.

* News reports that Gibson's father is a Holocaust Denier. Wether Mel shares his views is unclear, but his relative silence on the subject hasn't reassured anyone.

* Besides the Xian New Testament Gibson used as sources for his script the antisemtic writings of two nuns. The first, Mary of Agreda, a 17th century Spanish aristocrat, wrote of the Jews involved in Christ's death: "Although they did not die [they] were chastised with intense pains These disorders consequently upon shedding the blood of Christ descended to their posterity and even to this day continue to afflict this group with horrible impurities." The other, Anne Catherine Emmerich, was an early 19th century German stigmatic who often described Jews as having hooked noses and who told of a vision she had in which she rescued from purgatory an old Jewish woman who confessed to her that Jews strangled Christian children and used their blood in the observance of their rituals. She claimed the woman in her vision told her that this practice was kept secret so it would not interfere with the Jews' commercial intercourse with Gentiles.

* Gibson's secrecy and unwillingness to accept criticism of the screenplay. To quote Rabbi Mier: Gibson's secrecy about his film stands in contrast with the handling of other controversial films. The producers of a recent drama about the young Hitler responded to criticism by soliciting input from responsible critics. They got good suggestions that made for a better film. In Gibson's case, his lawyers threatened to sue the Anti-Defamation League and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, whose nine-member advisory board issued a thoughtful critique of a leaked version of his script. What is interesting is that the critics were not only Jews but also leaders and scholars of the Catholic Church.

The Rabbi also reiterates why the Romans and not the Jews are to blame for Jesus' excecution. To read the full article Click Here

VetsForJustice

From VetsForJustice.com:

"The Disabled Veterans Tax is a 100% tax on the retirement pay of Military Retirees. If you draw VA Disability and are a Military Retiree the amount of your VA Disability is taxed at 100% and taken from your retirement check.

Such a practice is morally wrong, yet to get by with it the Republican Leadership, and groups that support such stealing from our Military Retirees, call the practice "Concurrent Receipt" trying to deceive the public into believing such a practice is justified, by wrongly implying the Retiree is somehow drawing two paychecks for the exact same thing.

Nothing could be farther from the truth!"

To read more on this and other veteran's issues visit http://www.vetsforjustice.com/

Jews and Christians watch two different movies when they're watching Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of Christ'

A very good article by Dennis Prager, who says Jews and Christians watch two different movies when they're watching Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of Christ'

What Is Kabbala?

And to prove I'm doing something than just stewing over Mel Gibson, here's a great article from Aish.com about Kabbala. Its part one of a series by Rabbi Shimon Leiberman. The teaser for part one reads: Kabbala is the Torah's expression of the way the world works. Removed from its source, it's a whole lot of rubbish.. In the article Rabbi Leiberman tries to explain what Kabbalah is saying that "What most people have been exposed to is a smorgasbord of pop psychology and self-help that pretends to have some connection to Jewish mysticism, but it rarely, if ever, does."

Enjoy!

Kabbala #1 - What Is Kabbala?

Missing the Point

I find it frustrating that many defenders of Gibson's movie are using defenses similar to the one from This article on Beliefnet.com:

I had not noticed anything of concern regarding the portrayal of Jews in the film--certainly nothing unusual about the role of the Jewish leadership in Jesus’ death. It was consistent with the biblical accounts and in keeping with other Jesus movies and the hundreds of thousands of Passion Plays that are produced worldwide every Easter season.

The point is that the NT Biblical accounts--or portions there of at any rate--are antisemetic, or at least have fueled antisemetism for 2000+ years. The Jews are blamed for a Roman-style execution and are portrayed as accepting the blame for his death for themselves and thier descendants (Matthew 27:25). And, while I hope thier modern counterparts are less inflamatory, Easter Passion Plays have historically flamed antisemetism for several centuries. Take a look at the ADL's article on Passion Plays in History and Theology . And Passion Plays need not be antisemitic as the 2000 Oberammergau Passion Play proves.

Again I would refer you to the Moment Magazine Article on the Antisemitism of the Xian NT.

