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By Jordan Hiller

Protocols of Zion (2005)

There are many reasons to make a film about the growth of anti-Semitism and the impending crisis it may cause, but documentary filmmaker Marc Levin does not seem to chose the right one, or at least he pretends to chose unwisely in his new film Protocols of Zion. By creating a film that begins with the almost irrelevantly asinine question – Did any Jews die on 9/11? – and then somehow relate that back to the belief among a frightening multitude that Jews control everything based on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a fictitious account of Jews planning world domination used to promote hatred for hundreds of years, Levin fails to provide a competent narrative. The film is constantly jumping from one angle on anti-Semitism to another without ever fully developing one perspective or one focused theme. Instead we get a peripheral take on how some Palestinians feel, what a few white supremacists think, and even the average hater on the street. The grossest injustice to Jewish integrity is the final leg of the film which actually justifies the question about Jews on 9/11 by naming one or two Jews who were killed when the towers fell. Films intending to expose a problem are not required to provide a solution and so Levin gets a pass when it comes to merely presenting the many issues and aspects as generally as he could in one documentary, but sometimes when a senseless and irrational act is combated with sense and rationality, it has the potential to make things worse.

I had a chance to speak with Levin over the phone last week to discuss, among other things, a “frum” approach to anti-Semitism.

Q: There is a theme taught in the Yeshiva world simply known as “Esau sonei es Yaakov”, which essentially means that Jews will be hated by non-Jews no matter what they do and no matter how they try to appease them. How does that make you feel?

A: That is very interesting. Other than from the biblical perspective… I am a hopeful person. Hate is part of the human heart. It goes back before Jacob and Esau. We find it with Cain and Abel. It’s wired in. Will Jew hatred ever disappear? I don’t know. I believe in progress and change over time. Look at the Catholic Church which after hundreds of years came out in Vatican II and spoke against persecution of Jews. I think the Orthodox should modify their position and recognize that progress has been made. The scariest thing of all to me is Jews who hate Jews. Like you said, these two were the sons of Isaac, brothers. We’ll always hate each other it seems, but my experience has been that people change. The film is not meant to bring about conversion but to start conversation. I met with Meir Kahane and he hated Jews…he hated self-hating Jews more than he hated Arabs. That mentality leads to the assassination of Rabin and brings about threats against Sharon. Esau sonei es Yaakov is the shtetl mentality, the Diaspora mentality. I come from a more secular mentality and I hope to find a deeper connection to the world. I know there is the concept of tikun olam which posits certain contradictions and balance in the universe. An orthodox rabbi was telling me, “Don’t make the movie, because the goyim will just smile to your face but then stab you in the back.” We don’t live in that same world. I have more of what I would guess is a sabra outlook. There is no reason to pretend we are still in the shtetl. We have found success in America and we should accept that.

Q: Another orthodox concept is that of being a chosen people and an ohr la goyim (light to the nations). Do you think the Jewish people today accomplish that?

A: Excellent question. People see tragedies like 9/11, the flood in New Orleans which a person can see as retribution for a people that deviate and lose their way. It’s interesting…a girl in Jerusalem said isn’t anti-Semitism just a shadow of being the chosen people. Is it about not living up to what is expected or is it the envy and rage for the light shed on us. From a mystic or spiritual point of view I understand that. Instead of Jews trying to concoct a master plan in some Byzantine way like how The Protocols are written, it would have been a debate. In this new world where hate is holy and violence scared we are making zealots, fundamentalism and fanaticism. Jews have a special responsibility to do something because we are victims. We have to fight hate on all levels. Many orthodox use faith and try to lead a good life and be good people, and many could accuse the orthodox of being insular and concerned with themselves. We need to be involved with fighting all hate.

Kabbalists say the quest is the question. Some people say where is the solution? That mystic concept is valid, that the question alone is key to the process. The sense of Hashem has turned into “ he told me she is good for the Supreme Court.” Everyone today tries to speak for G-d. St. Augustine said if you comprehend it, it can’t be G-d. How do we combat that? It is not just a easy solution like if we have a Survivor series and the one with the best god wins. We need to talk. The young generation, we need to teach them about The Protocols. Be preemptive and do it face to face. We need to know our enemy…maybe get in their heads.

When I interview [anti-Semites] they say to me its not personal with you Marc, I’m talking about the “Jews”. They sense a genuine authentic curiosity. That is elemental and a tradition in Judaism, There is a search for truth and knowledge. You guys in yeshiva debate and read and become the people of the book.

Was this at all a religious experience for you?

I am secular, raised secular. At one point the people in the biz said you need an Adam Sandler or Billy Crystal to narrate or show up to make the movie….you know. At one point I thought of an idea, like for a comedy, to do Dude Where’s my Shul?. I met a guy named Shia Robowsky who we end up interviewing at the end of the film to find out how many Jews died in the WTC. ..and he turned out to be a cantor at the Brotherhood Synagogue...and that’s where my kids were bar and bat mitzvahed. And it was like G-d showed me my shul. So I rejoined as a member. I spent the High Holy Days there. It’s amazing how I found my way back….there is actually another story that is not in the movie but you may find interesting.

When Shia (cantor who searched for bodies at WTC) identified remains - because amongst orthodox a widow can be left in limbo - it was difficult because people were incinerated. Shia Robowsky spoke to rabbis an there was a conference call after 9/11 and an issue on the table was: Can DNA evidence be enough to confirm the death of someone. This DNA evidence would change halacha. Shia was actually the expert who said DNA evidence is a concrete way to identify bodies. 9/11 changed 2000 years of Jewish law.