Controversial New Mel Gibson Film

Actor-director-film producer Mel Gibson (born 1956 in New York as Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson) has become quite controversial in the last few years.  He recently added to the controversy when he announced his plans to produce, and possibly star in, a film based on the life of Judas Maccabeus.

Judah the Hammer)

יהודה המכבי

Judas (aka: Judah Maccabee, Y'hudhah HamMakabi, Judah the Hammer) was born in Modiin, Judea (now Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, 35 km (22 miles) southeast of Tel Aviv and 30 km (19 miles) west of Jerusalem).  He was a son of Mattathias, a Jewish priest who defied an edict by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes who had declared Jewish worship to be illegal.  Mattathius started a revolt and then died in 166 BC/BCE.  His son Judah assumed leadership of the revolt and became legendary for his military prowess.  His nickname, "the Hammer," probably refers to his use of rapid hammer-strike guerilla tactics in battle.  The Jewish feast of Hanukkah ("dedication") commemorate the day in 165 BC/BCE when Judah removed Antiochus' pagan statues from the temple in Jerusalem and restored Jewish worship.  


The Jewish Anti-Defamation League  has said, "As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better."


Why would the ADL be so upset?  Because Mel Gibson has been accused of adultery, alcoholism, racism, and anti-Semitism.  During his 2006 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol he yelled racist and anti-Semitic remarks, loudly and repeatedly.


Gibson is a traditionalist Roman Catholic and is described as politically ultraconservative.  In my opinion, he is a man who truly believes in Roman Catholicism but who has failed to make his life match his beliefs.