Is Avatar good for the Jews?
There's no doubt that it's very good for James Cameron who is making box office history. His latest sci-fi spectacle has amassed the biggest worldwide gross for any film, beating Titanic, the previous feature film also produced by James Cameron.
With so many people seeing it, discussing it, and analyzing every last nuance in it, it's relevant to ask the question that serves as the punchline for the old Jewish joke when the little boy ecstatically tells his immigrant father, “The Yankees won,” and the old man with bewildered expression responds, “But tell me, is it good for the Jews?”
For religious viewers there are many subtle messages in the film that beg for a theological response, be it pro or con. Not surprisingly, the spiritual overtones of Avatar were of interest in Vatican City, where the film was reviewed by Gaetano Vallini, a cultural critic for L’Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper of the Holy See.
In his quite negative review, considered so important that it was reprinted in Catholic journals and newspapers round the world, Mr. Vallini wrote that for all of the “stupefying, enchanting technology” in the film, it “gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature.” Its implied heresy overrides any other reasons to warrant approval for viewing.
Of course I can't speak for everyone (two Jews, three opinions), but this rabbi thinks it's a film you won't want to miss, precisely because of its myriad positive Jewish references and insights.
If Cameron never went to Hebrew school he surely had to discuss his work with a rabbi.
Watching it I had the feeling that if Cameron never went to Hebrew school he surely had to discuss his work with a rabbi. The connections with Torah, Midrash, and Hebrew words are just too frequent and striking to be accidental. And if anyone thinks I and the many others who have spotted the biblical allusions and the Jewish associations are reading too much into the story, seeing more than what’s there, it shouldn’t escape us that as one of those rare films meant to be watched ideally in 3-D, it literally begs to be viewed in every dimension, with keener vision and deeper understanding.
In the theater we have to put on glasses to better grasp the producer’s message. That is a perfect metaphor for our need to come prepared to “see” with what is often called “our third eye” – not just with the sight of our eyes but the insight of our minds.
It is a thrilling intellectual experience to note the little clues to Cameron’s intentions scattered throughout the movie.
The Na'vi
The name of the heroic people who live in the Garden-of-Eden-like planet of Pandora is Na'vi. I’ve had people tell me this couldn’t have anything to do with the Hebrew word navi that means prophet. After all there is no suggestion that these primitives were able to predict the future. But the truth is -- and it seems Cameron knew this -- the root word navi really means seer, someone with the capacity to see more than others. And that is exactly the point of the story.
With all of the technological prowess of the earthly invaders, the humans who came to despoil this new-found planet simply could not see what the far simpler and “less civilized” inhabitants recognized so clearly. The Na'vis worshipped not themselves or their achievements but a higher supreme power. And could it be mere coincidence that the name of the God they revered, eywa, is but the re-arranged letters of the Tetragrammaton, the holy four-letter name for the Almighty that Jews do not even dare to pronounce as written?
Man vs. God
The hubris of man who confuses technocracy with wisdom is a theme that continues to haunt Cameron, just as it was the pivotal premise for Titanic. “This is the largest ship ever built. It is a testament to modern man's genius. It is indestructible. We have finally and fully conquered nature. We are the masters of the universe.” That's what the builders of the Titanic repeatedly boasted before the luxury liner’s maiden voyage. But the iceberg was stronger. God's creation bested man's. Human arrogance was tragically humbled.
It was man the technocrat, in the age of the first industrial revolution of history, who proclaimed God as no longer relevant.
Titanic was a contemporary retelling of a powerful biblical story. Its theme goes back to the book of Genesis and the rebellion against God by the builders of the ancient Tower of Babel. Mankind had just learned how to build bricks, how to erect structures strong enough to withstand forces of nature. With the arrogance of man's first demonstration of his ability not to be totally subservient to the whims of his environment, he fooled himself into believing that he was nothing less than godlike. That was the generation that sought to build a skyscraper so tall that they would reach up and “pull God from his throne.” It was man the technocrat, in the age of the first industrial revolution of history, who proclaimed God as no longer relevant; the genius of human creators was deemed sufficient for ruling the world.
One of the biblical commentators of the 17th century even suggests that the builders of the Tower of Babel were smart enough to build a spaceship that could soar into the heavens, and in that way literally pull God off the seat of his power. That is almost precisely paralleled by what happened when the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, returned from his orbit of the earth and mockingly said, “There is no God. I was in the heavens and I did not see him.” Human arrogance rooted in scientific achievement led to the mistaken assumption that the power of man exceeds that of the Almighty.
Earth's Caretakers
With Avatar, Cameron takes this selfsame message one step further. Man's ego, man's greed, man's indifference to the purity of nature and its creator is a threat not only to earth but to all of the planets that surround us.
In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Cameron explained that he saw his movie as a metaphor. “We’re here, we’re big, we’ve got the guns, we’ve got the technology, we’ve got the brains, we therefore are entitled to every thing on this planet and beyond. That’s not how it works and we’re going to find out the hard way if we don’t wise up and start seeking a life that’s in balance with the natural cycles of life on earth.”
That's a message so crucial to our survival that the Torah repeats it in countless ways. Every seventh year the land is to remain fallow to remind us that we are merely its guests, not its owners. Every 50th year is the Jubilee when every Jew is to spend his time not in work but in study, to reflect upon our spiritual responsibility to ourselves, to our families, and to the world. If we are forced into waging war against our enemies, we are commanded not to cut down the trees of a city. (Deuteronomy 20:19)
The utter rapacity of the human alien invaders in Avatar is forcefully illustrated by the cruel disregard of the magnificent natural setting of Pandora. And yes, they even destroy “the holy tree” worshiped by the Na'vi. A planet like the Garden of Eden with a holy tree -- what a remarkable reminder of the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis which is off-limits to man to teach that God's knowledge is superior to ours.
More Connections
The Na'vi in Pandora have a mountain that “hangs over their heads.” The only parallel I can think of is the famous midrash that tells us when the Jews stood at Sinai and made their commitment to abide by God's laws, the mountain was lifted over their heads to tell them that the consequence of disobedience would be their destruction.
