What Good Can Come of Gibson’s ‘Passion’?

David Klinghoffer seeks to defend Mel Gibson’s film about the death of Jesus, “The Passion,” on the basis of corroborative statements found in the Talmud and medieval writings (Commentary, Jan. 1). However, those sources are neither univocal nor reliable. There is much speculation on the subject of the crucifixion of Jesus to be found in ancient rabbinic writings, but these were recorded decades after the fact and represent political, theological and polemic tendencies, not historiography. We know much more today of the history of that period than did Maimonides, or even the rabbis of the 3rd century.

The question remains: With many contradictory sources from which to choose, why would someone assemble those sources that have been used throughout history to incite hatred and foment conflict and declare that narrative to be more historical than others?

Rabbi Dan Shevitz

Congregation Mishkon Tephilo, Venice

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Klinghoffer is wrong to argue that because Maimonides or the Talmud says Jews welcomed the death of Jesus, it’s OK for Gibson to make a film that says so. Those medieval and ancient Jewish sources were theologically biased and ahistorical, as were the Gospels. Modern anti-Semites will use Gibson’s film to stir hatred and violence against modern Jews.

Rabbi Tzvee Zahavy

Teaneck, N.J.

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Klinghoffer points out that Jewish texts admit the complicity of Jews in bringing about Jesus’ crucifixion. So what? If Christianity is true, then there never would have been salvation without Jesus’ death on the cross. Thus, Christians should hold in awe and praise any group of people who had anything to do with making sure that Jesus did die on the cross in accordance with God’s plan for salvation. The Jews are overdue in asking their Christian friends for thanks for Jewish involvement in fulfilling God’s destiny for Jesus.

Edward Tabash

Beverly Hills

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As a child of Holocaust survivors, whose brother was gassed at Auschwitz, I am sensitive to anything that may breed anti-Semitism. If one Jew is beaten up or, G-d forbid, killed by a fanatic inflamed by this film, then Klinghoffer and other Jewish intellectuals should think twice about their politically correct defense of Gibson. What good can come out of this portrayal of Jews condemning Christ?

Bob Korda

Los Angeles

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Gibson’s film seems to have revived the “did too, did not” controversy. Though Romans and Jews may have been the culprits in Jesus’ death, it is all too obvious who was behind it.

I like the Old Man for it. For over 2,000 years, Christians have been proclaiming that God sent his only begotten son to be crucified to atone for humanity’s sins. What kind of parent would do that to his child? Today, Mr. Big would find himself as a defendant in a capital murder case.

Some Christians seem to make the taking off of Jesus -- his judicial murder -- the cornerstone of their faith. Is this the religion -- a blame game, a focus on death, which seems to have become a pretext for historical anti-Semitism -- that Jesus taught? Or was it one about faith, hope and charity -- a message for all of us, about how we can live?

Joseph Gius

Los Angeles