Jesus the Jewish Martyr?

By Rich Robinson

As I write these words, a somewhat controversial exhibition is underway at the London Jewish Museum of Art’s Ben Uri Gallery. The exhibition is entitled “Cross Purposes: Shock and Contemplation in Images of the Crucifixion” and, running through September 19, includes works by both Jewish and non-Jewish painters. One critic, Benjamin Perl, complained that they should just call it a Christian museum. “From all the subjects from our heritage, why choose this?” he said in an interview. However, the Jewish Chronicle took on online poll, finding more supporters than naysayers. Co-chair of the gallery, David Glasser, remarked that “what was considered as the most sacred and holy of images—the Crucifixion—has evolved into a universal and generic motif.”

But why indeed? And why in a Jewish museum?

Matthew Hoffman—assistant professor of Judaic Studies and History at Franklin & Marshall College—focuses specifically on the Jewish use of images of the crucified Jesus in his recent book From Rebel to Rabbi: Reclaiming Jesus and the Making of Modern Jewish Culture. (The exhibition in London, on the other hand, includes works by non-Jews).

Though the first chapter deals with the rather well-known story of the Jewish “reclamation” of Jesus as a Jew in Western Europe and America, it was the rest of the book that engaged me the most. There, Hoffman focuses on modernist Yiddish literature of Eastern Europe, much of which is inaccessible to the non-Yiddish-reader but some of which is translated in this volume.

It indeed takes a book to describe the currents of Jewish life about which Hoffman writes. Especially in Eastern Europe, Jews embraced Jesus as a fellow-Jew, not in any Christian sense, but as a way to re-appropriate him from what Jews understood to be a Christian misinterpretation. Not a god, but a martyr. “Jesus,” stated Chaim Zhitlovsky, founder of the early 20th-century Yiddish socialist magazine Dos naye leben (The New Life), “was martyred as the first Jewish socialist revolutionary.”

On the other hand, embracing the Jewish Jesus was at the same time a way to share in the wider non-Jewish world, for adding Jesus to the “canon” of Jewish personalities meant sharing in some aspect of European/Christian culture. Hoffman captures the dual nature of what was taking place: “Did establishing Jesus as a figure within the modernist Yiddish literary canon serve as a way for modern Jewish writers to subvert Christian cultural claims on the figure of Jesus? Or was it merely a way to share in these claims as part of a broader cosmopolitan culture?” (p. 119; emphasis mine).

Either way, “for almost all modern Jewish writers Jesus’ death is understood more within the Jewish tradition of martyrdom than the Christian tradition of vicarious atonement and sacrifice” (p. 125). He is “not … a redeemer, but … the archetypal victim of the world’s cruelty” (p. 152). And particularly of the world’s cruelty toward the Jewish people.

This kind of “re-appropriation” of Jesus was, as Hoffman points out, often polemical: You Christians are the persecutors, and you use Jesus to justify your persecutions. But we Jews know Jesus was a Jew like us, and we know he was not Messiah or Son of God but Martyr, Sufferer, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, suffering as we did. We take him back as he really is, and tell the true story!

What then is a martyr? Someone who dies for a cause, the cause of their beliefs? Or perhaps someone who dies simply for being who they are, because the world cannot stand who they are. Messianic Jewish people, and the Church at large, believe Jesus to be Messiah, Atoner, Suffering Servant, Son of Man, Son of God. “Martyr” is typically considered the mislabeling of others who see him as a victim who did not outlast his political moment.

But is there a connection to the Yiddish writers Hoffman speaks of? Jesus was, of course Jewish. He died for a cause, and his cause was that of bringing atoning healing to the world. He died too, because the world could not stand him just as for much of its history it could not stand the Jewish people. Moreover, Jesus is part and parcel of his people, the Jews. When people suffer, does not God suffer too? When Jewish people have suffered, has not the Jewish Jesus suffered too? Jesus was Martyr, but he was not Victim. The modernist Yiddish writers may have been, in some ways, closer to the truth than they knew.

Movie Review: Inception

Review by Rachel Friedlander

Filmmakers have found a new way to get rich without bumping ticket prices. Instead, they’ve created a movie that is so densely crammed with information and complexity that moviegoers need two screenings just to fully grasp the plot.