The Na'vi in Pandora even have a mountain that “hangs over their heads.”
The human aliens in Avatar are mighty, with awesome weapons of warfare. The Na'vi defend themselves with primitive bows and arrows. And yet they succeed. And that too is a biblical message: “Not with might and not with strength, but with my spirit says the Lord” (Zechariah, 4:6).
The savior of the Na'vi and the film's hero is, remarkably enough, a man with a physical disability. In the Bible it was Moses, “heavy of speech and heavy of tongue,” who was sent as deliverer. In spite of his impairment, he got across the message. In the movie it is a Marine who cannot walk but who nonetheless leads the Na'vi to successfully defend their way of life and to walk in the way of their ancestors.
Yes, the Na'vi religion with its worship of nature is a little too close to the pantheism of Spinoza to make Jews feel comfortable. Yes, the Na'vis are still pagans, and like the church I freely acknowledge there are ideas in Avatar that are not in accord with our own belief system. But at long last I am grateful for a movie that can serve as a powerful springboard for valuable discussion, for a deeper clarification of Torah ideas and for an analysis of issues that go to the core of our search for spiritual perfection.
(64) Karl, June 17, 2019 1:34 PM
Avatar
Can't you just admire the film for what it is without reading to deep into it and trying to find hidden or secret Jewish themes? Does everything have to be Jewish?
(63) Anonymous, August 12, 2014 7:31 PM
Think this is all about the new religion they're planning to foist upon humanity. Taking a little from here and there and making up this new one religion to fit all. Of course, it all starts by taking from the Truth which is Torah. Trying to repeat the Tower of Babel and which will have the same end. Hollywood & media are conduits used by the powerful. The battle against the Creator has continued from the beginning; and they think they can overpower their Creator. Huh?
(62) mihaltan luana, February 6, 2011 8:53 PM
hi,it´s strange, i argued with some friends,because i meant avatar is a movie about the jewish people,and the tetragrammaton and so forth,now i am verry happy reading exactly the same thoughts,thank you verry much for this article,luana
(61) Anonymous, January 9, 2011 4:10 PM
Those people were naked.
A year ago, Avatar was playing in theaters and my neighbor told me he was interested to go see it. Then he took a trip out of town for a while. I had been thinking I would not go to see Avatar, but while my neighbor was away, I remembered he was interested in it so I thought I would give it a try. I did watch the whole movie, but I did not find it so gripping. What I was thinking while I watched it, is that the animated characters are naked. What if my neighbor's daughter were to see this? She was 13 years old. The problem with the nakedness in Avatar, is that it is fantasy nakedness. What the audience sees is the animator's fantasy of a supposedly grown female with unrealistic proportions and the lean-ness of a pre-pubescent. If my neighbor's daughter saw this, she might be affected by the fantasy body image portrayal. She might comparie herself to the fantasy and feel there was something wrong with herself. I could not recommend this movie to anyone and I feel embarassed James Cameron exposed the whole world to his fantasy of lust. Eventually my neighbor returned, I was eating a meal with him and he mentioned that he and his daughter went to see the movie while they were out of town. And immediately his daughter speaks up "THOSE PEOPLE WERE NAKED." I was unhappy that she had seen the movie, but I was relieved that she showed the Torah sensibility to understand that nakedness is not acceptable, not even in animation. Is Avatar good for the jews? No, it is not good for the jews. You might like to connect the story to the Garden of Eden, to Moses, to prophets, but that does not make it good for the jews. When jewish people go to such a movie it harms them. The harm is the mixing of good and evil into a confused mishmash point-of-view. Mixing symbols from torah together with evil values only makes the whole thing more evil. People watching this movie can be duped into accepting body iimage values that are filthy and vile.
Leah, April 18, 2011 6:09 PM
Unashamed of nudity
I see the Navi from Avatar as humanoid beings from the future. They are not ashamed of nudity and have the mentality of pre-adamic man. Not to mention, they were very mosdest in behavior and showed no lust, but instead the female character required that her future mate prove himself and they are mated for life. The only lust I saw was in the new avatar that had not yet been "cured of his insanity." I aggree, this movie may not be suitable for some Jews (at least not yet). For now, some of us still need to sheild our exposure but for me (I am Baal Teshuva), I saw it as a beautiful interpretation of a race of beings deeply rooted in faith and connected to the universal liiving essence of all things. They respected and honored nature (G'd's creation) but did not worship it. They could embrace nature without being consumed by it. I saw no divide between form and spirit. This is why they were naked. And in regards to the slender, non-endowed figures; I think this was Cameron's intention to demonstrate that these beings have no need to be "well endowed" and are yet simple in form because the intimacy shared between the life-long mates is more spiritual then physical. They do not NEED the full figured fleshy bodies. It is NOT Paganism. I wouldn't even call it religion. There was no need. They were one and could "see." The deeper sense of being was known deep inside and needed no words. The only thing the Navi seemed to lack was greater knowledge outside their dimension but maybe they already learned it and this was their promised land!? When I saw this movie, I was taken with hope that the human race can still invision a peaceful unified way of life where the Spirtual and Physical world live in harmony together and the transformation the main character went through is a fantastic demonstration of how humanity needs to overcome materialism and violence. - Baruch HaSHem.
(60) R' Yonason Goldson, January 5, 2011 12:47 PM
Don't forget Samson
It's worth noting that, according to the sages, Samson, who used his divinely given, superhuman strength to save the Jewish people, was lame in both legs.
(59) Wizzid, June 8, 2010 11:26 PM
No, Simon, it is you who misses the point.
The point is “hubris”. Kind of like a person [take you for example] who for all intents and purposes is illiterate, yet has the chutzpah to criticize a learned man like Rabbi Blech. Yes sir, you sure put him in his place. Stick to your comic books and leave the intellectual discussions to those who have at least been to high school. On the other hand, I must bring Rabbi Blech to task on his reference to Genesis. My Bible calls the forbidden tree “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, something quite different from “the tree of knowledge”. I don’t think God ever wanted us to be ignorant, merely to leave the “moral” decisions to him.
