I recently attended a screening of Marc Levin’s “Protocols of Zion” on behalf of Jewschool, and I suppose I got some things to say. But before I do that, I must point out a couple of things:

1. Jewschool makes a brief appearance in the film when an article is shown referencing the famed Jooglebomb. Huzzah for Jewschool!
2. Given that the movie has Jewish content and was released in 2005, the remarkably ubiquitous Matisyahu shows up. How does he do it?

In the aftermath of 9-11, an unbelievable number of conspiracy theories about what had actually happened began to filter through the internet, and there is of course the one with which many of us are more than familiar:
The Jews did it!
Levin begins his journey from this accusation/theory, and he makes it a personal one by bringing his father along for the ride. The film is dedicated to exploring the modern rise of Anti-Semitism in the world in the post 9-11 era, and Levin juxtaposes this with the concurrent rise in sales of the famous old anti-Semitic document, “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion”. Along the way he talks to some of the biggest fans of the Jewish people, including a member of a white power organization who originally thought that Jews were ok, that we’re just white people with a different religion. (He changed his mind once he read the Protocols, incidentally). Other subjects in the film include Frank Weltner of Jew Watch fame, Palestinian youths in New Jersey, and a former anti-Semite residing in Trenton State Prison. While everyone encountered in the film was not necessarily a hater of Jews, if you will, Levin’s interactions expose us to a multitude of opinions about how Jews function in the world today.
Also covered were events that have raised Jewish eyebrows in the past couple years…a speech by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Muhammad, claiming that Jews run the world by proxy, the all too familiar issue of a certain film by Mel Gibson, and then, of course, good old Abe Foxman holding a press conference about Mr. Mel.
Throughout the film, Levin encounters many of his subjects with straightforward and legitimate arguments, attempting to break down much of the illogical prejudice, and meeting with very little success. He travels from person to person with a look of absolute incredulity about him, and it is more than justified. To see the film is to ask the obvious question: how can some people really think and believe such nonsense in light of rational evidence to the contrary?
This is a movie well worth seeing for people of any religious background. It highlights the senselessness of hatred in our world, and more importantly, show us that people will usually believe whatever they need to in order to continuously justify their world view. It’s painful, provocative, and important. And while I could have lifted that from rottentomatoes.com, it’s the truth. The film has difficult moments and touching ones; there were times while watching the movie that I was truly scared to be a Jew and others that reminded me of why I am so proud to be one.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion that certainly had its moments, but like many panels of the sort, was a bit short on time. However, it did highlight the importance of proper interfaith dialogue. One moment worth sharing: Rabbi Abraham Cooper, of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, recounted an encounter in Japan during which he taught a group that the Protocols document was a forgery. Upon the completion of his presentation, an audience member thanked him for explaining the truth about the Protocols and then proceeded to ask the following question:
“If that’s not what you are doing in your synagogues, then what are you doing?”
And so I realized how important it is that we continue our mission to represent ourselves in the world properly. A Jewish woman at an Iraq protest in the movie summed it up cynically but accurately when she said, “We’re screwed no matter what side we take, so it’s important that we take the right one”. Or as it says on Marc Levin’s grandfather’s tombstone:
God means — Go Do Good. I think that pretty much sums it all up.
(One point about the movie: It does not take the time to seriously address the falsehood of the Protocols. I recommend boning up on that before you see the movie. The full story can be found in delicious comic book form in Will Eisner’s “The Plot”.)
All in all, I would say, if I had the rate the film, 4.5 knishes out of five. And I don’t mean the kind you get at a hot dog stand…I’m talking Yonah Schimmel here.