The story follows Dom Cobb, a master in his profession of extraction. To perform his job, Cobb delves into the subconscious of others as they sleep in order to learn of their hidden secrets. But when his mind tricks turn him into a suspected criminal, Cobb must perform one final job: inception. This seemingly impossible task involves planting, not stealing, an idea deep within the recesses of one’s mind. In order to accomplish this, Cobb must recruit an eccentric team of subconscious soldiers before the line between reality and fantasy disappears.

Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), has employed quite the motley cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Lukas Haas, Michael Caine, Tom Berenger, and Marion Cotillard. With these names, all the bases are covered. Whether cerebral, emotional, artistic, foreign or thriller film lover, young and old alike will each find a face they recognize, a reason to watch.

If none of these were a draw, Christopher Nolan’s reputation precedes him. But this time, instead of capes and Batmobiles, Nolan attempts to attract by combining Oceans 11 or Italian Job with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Unfortunately, despite its lengthy cast list, Inception lacks the group chemistry that was evident in both Oceans 11 and Italian Job, and much of the emotion that was portrayed in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

But what it failed to do in comparison with others is balanced by how it managed to stand out. The complexity of the concept matched with well-executed effects produced impressive results. If your head isn’t reeling by the time the credits roll, it certainly will during the ensuing discussions the film produces. But the intricacy is executed skillfully—Nolan expects much of his audience, but when we follow faithfully, everything makes sense by the end.

Yet even if one grasps the concept, Inception provides no hard and fast answers. It simply raises questions. At one point in the film, Cobb says, “What's the most resilient parasite? An idea. A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.” Yet this very concept, though it may sound impressively dramatic in a movie trailer, proposes that human minds are swayed by any thought that enters their brains. What a pathetic view of our generation.

Everyday, each human on this planet is barraged by things we would rather not hear, or things we shouldn’t see. This world is perpetually attempting to influence us in one way or another, and thoughts, both positive and negative, continuously enter our brains. Yet we are able, and even more, responsible, to maintain our filter, to shut out what doesn’t belong.

Rabbi Ben Zoma said in the Talmud, “Who is mighty? He who subdues his passions.” True, it is not always easy to tame the beast of temptation, but it is this control that separates us from the animals. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, another Jewish teacher understood this struggle. Paul says: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” He, like any of us, was constantly coaxed by the ways of those around him.

Jesus was no exception. When He walked on this earth in human form, He endured every form of temptation. And, as Hebrews 2:18 states, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Through Him, we have the strength to battle unsavory ideas, to prevent them from infecting our mind.

But because there is no perfect human, sometimes these thoughts take seed in our minds, growing into full-fledged sin. Even then, there is hope. Because Jesus died for our many mistakes, He paid the penalty for when our mind becomes intoxicated with deadly, fruitless ideas. And that is no dream—it’s reality.

Movie Review: Despicable Me

Review by Rachel Friedlander



Following a wave of computer-animated children’s movies, Despicable Me asks audiences to put on their 3D glasses and forget about Toy Story 3. Although they only achieve one of these requests, witty one-liners and a heartwarming theme keep audiences in their seats.

Despicable Me tells the story of aging super-villain Gru, with an accent of an Eastern European and a wardrobe of an emo teenager. In his master plan to be the master of evil, Gru and his Lego-head minions battle his nemesis to pull off the most impressive heist in history: stealing the moon. But when he adopts three orphan girls to unknowingly aid in his strategy, parenthood comes knocking at his mansion of malevolence.

The plot is a tame version of familiar stories and the characters’ faces are seemingly recognizable (wasn’t Agnes in Monsters, Inc.?). But aside from the predictable storyline and often-bland characters, Despicable Me sparkles in unsuspecting ways. The soundtrack, which includes “Sweet Home Alabama” and several songs by rap artist Pharrell Williams, is unlike that of any of its computer-animated peers. And with a cast that includes such names as Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Jermaine Clement, and Kristen Wiig, one wonders whether the movie would have been more entertaining without the computer animation.