(58) Simon, April 25, 2010 7:06 PM
MISS THE POINT
The strange a wild assumptions that you try and correspond with avatar and the torah in real time really have no backbone and a lame and totally miss the point of the true beuty behind avatar. That g-d created this world with a peice of himself and we should treat it with a higher degree of respect then you would see most jews have today. Us jews are in now better position then the rest of the world for we consume just as much. Id say the story is not good nor bad for the jews just nuetroal and to take such strange links here and there to sqeeze torah into it is just wrong.
(57) Anonymous, April 11, 2010 4:59 PM
Avatar
Syncronism - the mingling of various cultures, so that no one is distinc. Rid of individualism.
(56) T.A. Zev, April 8, 2010 8:15 AM
Cameron has worked closely with Simcha Jacobovici
Cameron has worked closely with Simcha Jacobovici on projects like "The Exodus Decoded" and the "Lost Tomb of Jesus" so there is a connection to traditional Judaism.
(55) Kay, February 25, 2010 2:18 AM
Excellent Work
I shed tears of sadness as I watched Avatar. It portrays the reality that so many seem to be blind of. I thought of the many atrocities that have been iflicted on our earth by the greedy "Takers", (not to mention the native peoples) all over the world.....from Africa, Australia, South America........the natives of the Americas.....and the list goes on.. Though not a Jew myself, I tend to agree with Rabbi Blech, not necessarily from a Biblical point of view but from my own cultural point of view; which is very similar to that of the Torah.
(54) Jay, February 22, 2010 3:42 PM
More similarities
Another striking similarity was the reaction of the people to their holiest place being destroyed. Didn't it seem eerily similar to how the Jews probably reacted during the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem? Great article.
(53) Anonymous, February 21, 2010 6:08 AM
another clue
noticed how the chamman in the movie was called "Tsahik"? i think is too close to "Tsadik" to be a coincidence. also how it was the power of everyone praying together to heal someone, very similar to our practices.how they were all connected to this "energy", being a part of it, as we all have a connection to Hashem. The way they blessed an animal when killing it. ring any bells?
(52) , February 19, 2010 12:44 PM
first, fast comment
I have seen the film Avatar only in 2-D , and very briefly read through this page. My immediate assosiation to this is a story of the conquest and taking of indian land in America, for example the navaho, by you know who... The many different tribes in many (overlapping) places lived on and from the land, their land but not to own. To grow. For no one alone to own. They try to live on a longterm understanding and a close relationship with the land, their lifegiving soil, not a nation or the government. Guidens and community, yes. And a clear sense of the vital connection with nature
(51) Anonymous, February 17, 2010 4:12 PM
sometimes a cigar is JUST A CIGAR!
Everyone walks away from "Avatar" with their own interpretation. From the young child who enjoyed the blue cats and 3D animation to thinkers who believe the analogies they make and define into their own views! You want deep thinking...read the Talmud, you want entertainment, see the movie!
(50) Mark Goldberg, February 14, 2010 2:39 PM
not to be the fly in the ointment, but....
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/02/oppressed-starving-palestinians-big-avatar-fans.html#comments There, at jihadwatch.org, an amazing site to learn from about the ongoing daily worldwide events... the above URL will show the one of many such uses by the self proclaimed innocents- the so-called 'palestinians', in fakeistan, loving the movie because: Reuters photo: "Protesters dressed as Na'vi characters from the movie Avatar march in the West Bank village of Bilin near Ramallah" First-run movies! Oh, the horror! Will those wicked Zionists never stop? That's R Spencer's comment from jihadwatch to the reuters article. He is a very insightful commentator and scholar of Islam, and his comment about the wicked zionists is of course the humorous , the wry look upon the ludicrous nature of article, and the the arabs/muslims daring to make themselves the 'innocent' But that is what this movie is used for by the less than truthful, and less than peaceful, who are decendents of 'submission'. And their leftist friends who likewise believe in changing the world. Not quite what Rabbi Bleich saw, is it...
(49) Anonymous, February 14, 2010 7:44 AM
I enjoyed receiving this and found it very interesting. Thank you.
(48) Eldad Keynan, February 13, 2010 5:41 PM
could be, but more important universal points
Avatar impressed me. In spite of being a Jew, I did not see the points Rabbi B. Blech saw. The reason is that the universal points caught me: the powerful say against the powerful people, who empower others to fight their wars for getting richer. The endless drive, including the former communist controlled areas, for more and more, that will kill us all, this generation or one of the following. Cameron did get the point of endless power in the hands of only one group. The "blue people" did and do represent the absolute justice. And it not necessarily Jewish. We can only be sorry that it is just a movie.
(47) Shaul, February 11, 2010 9:05 PM
NaVi in Sanskrit is the word for the Umbilical Cord- that which connects us to mother- another cultures likely source for Cameron-- which is a beautiful analogy for what their tails connect themto. I can see why a Jew looking through the lense of American Judaism won't feel so at home with the Navi- but in Eretz Yisrael- where is the only where we can possibly be Navi'im- the placing of these Shomrei haGan- defenders of their relationship to land in the onslaught of military-industrial comlex and values that don't recognize tradition, connection to land or the bracha that Hashem gives us to sustain ourselves and all the expressions of life- whose preciousness to the Creator is a clearly-sourced belief- see the gemara on Yismach haShem b'Ma'asav and many others- or the simple fact that haShem has created such an incredible, diverse world where each being is SO dependent on others- a natural reminder to us of our ultimate connection to haShem- but our body- our ability to be in this world (b'shegam hu basar) is part and parcel of this physical eco-system. I'm thinking bar kochba! Chasmonayim ripping apart the ultimate aggressive empires of Edom! Lets not forget- Judaism also stands against colonialism and economic slavery/ dominations. Heseg g'vul- Netzach yisrael of the Maharal says that our redemption will not be complete until all nations have soveriegnty on their lands... b'ezrat haShem...
