NAZARETH VILLAGE HOLDS A PASSION PLAY:

Nazareth reenactment avoids controversy

By JASON KEYSER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NAZARETH, Israel -- Roman soldiers bearing torches and spears emerged from an olive grove, shoving and kicking a stumbling Jesus in a Passion play in his boyhood town, starring a local construction worker.

Wary of allegations that Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," unfairly portrays Jews as the driving force behind Jesus' crucifixion, organizers say their Easter Week reenactment is not about blame.

The outdoor performances by local Arab Christians and volunteers from the United States and Europe take place in Nazareth Village - a life-size replica of a first century farming village built with the help of archaeologists and biblical scholars on a hill above modern Nazareth.

The reenactments, which began last week and continue through Saturday, emphasize the betrayal by one of Jesus' disciples, Judas, and the brutal treatment at the hands of the Roman soldiers.

"It's really important for people to understand that this is the culmination of the life of a man who gave himself for reconciliation. It's not about condemnation," said Michael Hostetler, director of Nazareth Village.

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