Passion plays are dramatic renditions of Christ's arrest, trial, lashing, and crucifixion (and often other elements of his life such as the Resurrection).
The first recorded Passion Play, the one that began a tradition still practiced today, was in Oberammergau, Germany, in 1634.
Devastated by the Bubonic Plague in 1633, the people of Oberammergau made an oath to God, hoping to spare the village. They vowed that if saved, they would forever perform a "Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ" every ten years.
"Poisoning the Well"
- The "Blood Liable" charge that Jews used the blood of Christian babies to make Passover Matzah.
- Jews spread the Bubonic Plague (Black Death). This is rooted in the 14th century accusation that Jews poisoned public drinking wells to purposefully spread the disease.
Passion plays can convey anti-Jewish sentiments in a number of ways. As recently as 1984, the Oberammergau Passion Play, for example, dressed some of its Jewish characters in horned costumes which represented the Jews’ conspiracy with the Devil.
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| Henry Ford, recognized as a renowned antisemite, attending performance of a Passion Play in 1930. |
Oberammergau’s history of Nazism casts significant shadows over its Passion Play. Hitler attended the 1930 and 1934 productions, and proclaimed in 1942 that it represented the “muck and mire of Jewry” so “convincingly” that it should continue far into the future. In addition, the conservative Bavarian village housed a number of Nazi supporters, many of whom were highly active in the play’s leadership during – and even for decades after – the Nazi era.
Efforts To Reform the Play
Modern critics stress the need to reform the Oberammergau Passion Play to mitigate the potential of leading to hatred of Jews.
For the 2022 play, the American Jewish Committee convened an Academic Advisory Group led by their Director of Interreligious and Relations, composed of experts in the play, Christian-Jewish relations, New Testament studies, and German-Jewish relations. This group was created to recommend, through ongoing dialogue, paths by which the play's leadership can further advance a decades-long process to rid the play of any lingering anti-Jewish tropes. (Some of those Recommendations are listed in the epilogue below.)
The Nuance of the Gospels is a Complicated Thing
To be fair, the Christian Gospels do include details concerning the Jewish leaders' role in Jesus's trial and crucifixion which are hard for most Jews to accept. There are additional scenes which portray the corruption in the temple during Herod's reign. So it is understandable for those aspects to be in the play.
What's more, evidence from Jewish historical sources strongly indicate that corruption was a significant issue during Herod's time as King during the 2nd Temple period which impacted the functioning and perception of the Temple. Therefore, it can be said the play is being truthful to the Gospels.
By the same token, Jesus was a Jew who loved the Jewish people. Furthermore, Jesus preached love, not hate, from the Hebrew scriptures. The apostles and the earliest disciples were Jews.
In my personal opinion, Jesus would be exceedingly unhappy with a message that fosters hatred of Jews. In Germany is was called "Judenhass" before the term "antisemitism" was created in the late 1800's.
Check out: Why Christians should pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
All of which goes to show how nuanced and complicated the story of Jesus really is. It also goes to show why their are so many challenges with presenting a Passion Play.
It behooves any organization doing a Passion Play to be highly sensitive to the terrible pain & suffering that Jews have faced throughout the last two millennia due to the hatred.
Sources:
Here is a link to more information and facts about the Oberammergau Passion Play from the American Jewish Committee.
Link to an article called "Passion Play enter a new era" in Religion News Service.
In Closing
It is my hope that the upcoming Passion Play performance in Poughkeepsie has made sensitive adjustments to their production. Perhaps even a public statement can be made to the audience to promote greater sentivity on the subject of antisemitism and the love Jesus has for his Jewish Brothers & Sisters.
Consider what the heart that the Apostle Paul expressed in Romans 9:1-5.
Epilogue
Below is a list of some of the ways Jewish concerns over the Oberammergau Passion Play are being addressed:
- Emphasis on Jesus' Jewishness: More recent productions, including the 2010 and 2022 versions, have aimed to highlight Jesus' Jewish identity, portraying him as a Rabbi who recites Jewish prayers and practices.
- Responsible portrayal of Judas: The character of Judas has been reinterpreted in an effort to reduce stereotypical associations, presenting a more nuanced depiction.
- More nuanced depictions: The plays now aim to present a more diverse picture of the first-century Jewish community, including Jesus' supporters, and emphasize Pontius Pilate's role in the crucifixion.