(46) Michael M, February 11, 2010 7:59 PM
Interesting parallels and a few added thoughts...
I find the parallels you have found interesting. However, you comment, as do many other religious scholars, on the seeming pantheistic themes, as shown by the "nature worship" of the Na'vi. I would argue that: A) Judaism at least partially agrees with a certain degree of nature worship, in having reverence for living things, the kosher way of butchery, etc. as well as leaving the land fallow periodically (as you mention). On top of that, I would also argue that Judaism, as do several other major religions, state that God is in everything, people, animals, plants, the stars, the planets, etc. I find that perhaps this is the Eywa that the Na'vi worship. Not a pantheistic worship, but rather a monotheistic worship that worships an all-encompassing God. Perhaps I am reading too much or too little into this, or perhaps you and others are doing that as well. After all, this is a fictional story, with some very loosely hidden moralistic views. However, the harsh judgment passed on this movie by many religious leaders, one of whom you point out in your article, needs to be looked at very closely, and with an open mind. All this being said, I thought your article was very good indeed. Thank you. I would be very pleased to hear from either the author or anyone at AISH regarding my comment.
(45) Henry Chanoch Brown, February 11, 2010 6:55 PM
Avatar...loved the movie, love AISH
Another interesting line in the movie "I SEE YOU", meaning I see (G-d saw). The Protestants use a name of G that is interesting...Jeh jira...how much closer can the analogy be to the great "Quantum observer" of Quantum Physics. Interesting concept which I would love to see expanded.
(44) Chaya Miriam, February 11, 2010 5:58 PM
tikkun olam
Rationally people can watch or read whatever they wish and find ways to interpret it to fit whatever view they wish in their perspective. Maybe the seeming Jewish-relevant references this author is noticing in Avatar was intentional by Cameron, or maybe not? Maybe the movie is "Good for Jews", or maybe not? Perhaps all of that is too relative to quibble over? I think what is undeniable about this film's story is the underlying fact of mankind's arrogance running rampant over life itself, taking life for granted, and ultimately spelling out self destruction. I don't think you have to be a Jew to GET that and be moved by this film. No doubt that is why this film has managed to out-gross Titanic with such a diverse audience in awe of the story for multiple reasons. But as a Jew, one is going to look at things in life through "Jewish eyes" to some extent... So whether or not Cameron's use of words like Na'vi was meant to be a play on the Hebrew word for prophet/seer (I caught that one too Benjamin) - Whether or not there is any "Torah" in this film (not so sure Cameron would go to such lengths) - I think one echo of truth in this film that could be interpreted by Jews as valuable is relating to Tikkun Olam. I've read articles of how viewers of this film and been so moved by it that they became depressed and suicidal longing for a world like pandora afterwards, even going out and tattooing pictures of Na'vi on their bodies permanently. My reaction to this mentality is "Why the 'woe is us' mindset? That does not get us anywhere. If we want a world like pandora we must work to make our world more like pandora." Gan Eden is somewhere man has been... its not impossible. The question is, are we ready for it? Can we have it without destroying it? Tikkun Olam is the act of restoring the world. To what? Its original splendor? What exactly is that? Perhaps a symbiotic balance of life on the planet with reverence for the ineffable power that is the undercurrent to it all?
Anonymous, March 20, 2011 1:36 AM
A bit too familiar
Chaya Miriam...I think that you are being a bit too familiar bordering on disrespectful to Rabbi Blech by referring to him as Benjamin in your comment. When rabbis enter a room or approach a podium to speak, most people momentarily stand to show respect.
(43) Diane Schmidt, February 11, 2010 5:32 PM
A myth to live by or Cynical ersarz-religion exploitation flic?
hmm. The parallels you draw are persuasive. As a Jew who works on the Navajo reservation, I was seeing a lot more parallels with uranium mining (Unobtanium) destroying the Navajo (Na'vi), and somewhat offended by the protagonist having to be the guilty white guy who saves the indigenous people. The saving grace of the film for me is that it was ultimately the Gaia principle that saved the day, while I sitll find it a cynical exploitation feelie pic. I write about this at my web column, The Albuquerque Judaism Examiner, "Avatar: Cool message but its the medium, stupid" where I invite your comments also.
(42) Anonymous, February 11, 2010 3:21 PM
In response to #38
Muslim jihadists/terrorists go about killing innocent people, the natives portrayed in Avatar are nothing like that! They are only defending themselves and defending what they fiercely believe in, and I actually see it the other way around, as the victory of the few over the numerous, the 'weaker' over the powerful, like us Jews against the world, face it, more than one nation would like to wipe us off the map... In addition to who said that the hero is a traitor, I think you forgot the little detail that this 'traitor' who would have given even his life up as a marine to defend his country, was betrayed when he was no longer useful, chewed up and spit out and his 'veteran' insurance would not cover his operation...sad but so true for so many of our brave veterans today.
(41) Laura, February 11, 2010 1:35 PM
FASCINATING!
Thank you for this. So much to think about and I appreciate your fairness and open-mindedness in exploring the topic.
(40) Mary, February 10, 2010 7:02 PM
I saw other Jewish things, plus
When they killed the Pandora equivalent of a deer, their blessing expressed a Jewish idea that the animal leaves its flesh to the village of the humanoids and serves its purpose and they recognized the sanctity of life even though it is not on the level of the humanoid and there was also the message that killing animals whose deaths could have been avoided is "sad", Jewish values. I saw Dance with Wolves in it. I don't think the review was truthful in talking about the movie as being a fight between 2 US Marines, when the hero is a traitor. I was disappointed that Hollywood made the enemy your average Nazi look- a- like, white, with blond hair, blue eyes and chiselled chin; and with a Southern accent. The movie made the darks the heroes and the whites the bad guys despite the fact that we are fighting a war against terrorism against people who are mostly dark with black hair. More Hollywood cowardice. The heroine was a woman warrior, she was intuitive, spiritual, strong, wise, thin, athletic, courageous & beautiful. She gives the death blow, and saves the crippled male hero.
