In response to Alexa DeGennaro’s Review on Mel Gibson’s film, “the Passion of the Christ,” and Ben Worcester’s Letter to the Editor:

I was in attendance at the film’s premier here in Boston recently. As a practicing Jew I felt compelled to see the movie, primarily because of the controversy surrounding its release and how it could possibly affect my life. I attended the showing with a group of friends of various religious backgrounds — a Catholic, a Protestant, and an atheist (our friend, a Muslim, was not able to join us) – in order to gain valuable insight into how others viewed the film as well. I strongly agree with both DeGennaro’s and Worcester’s feelings in regards to the violence; however, I must disagree with their view on the amount of anti-Semitism in the film.

While awaiting the film’s opening, I was skeptical that Mr. Gibson would have the nerve to produce a film that could be racist and possibly cause problems for the American or Worldwide Jewish communities. Unfortunately I was proven horribly wrong. Aside from actual quotations from the New Testament, I was appalled by a constant barrage of blatant racism throughout the movie. It bothered me tremendously that one could not tell the difference between the Jewish soldiers and the Roman ones; demonic children continuously biting Judas and drinking his blood with their rotting teeth was reminiscent of blood libels against Jews that have occurred countless times throughout history. Lest I forget to mention the angry mob of Jews that called for Jesus’ death by crucifixion in the opening scenes of the movie.

Overall the film was not as terrible as I had been hearing over the course of the past few months; I left the theater rather mystified that a man, a Jewish man might I add, could so eagerly die for his cause in such a vile way. However, I feel I must state that in my opinion the film was indeed vehemently racist, though only someone of great ignorance could possibly use Mr. Gibson’s movie as a reason to hate or preach anti-Semitism.

Personally, I am not in fear for my future well-being; I fear only that viewers and those refusing to watch will fail to see both sides of the controversy over “The Passion,” and over 40 years of Judeo-Christian relations and understanding will go down the tubes.

Jake Sugerman CAS 2005

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