Despite the fuzzy feel-good nature of the film, this computer animation also poses danger. Just as this generation tires of the weighty scripts and lengthy scenes of old films, generations to come may tire of releases like Despicable Me. If directors are too dependent on the latest technology (whether it’s Technicolor or 3D) to create success, the interest in the movie will fade as soon as the fad.

In order to last beyond the trend, films must provide us with something more lasting than effects— they must send audiences home with leftovers. Despite the tiresome preparation, the main course of Despicable Me provides enough meat to savor well after we leave the table.

There is a reason this transformation from Villain of the Year to Dad of the Year is a familiar, sugary sweet recipe. We may not steal the moon, use freeze guns on unsuspecting citizens, or cut people off in our steel tanks, but each of us has a despicable nature that needs transforming.

2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Anyone who belongs to Messiah is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” Instead of adopting three, doe-eyed orphans, why not think of ourselves as orphans with a heavenly Father who wants to adopt us? Only he can change us from Masters of Evil to Servants of Good.

Movie Review: The Last Airbender

Review by Rachel Friedlander

Whether a devoted fan of the former animated television series or a newbie to the world of Zen-powered elemental manipulation, audiences will be hoping The Last Airbender is the last of its kind.

The film, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, depicts a chosen child named Aang and his struggle to accept his destiny as the Avatar. This role forces him to put aside the pleasures and traditions of a “normal life” and accept the powers necessary to save the Water, Earth, and Air tribes from the Fire nation.

In an odd mixture of Captain Planet and the Bible, Shyamalan takes epic struggles and universal themes and renders them utterly mind-numbing. Instead of putting on rings of ecological power, the forces of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air perform endless amounts of inept tai chi, making the film feel more like an instructional workout video than a summer blockbuster. Even the prevalence of Biblical elements, which seem to be represented in almost every character and event, fail to invigorate the plot. From the role of a savior to epic battles, from Judas’ betrayal to discipleship, the borrowed elements don’t create any converts.

Although remaining predominantly loyal to the plotline and characters, Shyamalan demolishes any sense of individual personality or humor that was apparent in the animated characters. The only evidence to remind viewers that these characters are indeed children is the amateur acting. With the exception perhaps of Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) and Shaun Toub (Crash, Iron Man), the cast is comprised of faces I don’t recognize and performances I don’t want to remember. These lackluster stars are not helped by the hopelessly tacky lines and unnecessary commentary, which both obscure the confusing and overly clarify the obvious. So, unless one has a soft spot for flying, beaver-bison (Aang’s mode of transportation) or glowing, arrow-shaped tattoos (Aang’s mode of power), I’d suggest saving your money for when Shyamalan remembers his talent.

Any moral fiber that could be gained from the messianic symbolism is drowned in a tai-chi-summoned tsunami (ironically, the most ethical moment was through one such tidal wave, which is used to create peace rather than destruction).

Shyamalan does have the characters utter some dramatic attempts at spiritual revelation. The heroine’s grandmother tells us that Aang will “begin to change hearts” and that it is there that “all wars are won.” Perhaps these lines aren’t so stunning because they’re borrowed from a real Savior. In Luke 6:45, Jesus says: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

From the depths of a cave, hidden deep in Aang’s spiritual subconscious, a creepy dragon spirit is the voice of familiar wisdom. The fire-breather reveals: “You must show them the power of one.” If you weren’t already channeling Captain Planet, you could simply look at John 17:20, where Jesus says: “I pray also for those who will believe in me . . . that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”

The real Avatar—uh, Messiah—can do a lot more than move rocks and make waves. Getting to know him doesn’t require picking him out of an ice globe, but picking up the Bible. And that’s more than Aang can claim, even after hours of tai chi.

Book Review: Jewish Doctor’s Meet the Great Physician

Jewish Doctor’s Meet the Great Physician

By Ruth Rosen
Review by Rachel Friedlander

Throw out your Band-Aids and NyQuil—doctors have discovered a life-changing cure. Jewish Doctors Meet the Great Physician, newly edited by Ruth Rosen, contains testimonies of ten doctors and five patients that will have this “germaphobe” generation dropping the hand sanitizer and reaching for the pages.