(39) Nathan, February 10, 2010 6:55 PM
kashering eco-paganism
The movie bases itself on the idealization of the primitive, having its roots in the philosophers of the French Revolution. As you can see from many of the comments, people are associating nature-worship with Judaism. It's re-making our tradition to fit popular culture, and it's wrong. Associating Shemita and Yovel with environmentalism is misleading. And the prohibition against cutting down fruit trees in the Torah is easily suspended, such as when it hurts economic interests. The movie may be technically great, but to give it a religious hechsher is to make the religion traif. This article doesn't belong on Aish because it gives a misleading understanding of Judaism.
(38) Elisa Norman, February 10, 2010 6:14 PM
good points, but there is a more sinister angle
Thank you for your observations. I always enjoy considering the spiritual components of movies and other media. To answer the question, though, of "Is it good for the Jews?" I would have to say "No." This is why: Avatar uses some key phrases that set the theme of the movie as US aggression toward the Islamic Middle East (i.e. "shock and awe campaign," etc.) Compassion built for the natives is compassion built for the "martyrs," who would be interpreted as those who sacrifice themselves to blow up infidels. So we have an interesting switch - the natives, in whom you are finding Torah roots, are actually being portrayed as the Torah-observers' real-life enemies- Muslim jihadists - who are the sad "victims" of American aggression. These "victims" have to appropriate qualities that engender compassion so we will absorb the underlying message of the movie. Interesting for discussion if we understand this, but dangerous if we do not.
(37) Anonymous, February 10, 2010 3:01 PM
Pandora-The World To Come
I recently had the privilege to watch Avatar. It was for me one of those movies "you wish would never end". Your article put into perspective many emotions I experienced during and after the movie (I had even entertained the thought of leaving this world to become an avatar; althought the "tail" might have gotten some getting use to). Your article was fascinating to me because I am in the process of becoming a Jew (for Torah's sake) and it is now clear to me why this movie had such a profound effect on me.
(36) Anonymous, February 10, 2010 12:31 PM
The destruction fo the temple
When the tree was destroyed the the Navi were fleeing for their lives I felt that that was the way the Jews were when the Temple was destroyed.
(35) Anonymous, February 10, 2010 11:51 AM
Realistically...
Realistically, the movie's inspiration is Ursula K. Le Guin's 1970's novella, The Word for World is Forest (in checking the Internet, I was far from the only one to separately conclude this), and very likely, the Gaia hypothesis. There are ideas here analogous with the Kabbalistic perhaps, but in the literal, physical sense of the movie, it was certainly more Pantheistic. "Pandora" certainly is no Jewish reference. I suppose the writer may well chuckle at all these speculations and wonder why no one just asks. Probably we'd all be surprised at the truth.
(34) Reece Aaron Epstein, February 10, 2010 3:32 AM
Rabbi Blech draws the wrong conclusions from Cameron's use of names that sound like Hebrew words. 'Avatar' invokes Hebrew-like words to suggest that the Jews are wrong about the existence of a non-material, infinite Creator. The Na'vi worship a deity that arises from a network of trees on their moon. Here James Cameron draws on philosophy of mind and the metaphysical speculation of neuroscientists. Philosophers of mind try to explain how consciousness arises from a material brain. Think about smelling a rose. You inhale, particles enter your nostrils, your nerves receive a signal and transfer them to the brain. But why is it like what it is like to smell a rose? The firing of synapses does not seem to explain that to us. The secular world cannot agree on an explanation, but does agree that consciousness arises from the vast network of neurons making up the brain, rejecting explanations that involve a conscious soul. That is, the fundamental assumption of today's philosophers of mind is that there is nothing divine that exists to explain consiousness, so we must find a material explanation of it. So in Avatar, we have a scientist who discovers that all of the trees on Pandora form a neural network. Pandora actually has its own mind, which the Na'vi take to be a deity. Unlike Hashem, this deity is generally disinterested and neutral with regards to the inhabitants of Pandora, which it did not create. It didn't create anything, but is rather the subject of godless 'creation!' So Eywah is very different from Hashem. Cameron modifies the tetragrammoton to get 'Eywa' not to evoke support for Jewish ideas, but rather to suggest that we have it all wrong. He thinks we wrongly infer from transcendant experience the existence of something non-material, just as the Na'vi do. And anyways, his moral messages are from the fringe left, corruptions of Jewish ethics as most ideologies are. RAE Philosophy 2010 University of Virginia
(33) Anonymous, February 9, 2010 6:45 PM
Something meaningful for everyone
The church "saw" the movie just as they read their bible, only the words. This film is truly multilayered and I agree with everyone saying there is something meaningful for everyone in this movie. For myself...just like Jake Sully, I left everything I ever knew and believed in behind to become a different person, I immersed myself amongst a tribe I was not familiar with, I was inspired, I studied, I learned their ways and became one of them. As the na'vi say everyone is born twice, so was I, born again as I emerged from the mikvah…I am a ger tzedek. And just as Jake becomes loyal to his people, as a Torah observant Jew, I am being loyal to my people and our holy Torah. Thank you Rabbi Blech and the other commentators for pointing out some of the connections, I really enjoyed reading them!
(32) SUZETTE KOENKA, February 9, 2010 7:42 AM
THANKK YOU FOR YOUR IDEAS AND FOR BRINGING TO GETHER EVERY POPULAR FILM AND OUR TORAH IDEAS. I LIVE IN TURKEY AND WORK FOR TALMUD TORAH . WE USED TO DO A WORK SHOP ABOUT THE FLM MATRIX AND TORAH. I FELT THAT THIS FILM ALSO HAS THINGS TO WORK AND COMBINED TO TORAH .THANK YOU FOR OPENNING THE GATES TO WORK WITH.