More on the Passion

Another good article about Mel's "Passion of the Christ"

The Real Problem with the Passion

John Dominic Crossan on pre-screening Mel Gibson's 'The Passion'

A very interesting article from Belief.net by New Testament Scholar John Dominic Crossan. Apparently Gibson made viewers of a pre-screening of "The Passion of the Christ" sign a confidentiality statement. This is standard in some pre-screenings to keep movie plots and such a secret (As Crossan points out in the article, its seems odd in this instance as the plot isn't exactly a secret). However, this statement implies that pastors are allowed to discuss the film but only if they are supporting the film. Apparently if you don't like the movie you're not supposed to comment. Seems to be a sly bit of marketing censorship on Gibson's part and very un-Jesus-like. Crossan also has an issue with the sub-heading Gibson has given the film: "Dying was his reason for living."

Crossan is a Professor of Religious Studies at DePaul University & the author of several books on the historical Jesus and early Xianity.


John Dominic Crossan on pre-screening Mel Gibson's 'The Passion'

Federal Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act

And this renews some of my faith in the US Justice system. Its about time somebody started questioning the validity of the Patriot Act (aka the "Kiss Your Civil Liberties Good-Bye Act"

Federal Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act

WHO REALLY IS THE SON OF G-D?

Its amazing what you'll find when you're stuck home in a snow drift...
WHO REALLY IS THE SON OF G-D? is a wonderful essay by the Hasidic Gentile about God, the Messiah and who the real "Son of God" is. Very well done. Of course, you have to be impressed by anyone who has this as the header (and title) of every page on his website:

"...You declare, my friend that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely 'anti-Zionist'. And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of G-d's green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews-this is G-d's own truth." - Dr.Martin Luther King Jr

Be sure to check out his other essays and blog entries., especially the one which expands on the above MLK Quote.

Update: Comments

Its seems Blogspeak has gone belly up and turned into a webring for blogs. Thier services have been picked up by Haloscan. And thus readers--and I'm not convinced I have any--are once again able to leave comments, though nobody has yet.

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Shalom!
John W. Leys

Jewish Leaders Slam Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Film

Yahoo! News - Jewish Leaders Slam Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Film

If these reports are accurate--and I see no reason why they shouldn't be--then Gibson's movie is definitely antisemetic, wether he sees it as such or not. I am especially troubled by Rabbi Hier's report on how Gibson portrays the non-Christian Jews in the film:

"I can tell you this is a terrible film, a terrible portrayal of Jews and will cause tremendous harm and be a delight to all the enemies of the Jewish people. The film makes the Jews look as bad as possible. The Jews are not only contrasted badly against the new Jews, the Christians, but the against the Roman hierarchy which with the exception of the four whippers of Christ appear as pleasing, thoughtful and sensitive... I was embarrassed by their evil look. Their sinister faces. They all look like dark-eyed Rasputins and their faces are in stark contrast to the wonderful expressions on the faces of the Jewish Christians."

Defenders of this film keep falling back on it being an accurate adaption of the Gospels. They fail to recognise that much in the Gospels, especially John's Gospel, is anti-Jewish and hate-filled. In Oct 01 Moment Magazine ran an enlightening article on just that subject.

After two of its representatives attended a screening of the film, the ADL released a statement restating thier concerns over the film. Unfortunately, at this point I think we're all being written off as silly paranoid Jews. I only wish that were true.

Pope's Praise for Gibson's "Passion" Pulled

An interesting story I found at Yahoo! News:

Yahoo! News - Pope's Praise for "Passion" Pulled

I think its interesting that--even if, as the "Roman Catholic higher-up with ties to the Vatican" claims, he did privately approve of the film--that the Pope doesn't want to make a public comment on the subject. What's the motivation? He doesn't seem the type to me to try and avoid contraversy. Unless its his Vatican keepers that wish to avoid being connected with the film.

Of course, there's also the possibility that the quote was fictional and he doesn't approve of the film at all.

Mel Gibson's "Passion"

While reading a news report via Yahoo! News about Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion"--which chronicles the last 12 hours of Jesus' life--finally recieving a solid distribution deal, I was struck by a few things (and not for the first time):

The article reads:
The movie... has come under fire from some Jewish groups who claim its story could foment anti-Semitism by tying Christ's death to Jewish authorities.

