Mel Gibson and the Book of Maccabees

Reuters - Tale Tied to Hanukkah Holiday Stirs Gibson Vision

Mel Gibson, whose hit film "The Passion of the Christ" was attacked as anti-Semitic by some critics, says he is now intrigued by the revolt of the Maccabees -- the story behind the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

"The story that's always fired my imagination ... is the Book of Maccabees," the actor and director told ABC Radio talk show host Sean Hannity on Tuesday.

"The Maccabees family stood up, and they made war. They stuck by their guns and they came out winning," he said. "It's like a Western."

ADL Director Abe Foxman doesn't think this is a good idea:

"My answer would be 'thanks but no thanks,"' Foxman said on Wednesday. "The last thing we need in Jewish history is to convert our history into a Western."

"In his hands we may wind up losing," he joked.

Ummm ... I have no idea what to make of this.

March 17, 2004 05:37 PM
4 Comments

I believe the expression is, "Oy, Gevalt!"

I saw this a few days ago, but darned if I didn't think it was a joke...

Pondered by Greg at March 17, 2004 10:14 PM

The Bible is the greatest story ever told and is full of amazing events and people. They are our history and they are the foundation of Truth. Biblically accurate depictions of these stories can fuel a greater interest in the word of God. How is that a bad thing? Anyone wanna watch some Veggie Tales with me?

Pondered by Jeff Price at March 18, 2004 09:43 AM

For Christians, though, 1 & 2 Maccabees are a gray area as far as being "Biblical". Catholics accepted Maccabees and the rest of the Apocrypha as being "deutero-canonical" at the Council of Trent in the 16th century, while Protestants rejected the Apocrypha as canonical, although some have maintained their benefit for personal edification.

My worry with Gibson's interest is that he would be doing a movie primarily just to get the charges of anti-Semitism off his back.

And I'd be up for Veggie Tales. Life is a lot simpler when all you have to deal with is fruit and vegetables. :)

Pondered by maphet at March 18, 2004 10:00 AM

Word is born on the fruits and veggies tip! I was not really treading into the gray area, but speaking more generally of the Biblical drama. However, I do appreciate the Maphet Reformation Update!

Pondered by Jeff Price at March 18, 2004 11:06 AM