Mel Gibson has been offered the role of playing one of the most iconic characters in Jewish religious history. Of course there are Moses, Noah, Abraham, Adam and others, but they were all played many times by Jewish actors. But Tobit is just now being adapted into a film. There is a silent film from the 1920s but this would be a feature length film for theaters and given the potential audience of 1.3 billion Catholics, casting Mel Gibson would send the wrong signal about his past anti-Semitism.

For Jews, the Book of Tobit is one of the most charming and even fanciful tale told about a Jewish family. While the story is known through the Greek Bible, millions of Jews are taught this story through their religious training. Jews know that the story isn't strictly historical (but most probably are not) are used to teach important spiritual and moral lessons.

While the screenwriter is pitching the story as, "seven Jewish weddings and seven demonic murders;" it's more than just that. To Jews it's a sacred wisdom story. The woman in question, Sarah, is a nice Jewish girl from the good Jewish family. She's been married seven times and seven time she's been left a widow. Each groom is slain by a demon (Asmodeus) before they can even consummate the marriage. 

Mel Gibson might think it's a fairy tale, but religious people know that he should NOT be playing the lead role. 

Mel Ginson could play iconic Jewish role

Most of Hollywood will admit that it is an utterly charming tale. But what is often overlooked is that the main characters exhibit enormous moral strength arising from a complete trust in God. The story is a model for our lives.

Mel Gibson should face serious challenges.

All the Times Mel Gibson Has Been Accused of Anti-Semitism and Racism

2004

Mel Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ has been criticized for being anti-semitic, with The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) releasing a statement ahead of its release at the time that concluded by saying: "The Passion could likely falsify history and fuel the animus of those who hate Jews."

2006

In 2006, Mel Gibson was forced to apologize to a Los Angeles police officer who claimed the actor had shouted abuse at him during an arrest, including a claim that "the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."

To little too late, he later issued an apology asking Jewish people for forgiveness.

"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark," Gibson said in a statement per the New York Times.

Mel Gibson continued, in part: "I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a D.U.I. charge. I am a public person, and when I say something, either articulated and thought out, or blurted out in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena."

Abraham H. Foxman, the director of the ADL said at the time: "We're glad that he owned up that what he said was not only offensive, but bigoted. When he's finished with alcohol rehabilitation, we will be ready and willing to meet with him and to help him get rid of his other addiction, which is prejudice."

Speaking about the incident 10 years later on Variety's "Playback" podcast, Gibson said the arrest had been "recorded illegally."

"I was loaded and angry and arrested. I was recorded illegally by an unscrupulous police officer who was never prosecuted for that crime. And then it was made public by him for profit, and by members of—we'll call it the press. So, not fair. I guess as who I am, I'm not allowed to have a nervous breakdown, ever."

2010

Mel Gibson faced backlash when in 2019, audio was released capturing an argument between the actor and his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, in which he launches into a racist, sexist rant against her.

At one point on the tape, Mel Gibson is heard saying: "You go out in public and it's a f***ing embarrassment to me. You look like a f***ing b**** on heat and if you get raped by a pack of n****** it will be your fault."

President of the Los Angeles NAACP, Leon Jenkins, commented on the tirade at the time, telling TMZ: "It's unfortunate a man who has made his millions off of women, African-Americans and Jews harbors such racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic feeling against people who have admired and respected him for decades."

2013

In 2015, Fox News reported that Gibson gave an interview two years prior to former Republican speechwriter Peggy Noonan for Reader's Digest where he downplayed the number of Jews murdered in the Holocaust,

Of the Holocaust, Mel Gibson told Noonan: "I mean when the war was over they said it was 12 million. Then it was six. Now it's four. I mean it's that kind of numbers game..."

2019

In 2019, Mel Gibson shocked social media users when it was announced he will play a major role in Rothchild, an upcoming film chronicling a black sheep's attempt to get back into the good graces of a wealthy Jewish family.

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