But Catholic and Protestant groups, as well as biblical scholars, have defended the film, saying it sticks closely to accounts of the crucifixion as told in the New Testament.

This appears to me to be an attempt to portray the criticism of possible antisemitism as just the paranoia of the Jews, when in fact non-Jews have also expressed concern over the film. The Xian defense of the film is here being buttressed by the words of "biblical scholars," who one assumes are meant to be unbiased. However, it sidesteps the issue entirely. Most Jewish critics of the film fear antisemtic content because it sticks closely to the NT accounts. The Xian Gospels--especially John, which Gibson reportedly used extensively--are filled with antisemitism. It was upon the NT that the passion plays of old--which did regularly incite anti-Jewish acts of violence--were based. There is no question that Gibson is sticking to the NT. In fact, that may be the problem.

Personally, though I share some of the concerns regarding this film, I am reserving judgement until I can actually view the piece. I agree 100% with the statement released by the ADL:

If in fact Pope John Paul II has screened Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" and if in fact his reaction to the film was positive, as has been reported, then we respect his statement. The Pope has a record and history of sensitivity to the Jewish community and has a clear moral voice and understanding when it comes to anti-Semitism.

However, we must reserve final judgment on "The Passion of Christ" until we have an opportunity to see the film. We hope that Mel Gibson has heard our concerns and those of Christian and Jewish scholars and religious leaders, who expressed unease about the earlier version of the film and its potential to fuel, rationalize and legitimize anti-Semitism.

If Mel Gibson has changed the film, which he has referred to all along as a "work-in-progress," then we would welcome that. We would like the opportunity to screen the final version for ourselves to see if the scenes of concern have been changed, and if so, publicly congratulate him.

"Sit Down and be quiet"

Today I received the following e-mail from a family member. I felt my response was worth posting here.

>>
>>
>> AGREE OR DELETE
>> -----
>> I whole heartedly agree AGREE OR DELETE
>>
>> I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. What do you think about this?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a >>mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell >>the 14% to Sit Down and be quiet! If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. . .
>
>

I know I'm only supposed to respond to this if I agree--since apparently those who disagree with you are meant to "Sit Down and be quiet"--but I've always had a hard time keeping my opinions to myself.

First of all, I understand that the United States is a democracy (well, actually its a Democratic Republic, but that's neither here nor there) and as such the majority rules. But does this mean that those in the minority are supposed to "Sit Down and be quiet!" and let the majority do whatever it wants, even if they believe what the majority wants is morally/ethically wrong or not in the best interests of the country? I was under the impression that everyone in this country was allowed a voice, not just those in the supposed majority.

Second, the issue of having "In God We Trust" on our money and having "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't necessarily have anything to do with who believes in God. The first amendment to our Constitution reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." There are those who feel that placing "In God We Trust" on our money and adding "Under God" to the pledge is far too close to establishing a state endorsed religion. Many of these people do believe in God, though on the whole they are members of minority religions who, along with atheists and agnostics, have the most to fear from a state established religion, since it would no doubt not be their religion that is endorsed. And history shows us that minority religions tend to be persecuted and/or turned into second class citizens under governments that have official state endorsed religions. But I guess that wouldn't bother you much since you want us all to "Sit Down and be quiet" anyway, right?


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Shalom!
John W. Leys

Kesher Talk

I ran across this blog while surfing the net. Always nice to see another Jewish voice out there. You can never have too many.

Kesher Talk: Judaism, Jewish culture and politics, Middle East affairs, etc.

Update

Just playing with the look of the page (and the title for that matter). I also added the ability for readers--if anyone actually reads this thing--to add comments. If you're out there I'd love to hear from you.

