Debriefing The Passion of the Christ
A Guide for Temple Youth Groups
Introduction, Resources, and Thanks
This discussion guide has been designed to help you debrief Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ with the young people in your synagogue so that they can process, begin a path of greater education, and prepare to dialogue with Christian youth groups in your area as well as for when they go to college.
It is highly suggested that the facilitator of this program be a member of the clergy, Jewish educator, youth worker, or other Jewish adult known to the young people in your synagogue.
The resources and materials in this program are only a very basic beginning. There is a comprehensive compilation of resources found at the Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism’s website: http://rj.org/interreligious/pub/passions.shtml that you will find helpful for more information and resources.
Many thanks to Rabbi David Lipper of Temple Israel in Akron, Ohio. Some of the information that appears in his power point presentation (found at the above website) was used in this program.
Goals
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To debrief and react to the movie The Passion of the Christ in a Jewish setting
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To answer some basic questions regarding Passion Plays, history, the Gospels, influences upon Mel Gibson, Jewish understanding of events, as well as current Catholic teachings about the events
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To make plans for further education and dialogue with neighboring Christian youth groups
Objectives
At the end of the program, participants will be able to:
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Articulate their reactions to the movie in a Jewish setting
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Understand what a Passion Play is
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Articulate the history that we do know
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Understand what the Gospels are and are not
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Articulate basic understandings of Christianity
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Articulate the importance of Vatican II and the current state of Catholic – Jewish relations
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Understand the biblical book codification was an exercise in polemics and not the recording of history
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Plan next steps