(31) Yoseph David, February 9, 2010 6:55 AM
THERES MORE, DEEPER
The great Rabbi, R' Benjamin Blech, for whom I have tremendous respect brings out an amazing point, that whatever inspires us to think, discuss, and search our souls, our Torah, is good! Nonetheless, to add a few small ideas. think about the idea we all are connected, our souls linked, as one unified body of souls. The connection extends to the very fabric of the universe, animals, etc included. The idea that we are able to tap into everything, animals and trees included... The source of souls, tree of souls- could be an idea borrowed from the concept of the kiseh hakavod where the treasure of souls is. The author did mention the idea of navi, seers who can see beyond the surface of life... and thats perhaps what we should strive to see, an alma dshikra, a world of falsity, where the truth is beyond the surface...
(30) nadai, February 9, 2010 3:39 AM
I was in filmmaking for years it is visually interesting but, I do no believe the movied has anything to do with biblical stories, . The story is very political, and only represent American as aggressor and invador. I can not believe how American admire this movie and its director, which i perosnally think he is very arrogant.
(29) Sy Bosworth, February 9, 2010 3:22 AM
A new movie about Jews scheming to conquer the world
The central plot of Sherlock Holmes shows a vicious group of wealthy conspirtitors attempting to conquer the world. As part of their ritual, they sacrifice women on a high altar. On the base of the altar in several glimpses are Hebrew words. What's next? Possibly dialog explicitly naming Jews and citing the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Not in some extremist splinter medium, but in high-budget, main-stream mass media! Can you help expose this egregious calumny?
(28) Terry H, February 9, 2010 1:07 AM
Great article
I too saw the Jewish hints. As one who is in the conversion process the movie spoke loud to me. When the main character made the choice to join the Na'vi he had to turn his back on his past. He also had to learn their ways before he could become one of them; much like all the studying and practicing that we have to do before we stand before the Beit Din. At the end when his old body died and his soul was placed permanently in the other one spoke to me as when the day comes and I come out of the mikvah I will have become a Jew forever.
(27) Sharon, February 8, 2010 5:18 PM
I agree completely with Rabbi Blech
We saw Avatar in 3=D and thought the graphics were beautiful. And the plot was very touching. One of the men who worked on the graphics is Jewish. The Jerusalem Post had an article about him.
(26) Mark Goldberg, February 8, 2010 2:17 PM
response to Iris's review:
Iris said: "Saw Avatar last week, and boy, was I sorry I wasted my time. While the cinematography was nice, the movie was waaaaaaaaaaay tooooooo loooooooooooooong. Both hubby and I looked at each other and said as soon as the movie was over - "Dances With Wolves, but not nearly as good". I am not sure what the real hype about the technology was about, but I thought much of this was accomplished with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a movie I enjoyed much more and was not too long." And that sounds very close to how I'd feel. Oh... I haven't seen it. My 16 yr old did and wanted to leave after two hours. She felt there was something not quite right about all the allusions and the length made her feel as if it was preaching at her, not speaking too her. I let her have her thoughts. As for the variety of comments... that too is good. I totally disagree with the Gan Eden allusions, because I heard Cameron speak and it's not the elevating speech that positive viewers here wish out of the themes... it's more a political disowning of our capitalist world. As to the problem: Shabbas is shabbas and the six days are their own. Dispise the capitalist world- the one Cameron uses to make the whole thing, all the science, technology- the stuff that brought the world out of hunger and earlier death for peopel, and you belittle the six days- not elevate the seventh. And as the saying goes- just my opinion Mark
(25) Rosa, February 8, 2010 1:27 PM
Jewish influence in movies
Great article - I am sure the writers, some no doubt Jewish, were influenced by Jewish beliefs, words, etc. The Matrix is another film with Biblical allusions.
(24) Wassim, February 8, 2010 1:20 PM
IT IS good for the Jews
Anything that makes people think about their conduct is good for the Jewish cause. BTW, I'm a computer programmer and I didn't think there was anything technologically special about it. The story on the other hand was lovely, simple plot, but that's why it hit the spot. There is a growing need in our world for some guidance on "global issues" such as the environment and warfare. The whole world failed in Copenhagen, because they're still arguing over how much its going to cost and who's going to pay (and how are they going to pass on the costs to the consumer!). It's a total farce. Gone are the days of brilliant leadership, unless we get our Messiah in the flesh, so some of us are relegated to learning our morals from cartoons. I also noticed there were 2 trees, just like in Genesis. I disagree that directing prayer towards a tree is more pagan than directing it towards a wall or Mecca or whatever. It's what the tree symbolises, not the fact that it is a tree. Afterall, it may be only a "tree" in our eyes, but who knows what that tree actually is in the world of spirituality. Don't judge a book by its cover. With all due respect Rabbi, I strongly disagree that the Jewish message is to be totally subservient to God. I know I'm technically a Muslim, but it is clear to me that understanding God is the essence of Torah study. Understanding that leads to empowerment, that may in turn lead to arrogance if one isn't capable of grasping the oneness that is somehow available to many at once and therefore cannot be owned by one. It's the perfect uniting ideal and the perfect revolutionary mandate if needed. Nobody achieved anything by being subservient, otherwise we'd all be Muslims by now! Heaven forbid, thank God some of you took matters into your own hands. It is precisely this self-determinism that is central to Jewish survival. The All Mighty doesn't need our subservience. The All Mighty needs us to grow up and take responsibility for everything in our world. IMHO.
(23) , February 8, 2010 1:18 PM
Thanks for this great article. When i saw the movie i also thoyght that it had lots of Jewish themes in it. I don't know if you would agree but i thought that the tree was a kind of methaphor for Bet-HaMikdash. Where the whole nation gathers in certain times and connect to the greater Power with a certain meditation. And the war Na'vis gave to protect their tree (The Temple) against the attacks of big armies of greater technology and strengt is also a very frequent scene in Judaism. Sorry for the incompetence of my English. But i hope you can understand my point.
(22) Mark Goldberg, February 8, 2010 12:58 PM
response to Aaron...