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Shalom!
John W. Leys

The Messiah

Some time ago I became engaged in a heated debate on a Xian website about the nature and identity of the Messiah. Naturally much of the debate centered around why I denied the Xian claim that Jesus was the Messiah. After a while one of my opponents asked me just what the Jewish messianic expectations were. In response I drafted the following essay. I don't claim any amount of originality as a culled much of it from the knowledge base at the Jews for Judaism website as well as from my own Judaic library. I ran across it while cleaning my harddrive out & thought it was worth sharing again

The Messiah

The word "Messiah" is an English rendering of the Hebrew word משׁיך - Mashiach, which translates literally as "Anointed One". It usually refers to a person initiated into G-d's service by being anointed with oil. (ie Having oil poured on his head). Exodus 29:7, I Kings 1:39, II Kings 9:3). There are many Messiahs in the Bible. Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as "an anointed one" (a Mashiach or a Messiah). For example: "G-d forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the L-rd's Messiah [Saul]..." (I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6). The Hebrew word HaMashiach (lit. the Messiah) describing a future anointed person to come does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Since the Bible makes no explicit reference to the Messiah, it is unlikely that it could be considered the most important concept in the Bible. Indeed, in Jewish thought, the Messianic idea is not the most crucial. However, one of the central themes of Biblical prophecy is the promise of a future age of perfection characterized by universal peace and recognition of G-d. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Isaiah 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34). Many of these prophetic passages speak of a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during the age of perfection. (Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-10, 33:14-16; Ezekiel 34:11-31, 37:21-28; Hosea 3:4-5). And since every King is a Messiah, by convention, we refer to this future anointed one as The Messiah. Because his reign will be an historically verifiable reality, self-evident to any person, it won't require belief or faith.

Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the prophet) will reappear before the coming of the Messiah to reconcile fathers with thier children and children with thier fathers. (Malachi 4:5-6)

As mentioned above, the Messiah will be a King of the House of David. He will gather the Jewish people from exile and return them to Israel -"And he shall set up a banner for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Isaiah 11:12). He will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem - "...and I will set my sanctuary in their midst forever and my tabernacle shall be with them.." (Ezekiel 37:26 - 27). He will rule at a time of world-wide peace - "...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Micah 4:3) He will rule at a time when the Jewish people will observe G-d's commandments - "My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow My ordinances and be careful to observe My statutes." (Ezekiel 37:24). And he will rule at a time when all people will come to acknowledge and serve one G-d - "And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, says the L-rd" (Isaiah 66:23)

These expectations are summed up quite well in Ezekiel Chapter 37 verses 24-28:

"And David my servant shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall also fallow My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Yaakov my servant, in which your fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell there, they and their children, and their children's children forever; and my servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them, it shall be an everlasting covenant with them, which I will give them; and I will multiply them and I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. And my tabernacle shallbe with them: and I will be their G-d and they will be my people. Then the nations shall know that I am the L-rd who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary will be in the midst of them forevermore."

The great Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, aka Maimonides (1135-1204 CE) spelled out the fundamental Jewish concept of the messiah in his monumental work Mishneh Torah:

"The King Messiah will in some future time come, restore the kingdom of David to its former power, build the Temple, bring together the scattered of Israel, and all the ancient laws will again be in force. Sacrifices will be offered, and years of release and Jubilees will be kept as prescribed in the Torah. Whoever does not believe in him, or does not hope for his coming, shows a lack of faith not only in the prophets, but also in the Torah. For the Torah testifies concerning him in the words: 'And the L-rd your God will again bring back your captivity, and show mercy unto you, and again gather you from all the nations...If your outcasts be at the ends of the heavens, from there will the L-rd gather you...and the L-rd will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed...'(Deut. 0:3-5)

You must not imagine that the messiah must prove his messianity by signs and miracles, doing something unexpected, bringing the dead to life, or similar things. The principle thing is this: the statutes and precepts of our Torah remain forever, and nothing can be added to them or taken from them.

If, therefore, a descendant of David earnestly studies the Torah, observes what the written and oral Torah enjoins, causes all Israelites to act similarly, exhorts those who are lax in the performance of the commandments, and fights the wars of the L-rd, he may possibly be the messiah. If he does not succeed, or is killed in war, it is certain that he is not the messiah promised in the Torah. He is like all the other noble and good kings of the House of David who have died, and God only caused him to rise in order to try us thereby, as it is said, `And of the wise some will stumble, and through them the people will be tested, purified, and made white, till the time of the end comes; for there is yet a vision for an appointed time.' (Dan. 11:35).

