Judaism Confronts The Passion

1. Judaism Confronts �The Passion� The Jewish View surrounding the death of Jesus of Nazareth

2. What is �The Passion�? The Passion Play is a dramatic rendition of the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Passion plays take as their source material, the Gospel narratives. There are 4 Gospels: Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. This is an essential faith story for Christianity.

3. Earliest plays were found in the 13th Century. Grew over the next few hundreds of years in France and Germany. Became increasingly elaborate involving entire towns and the play itself would last days.

4. Oberamergau, Germany Most famous of plays Involved over 800 actors The actor playing �Judas� had to move out of town for the entire run of the play. Put on every ten years except during WWII when Hitler ordered a command performance.

5. Why are we concerned? Passion narratives and plays have been the source of seasonal anti-Semitism since the beginning of the common era. Blood libels Oberamergau, Germany Hard to distinguish fact from fiction 40 Years of Christian/Jewish coalition building can be threatened.

6. The secretive and dishonest way in which this film was created has heightened the concerns. The lack of scholarly input and the disregard Gibson has for centuries of scholarship on the Biblical narrative.

7. Gospel History Timeline 37 BCE Herod the Great 0 CE. Birth of Jesus 4CE Herod Antipas 14 CE Tiberius (Emperor) Pontius Pilate (Governor) 33 Crucifixion 67-70 Destruction Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Luke 95 Gospel of John Problems Historicity of narratives Persecution and transference Elevation through denegration It took nearly 2000 years before the Christian community looked at the stories critically

8. Other Problems? The details of the entire story are told in less than 700 words. Less than an op-ed piece in the Beacon Journal. Little agreement between the narratives on the details. The only fixed points in the story are:

9. Fixed Points Jesus is arrested by Roman soldiers Jesus is accused of a crime by the High Priest Caiphas. The crime is threatening the Temple. Pontius Pilate examines Jesus Pilate releases Barabbas Jesus is condemned Jesus is crucified with two others who are guilty of treason. Soldiers divide Jesus� garmets Jesus dies on a cross which is labled �King of the Jews.�

10. Problem Points No clarity among the stories as to the crime or who made the charge. The High Priest was powerless except as a religious functionary. No political power. The Governor, Pilate, was one of the most ruthless leaders of the province. Pilate crucified nearly 20,000 criminals during the 10 years he was Governor. Jesus is crucified between two rebels against Rome. There is no title �King of the Jews�. The messiahship of Jesus is a post-resurrection discussion.

11. Hard to find the �Historical� Jesus Dating of �The Passion� Arrest and Trial on Pesach? Burial on Shabbat? Corruption of the Passover symbols Being �Sold� for 20 pieces of silver Jesus as Joseph Glossa Ordinaria Why is �Judah� the only contemporary with a �Jewish� name? Not too many Jews with the name �Luke�.

12. Gospel Parallels � The Arrest Mark [Judas, accompanied by large armed crowd from the chief priests and elders, betrays Jesus who is then seized.] Jesus says: �Let the scriptures be fulfilled.� A young man following Jesus wearing nothing but a linen cloth escapes. He is caught, but escapes by leaving the linen cloth and running off naked. The disciples flee. Matthew [Large crowd from one chief priests and elders comes to arrest Jesus.] Slave�s ear cut off, no mention of healing. Jesus says arrest is being done �so that the scripture of the prophets may be fulfilled.� All disciples flee.

13. Gospel Parallels � The Arrest Luke A crowd led by Judas comes. Slave�s ear is cut off, but Jesus heals it. Chief priest, officers of the temple and elders have come for him. Jesus says, �This is your hour and the power of darkness.� John Judas guided a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They told him they were looking for Jesus and he identified himself. Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest�s slave, cutting off his right ear. Jesus commanded Peter, �Put your sword into its sheath! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?�

14. The Nun Sister Anne Emmerich (1774-1824) The Passion is based upon the diaries of St. Anne Catherine Emmerich and the Gospel of John. She was a stigmatized nun (she inflicted the marks of crucifixion on herself). Lived only on communion wafers Mystic, Visionary

15. Gospels are not historical or factual accounts of events in the life of Jesus Rome was an evil persecutor of Jews and early Christians until the 3rd-4th Century. Crucifixion was a Roman punishment for rebels against the Roman empire. Jews were powerless against Rome. Temple was destroyed 40 years later. Jewish view of Jesus is that he was a faithful Jewish boy who had a �passion� (no pun intended) for Torah and thought that the corrupt Roman priesthood was creating distance between the faithful Jewish community and God. HE WAS NOT OUT TO CREATE A NEW RELIGION Christianity was created by Paul of Tarsus after the death of Jesus. JEWISH VIEW

16. Catholic Teaching on Passion Plays

22. Not Historical or Factual Resurrects Anti-Semitism Gibson is a theological lightweight who doesn�t understand the Jewish community and doesn�t accept scholarly opinion.. The depiction of the Jewish characters in the story border on age old stereotypes. The �over-the-top� violence that turns a story of Christian faith into a Horror film. Turns back the clock of Christian/Jewish Relationships 50 years. The Director�s Cut DVD released for Christmas 2004 Why we oppose this film?

23. What�s Next? Increase Dialogue Groups Educate ourselves about these stories Give our children a pride-filled foundation in their own faith. Encourage Biblical scholarship Continue to create partnerships with other religious communities.

24. The End Prepared by Rabbi David A. Lipper Temple Israel 2004