- And why not? I was raised in the Catholic Church and
exposed to the Jewish faith as well. I've relatives who spun off my Sicilian
side long ago and wound up in Budapest. Of the 90 some odd members of that
family, only two survived the war and the camps. As a result, I've been
exposed to both religions. As a very young man, I began to experience the
Jewish holydays and customs. It was quite an education. In fact, my Jewish
aunt took part in our holidays. She was the one who took care of decorating
our Christmas tree and on Easter, made the best Easter baskets ever.
-
- Within two minutes or so of viewing the movie, I was
in tears. In part, because it brought me back to my childhood's education
in parochial schools and in part, because the scriptures which I was made
to study and learn were presented in vivid reality. The Bible, the New
Testament, came to life. Unlike the so-called "reality" movie,
with cussin' and violence beyond the needs of artistic creativity and expression,
this violence and reality was real. It took place. It was in fact, the
most real movie ever produced. In my opinion.
-
- More, this movie had to be made. I am relatively certain
that the one thing this film has done to many, is to renew our faith. To
solidify that which was taught to us as children and sadly, which many
of us have lost. The Passion is violent. It is bloody. It is a demonstration
of cruelty and hatred. And it made it's point.
-
- As to the Zionist and/or Jewish claims of anti-Semitism,
there is none. It is nothing more nor is it nothing less than Scripture.
Those who say this movie is anti-Semitic, only demonstrate a level of deep
and serious feelings of guilt. And that guilt is revealed by those who
revile the movie.
-
- What do I mean by guilt? Do I refer to feelings of guilt
for the Jews having allowed Jesus to give them His life? Allowing the Jewish
leaders of those times to take His life?
-
- No. I mean that guilt which is felt whenever a Jew meets
a Christian who sees the movie. "What will that Christian think of
me?"
-
- In the case of this writer, nothing. There is nothing
new to this story. Not a thing. It is the greatest story ever told. Or
rather, it is the end of the greatest story ever told. No, that too is
wrong. It was the beginning. Among the last words which Jesus spoke were
to pray to His Father for those who murdered Him. "Father, forgive
them ... "
-
- And the message of the movie was, "Love one another,
as I have loved you ... Love they neighbor as you would love yourself."
-
- Now tell me please, where is the anti-Semitism in those
statements, statements which form the basis of Jesus' raison d'être
in this world? And, of course, to suffer and die for each of us. No, there
is no anti-Semitism. There is only guilt and embarrassment. But not on
the part of the true Christian.
-
- Jim Mortellaro
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