Also, Jesus the Nazarene, who imagined that he would be messiah and was killed, is alluded to in the book of Daniel, as it is said, `And the sons of the transgressors among thy people will rise, in order to establish a vision, and will stumble' (Dan. 11:14). Can there be a greater stumbling then this? All the prophets said that messiah will be a redeemer and a savior to the Israelites, will bring together their outcasts, and will strengthen their obedience to the Divine precepts, but he (Jesus) caused destruction by the sword to Israel, the dispersion of those left, and their humiliation. He changed the law, and misled many people to worship a being beside God. But the thoughts of the Creator of the universe cannot be understood by any human being, for the ways of men are not His ways, nor their thoughts His thoughts. For all the events connected with Jesus, and with Mohammed that rose after him, served only to pave the way for the King Messiah, who will reform all mankind and lead them to the unanimous service of God, as it is said, 'For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that all may call by the name of God, and serve him unanimously' (Zeph. 3:9).

How can this be done? Almost all people have through them (Jesus and Mohammed) become acquainted with the idea of messiah, with the words of the Torah and the Divine precepts. Through them the knowledge of the Bible spread even unto the remotest islands and unto many nations 'uncircumcised' in heart and uncircumcised in flesh. These nations seek to justify their disobedience to the precepts of the Torah. Some of them say that these precepts are Divine, but are not in force at present, and were never intended to be permanent laws. Others maintain that they must not be taken literally, as they are mere symbols, the meaning of which has already been explained by their 'messiah'. But when the true King Messiah will rise, he will prosper, be high and exalted. All will then at once know that it was falsehood what their fathers have inherited, and that their prophets and their teachers have misled them.

It is not because they desired to have dominion over all lands and nations and be honored by all people, or because they desired to have plenty to eat and drink and other pleasures, that the wise men and the prophets longed for the days of the messiah, but because they would then be at leisure to study the Torah and its teachings without being interrupted by any oppressor, and would thus make themselves worthy of life in the World to Come.

There will not be in those days any famine, war, jealousy, or quarrel, because the good things will be in plenty and even luxuries will be found everywhere. All people will busy themselves with trying to know the L-rd. Therefore, the Israelites will be great sages, knowing things which are at present hidden. They will obtain a knowledge of their Creator as far as possible by human understanding; `For the earth shall be full with the knowledge of the L-rd as the waters cover the sea.' (Isaiah 11:9). "

- Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim XI - XII.

Welcome!

This is something I've been meaning to do for some time now. Someone as opinionated as I am needs a place to vent, rant and/or babble. Nothing special here, just giving myself a forum to speak my mind. Hopefully it will be found worth reading by someone.

I suppose I ought to start by telling you--if there is indeed anyone reading this--something about myself. My name is John Walter Leys, though sometimes go by my Hebrew name אליהטו בן אברהם ושׂרה, which translates into English as "Elijah son of Abraham and Sarah". I was born on the 19th day of Iyyar in the year 5733 (The 20th day of May in the 1, 973rd year of the Christian Era) in Oceanside, New York and lived my first few years in East Rockaway on Long Island. Not many years after my birth my family moved to Albany, Oregon where I was raised. I graduated from West Albany High School in 1991 and joined the U.S. Army. After basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (E Company, 2d Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment) and advanced training at Ft Benjamin Harrison, ID, I served as a member of the Adjutant General Corps. During my tour of duty I was assigned to the 369th PSC in Geissen, Germany and the U.S. Army Garrison at Ft Sam Houston, TX. I left the Army after my enlistment was up in 1996 and returned to school in early 1997. I finished my Associates Degree at Linn Benton Community College in 1999 and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in ,Religious Studies from the University of South Florida in 2002. I am currently making arrangements to attend the Graduate School of the Jewish Theological Seminary in NYC to work on a Master's Degree in Judaic Studies and a PhD in the Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages. I currently reside in Shillington, PA with my fiancee, Sharon.

That should do for now.

Shalom Alecheim!
John W Leys