Jewish Outrage at Mel Gibson's Jewish role
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
HOLLYWOOD - Mel Gibson's interest in directing and starring in a film based on the exploits of the legendary Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee has been greeted with dismay by Jewish community leaders. He faced criticism after his arrest in 2006 for drink driving which resulted in an antisemitic outburst, and for the depiction of Jewish figures in his film The Passion of the Christ. Maccabee was the prime mover in the successful 167BC revolt of the Judean state against the Seleucid empire, which had conquered the region at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is a commemoration of Maccabee's restoration of Jewish worship in the temple in Jerusalem in 165BC. The national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, told the Hollywood Reporter website: ''Judah Maccabee deserves better. It would be a travesty to have his story told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views.'' [link]
HOLLYWOOD - Mel Gibson's interest in directing and starring in a film based on the exploits of the legendary Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee has been greeted with dismay by Jewish community leaders. He faced criticism after his arrest in 2006 for drink driving which resulted in an antisemitic outburst, and for the depiction of Jewish figures in his film The Passion of the Christ. Maccabee was the prime mover in the successful 167BC revolt of the Judean state against the Seleucid empire, which had conquered the region at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is a commemoration of Maccabee's restoration of Jewish worship in the temple in Jerusalem in 165BC. The national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, told the Hollywood Reporter website: ''Judah Maccabee deserves better. It would be a travesty to have his story told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views.'' [link]
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