I did not take Ms Schlussels's words without citing her. That is correct useage. And your assertion that posting the 'political' side is a misunderstanding of a torah site, and Aish. You are dead wrong. By muzzling commentary you engage the free speech opportunity by falsely defining what it means to be a Torah site, and what Aish involves itself with. And the article was certainly political as well. And since I responded to the article and you didn't you might ask yourself why muzzling comments is your preferred 'torah' expression of debate and sifting and winnowing to a firmer divinity. Oh, one thing... I poste another finishing the rest of Ms Schluesse's review with it's url- but Aish decided by first one was enough. You are engaging intellectual tyranny by handcuffing others with view differing from yours. And Let's just say that that is 'Your' personal use of 'Torah' .... let others decide how generous and honorable and 'correct' it is. Oh... go read some of the leftist reviews using the movie to condemn Israel and then tell others how this shouldn't be a viable point of discussion. Mark
(21) Brachah, February 8, 2010 9:40 AM
Good article
Tks for the article. I agree with it. It's very deep, clear and intelligent.
(20) Aaron, February 8, 2010 12:59 AM
#2 You Missed the Point
This is a Torah web site and the only time it gets political is when Israel is involved. Your posting of the review Ms. Schlussel is not only a copyright violation but shows you don't understand the purpose of aish.com or this article by Rabbi Blech.
(19) Charles Stanfield, February 8, 2010 12:53 AM
Avatar: A Metaphor for Redemption
A stricken former militarist is presented with an epiphany and comes to comprehend his opportunity for a pivotal role in rallying the tribes to throw off the invader. He literally converts to this culture of shared mind and faith, leaving his broken body behind for one which is a combination of old and new, adapted to the new reality. Once blind, he has come to see. Evil is expelled from the new-found world. Despite its flaws, Avatar affords us a glimpse of Eden regained.
(18) Chaiya-S, February 8, 2010 12:37 AM
There is the mind of a Torah-giant hiding in the Avatar Forest!
Thank you so much for your article. I felt both joy and sadness when so many secular, "aethiest" jews came out of Avatar totally in love with its' world, angry and saddened by its' distruction and completely ignorant as to why it had effected them on such a deep level. I didn't experience the Na'vi as idol (nature) worshippers. I saw them living in Gan Eden. Lets remember that it was not the tree of 'Knowledge' that was in the centre of Gan Eden but rather Eitz Chaim- 'The Tree Of Life'. Torah is our 'Tree Of Life'. We sing it all the time- "Eitz Chaim Hee.." The tree of souls in the Avatar Forest is the embodiment of our holy Torah, before it came down to us in words on Har Sinai. If all the Jews that see Avater and long to live in that magical, moral, other-centered world had a look into their very own holy world of Torah and Mitzvot, they too could be living in the beauty of the Avatar forest and its' people right here on earth!
(17) Anonymous, February 7, 2010 11:09 PM
Absolutely right on; a correct and insightful analysis.
Thanks you for making me think
(16) Anonymous, February 7, 2010 10:51 PM
DITTO
Yes Rabbi, I saw it and couldnt help but see the closeness to the Holy writ I also see what the Catholic view is becuase it can serve as another avenue away from the church/synagogue teachings The qustion is; Arent we responsible for the wellbeing of the world G-D lefet in our responsibility "Let us make man in our own image, let them go forth and replenish the earth"...Genesis....? Toda Rabbi
(15) Orna, February 7, 2010 10:46 PM
Bashert, Zohar, Neshama...Gan Eden.... Yafe meod!
(14) , February 7, 2010 10:41 PM
Whether we call her Eywa, Mother Nature or the All-Mother, we still have to ask Whom does she work for?"
(13) Iris, February 7, 2010 8:15 PM
Movie was a big bore
Saw Avatar last week, and boy, was I sorry I wasted my time. While the cinematography was nice, the movie was waaaaaaaaaaay tooooooo loooooooooooooong. Both hubby and I looked at each other and said as soon as the movie was over - "Dances With Wolves, but not nearly as good". I am not sure what the real hype about the technology was about, but I thought much of this was accomplished with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a movie I enjoyed much more and was not too long. (BTW, I LOVED Dances With Wolves!) My advice to anyone who has not yet seen the movie - don't waste your time. As for the Biblical references, I immediately thought that Na'vi was close to the word "prophet", but did not feel that the Na'vi people were prophetic in any way. And as for respect for the land - how is that worship? The Catholic Church made themselves look like fools with their protests agains the movie. Please, I just hope no Jewish groups make themselves look as foolish.
(12) J.S., February 7, 2010 7:01 PM
Too Pagan for me
I haven't seen Avatar, and I probably won't see it. From what I've read, Avatar seems to be addressing common pagan themes. The term "hubris" is, of course, Greek, and it was a constant theme in Greek tragedy. Whenever man exceeded his limits and tempted/challenged the gods, disaster was sure to follow. According to an Oxford text: "The Greek word prophetes means 'one who speaks on behalf of [a god]'; this appears to be the meaning of the Hebrew nabi, which is derived from the Akkadian verb nabir (to proclaim; hence, the proclaimer)..Other words for prophet in the Bible are ro'eh (seer; which eventaully ceased to be used [1 Sm. 9.9])..These terms [ro'eh, chozeh, etc.] express the prophet's clairvoyance and intimate knowledge of information inaccessible to ordinary humans. Still, it is maintained that the prophet has no natural gifts; G-d alone is the source of his powers and knowledge. Other means of acquiriring knowledge of the occult -- omens, sorcery, spells --are prohibited and condemned as strictly pagan practices." (from Oxford Dictionary of Judaism, p. 548). If the critters in Avatar have a "natural gift" of "seeing", isn't that Pagan? (not to mention the "worshipping of a tree...")
(11) Linda, February 7, 2010 5:50 PM
You've convinced me!
