Word: strober
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Dates: during 1973-1973
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When the movie version of Jesus Christ Superstar opened in New York City this month, Jewish organizations were outraged. Most outspoken was the American Jewish Committee. The committee's watchdog for anti-Semitism in Christian materials, Presbyterian Gerald Strober, called the film "much worse" than the play. For one thing, said Strober, the mob at Jesus' trial is specifically labeled as "you Jews" in the film script. And as on the stage, the Jewish high priests are deep-dyed villains...
...Jews "has lost its power" in the U.S. But, he said, it is still a danger to Jews in some countries where the film will be shown. Actually, the film is such a screaming, witless enterprise (TIME, July 30) that religion and stereotypes aside, it probably deserves Strober's appraisal as a "catastrophe." In other respects, the criticism seems exaggerated; it is doubtful that anyone not already a confirmed bigot would be swayed by the film. As for criticizing the Temple's high priests, Superstar is hardly the first to do that. Far angrier words against the priests...