These ten Jewish physicians have diverse specialties, backgrounds and situations, with one thing in common: they all have an emptiness they can’t cure. Some stories are quirky, such as that of a former hippie tree-hugger who lived in a remote Hawaiin forest, about 25 miles from civilization. Others are dark and poignant, such as that of the death camp survivor who defied all odds and became a doctor.

Yet these physicians were not always healing wounds and saving lives; they were struggling with broken relationships, health concerns, and spiritual starvation. Each story is ridden with heavy deliberation—no decision was made lightly, no sacrifice easily given. Yet through the encouragement of close friends and extensive personal probing and education, these ten men and women came to conclusions that transformed their lives. We soon discover that the true beauty of these testimonies lie in the painfulness of the journey.

There is a pause in the middle of these testimonies, a section devoted to those on the other side of the stethoscope: the patients. In the span of five accounts, we confront Crohn’s disease, Down syndrome, multiple deaths, and the fear, anger, and denial that inevitably accompany them.

Overcoming seemingly insurmountable situations, these patients are no victims. Instead of depressing us, they inspire us to rise above. One account is given by a man who lost his mother to tuberculosis, his father to a stroke, and his wife to cancer. Instead of dropping into a downward spiral of despair, he said, “In the time since, I have tried as best I could to tell others, especially my unbelieving family, of God’s tenderness and assurances—how he alone, through his son, Jesus, transformed sorrow into joy, despair into hope, death into life.”

Although impressed with the major transformations of these doctors and patients, I was often disappointed with the source. At times, some of the situations or relationships that brought about epiphanies were unfavorable or unhealthy. Yet it is apparent, both in life and in this book, that God can produce divine results despite our human nature.

Despite this setback, the book’s final section provides teaching and closure, addressing several of the questions that may arise as one reads through the testimonies. Susan Perlman makes phenomenal points concerning pain, Richard Harvey adeptly explains the triunity of God, Ruth Rosen outlines what it means to be a Jew for Jesus, and David Brickner offers readers an appointment with the Great Physician.

It is impossible not to relate to the contents of this book. Who has not experienced pain, broken bones or broken hearts? Regardless of the range of one’s skepticism or the size of one’s tear ducts, no reader can escape being moved by these truthful, powerful testimonies, and the Great Physician who prescribed them.

Stories of Jews for Jesus

Edited by Matt Sieger
Available from Purple Pomegranate Productions

Review by Rachel Friedlander

In the most comprehensive collection yet, Matt Sieger compiles 19 testimonies in Stories of Jews for Jesus. This colorful cast creates episodes of laughter and tears, comedy and tragedy, each with an inspirational ending. Although this multitude of testimonies creates an intimidating page count, the pick-and-choose buffet format allows for each chapter to stand on its own.

Between the pediatrician who survived the concentration camps of the Holocaust, the bodyguard who has protected Ariel Sharon, and the lawyer who won a Jews for Jesus case in the Supreme Court, readers will be both captivated and challenged. Instances of drug addiction, family separation, deaths and disease tarnish these shining accomplishments, creating testimonies that are accessible by every human, Jew and Gentile, believer and unbeliever.

Despite their impressive nature, these testimonies are not told in an auditorium. There is no aura of professional sterility. Instead of a podium dividing the reader from the writer, it is a coffee table. With each story, we are invited into the living room of the author to hear their personal triumphs and failures. This "dear diary" format of full disclosure allows readers to discover the emotions, motives and viewpoint behind the stories.

Although the cozy, living room-feel of the collection provides insight, this strength also proves to be a weakness. Much like the nostalgic relative, the occasional testimony becomes thick with fond memories, and teatime begins to run long.

In complementing contrast, three teaching sections provide a fruitful finale to the collection of accounts. The juxtaposition of personal testimony and scholarly considerations satisfy both the right and left-brain readers. The teachings, written by Efraim Goldstein, Gail Simonowitz, and Susan Perlman, address the chapter of Isaiah 53 and the identity and nature of the Messiah.

In addition to providing substantial grounding for the discoveries made in the testimonies, these teachings also create a skillful segue into the conclusion: a call for unbelievers to receive salvation. In the final words of his testimony, Tuvya Zaretsky encourages readers to set aside their fear and pick up the search, because "Truth remains what it is, whether we choose to believe it or not."