Despite all the hype, (or more correctly because of it) I'd decided not to see this movie. Your excellent and extremely insightful article has now convinced me otherwise. This movie is obviously multi-layered, each layer offering its own message and I look forward to the intellectual challenge Thank you
(10) Alma Jones, February 7, 2010 5:43 PM
I totally agree with the aothor's opinion of the movie Avatar. I looked at it, as that way too in a sense, and it makes me angry, that even though it's only a movie, we humans, think that we can go anywhere, and just try to take over, and when we can't, we destroy. It is the same as in religion, when we(humans) can't convert indigineous people into our ways and religion, we attack them . who are we to say what or whom , a people should worship? That is my issue with the world today, It's not about God, but whose religion is right, and whose is wrong. I believe in God, and would like to find a place to worship, but am not sure where i fit. I was raised a catholic, then later introduced to christianity. I no longer believe in the catholic faith. So where does that put someone like me?
(9) Anonymous, February 7, 2010 5:07 PM
Yuri Gagarin's remark
Re cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's remark that while in orbit he did not see G^d: I've heard the observation made that "If he had stepped outside of the capsule while in orbit, he would have!"
(8) Avraham Broide, February 7, 2010 4:46 PM
Universal symbolism
The film is more likely based on universal human symbolism than on Torah symbolism. Holy trees, mountains, and the little guy beating the big guy are universal concepts. As for the similar words, the best way to find that out would be to ask Cameron, and his answer would probably be negative.
(7) Yitzach, February 7, 2010 4:38 PM
this is a very fair, even handed review.
Dear Rabbi Blech, I found your review very fair and open-minded. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you.
(6) Sarah, February 7, 2010 4:19 PM
Avatar and Chassidut
my first reaction when I saw Avatar was "wow, this movie has Chassidut in it". On Pandora (the alien planet) there is an energy and life force that runs through all of the plants and trees (it works much like synapses between neurons in the brain) on the planet that the Na'vi (natives) can tap into. and the Na'vi's spiritual experience/praying involves connecting into this network of energy. Chassidut teaches us that G-dliness permeates creation and all of Hashem's creations are connected through this even though we cannot see these connections. Through performing mitzvot, our spiritual experience we are able to "tap into" the Divine. Yes, the movie does also have pagan and other non-Jewish religious ideas. Maybe James Cameron put this and some of the other ideas above in on purpose or maybe it's just a testament to the univesal nature of Jewish ideas.
(5) Adael Levy, February 7, 2010 3:49 PM
Great Article
Thank you so much for this article. That is why I'm very proud to be a Jew we always open to new things, and always look for the best in everything....
(4) Mark Goldberg, February 7, 2010 3:42 PM
Is is good for the Jews...?
The naivite' of thinking that the concepts of the Torah... it's themes will bring people closer to Jews, Israel, is an ever ongoing blindness. Here's the Left's religious view: James Wall editor of the Christian century mag said this about Avatar: Naturally, an old-time Religious Left icon like James Wall would joyfully discern political metaphors in a film whose audience cheers for resisting natives against invading Americans. The native aliens could be Vietnamese, or Iraqis, or virtually any favored Third World victim group of American imperialism. But Wall preferred to imagine that “Avatar” illustrates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan. “What viewers of Avatar discover is that the film immediately suggests the oppression of Native Americans by the U.S. government, because the Na’vi [the alien natives] and the land on which they live share a spiritual bond,” Wall opined. “The film also evokes the Vietnam War because the setting of the military struggle is a lush jungle. Gaza, Afghanistan and its neighbor Pakistan, are mountainous; there are no jungles. The dominant indigenous religion of Gaza and Af-Pak is Muslim, but like the Na’vi, the inhabitants live on land the outside invaders wish to control.” Tell me... does that sound like it's 'good for the Jews? Of course not. And Rabbi blech missed that entirely, about the ideology of the movie and of the 3rd rate 'theft' of the ideas that are parsed in the movie as 'progressive', liberating etc. They won't give the 'chosen' people any credit. Just the opposite.
(3) Anonymous, February 7, 2010 3:09 PM
Fascinating
This is one of the most interesting articles I have read!
(2) Mark Goldberg, February 7, 2010 3:09 PM
Is Avatar Good for the Jews??
Here is a much better review by Debbie Schlussel: Don’t believe the hype. This bloated, highly overrated movie is none of these . .“Avatar” is an incredible waste of time. It’s essentially a remake of “Dances With Wolves” and every other movie where we evil Americans terrorize the indigenous natives, kill them, take their land, and are just all around imperialistically wicked and inhumane. Oh, and we’re destroying the environment, clearing precious giant trees and natural landscapes and killing rare animals and their habitats, in order to invade and harvest valuable substances under the ground. Sound familiar? Yup, just like a million diatribes from Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, and every other far-left outlet about how we invaded Iraq for oil. Yes, “Avatar” is cinema for the hate America crowd.And, like “Dances With Wolves,” there is, of course, the standard stock White male and/or human character who “becomes one of them” and sympathizes with their plight, begging the evil humans–or evil Americans, take your pick–to stop the invasion, destruction, and wholesale theft. The story: Sam Worthington (who was fantastic in “Terminator: Salvation” – read my review) plays Jake Sully, a paraplegic U.S. Marine, who was injured while at war. His twin brother, who died under other circumstances, was a scientist and part of a government project developing “avatars” for interaction with the native race of the planet Pandora (wow, what an original planet name). He’s not actually working for “the government” or “the military,” but a contractor a la Blackwater. Yes, the propaganda is that thinly-veiled.The U.S. has invaded Pandora to harvest a valuable mineral beneath the earth. It is using the avatars–beings comprised of the mixed genetic material of their human operators and the alien race on Pandora–to communicate with the natives and try to get them to cooperate and sympathize with the human goals. See the rest of the review online... too long to post here.
(1) sonia, February 7, 2010 3:00 PM
a lot of levels, this movie has
I saw it last week and was surprised at all the levels in the script for every viewer. The young boy sees the adventure, the ecologist finds his path in the story, the political fussers will note that both the good guy and the bad guy are U.S. marines, new age girls will love it, those who study myths and archetypes too, lovers of adventure comics of the 80s... but I had missed the Jewish line, too! A very complex film, and very interesting.