By Dave Shiflett (Bloomberg) – PBS, alleged hotbed of leftist heathens, will ruffle few orthodox feathers with its presentation of “Jerusalem: Center of the World.” The two-hour special, which airs April 1 at 9 p.m. New York time, will likely win hosannas from true believers of the three major faiths – Judaism, Christianity, and Muslim -- that hold the 40-century-old city dear. Other interested parties will appreciate host Ray Suarez’s dressed-down yet respectful delivery (no robes for Ray; instead a denim shirt and khakis) and producer/director Andrew Goldberg‘s wonderful cinematography and use of traditional and modern artwork. This is an often-told story but also a fresh reminder that humans not only believe some fairly counterintuitive things but are willing to kill and die for them in large numbers. The tale begins with Abraham, a man who heard voices in the night and who today is revered by billions, says Suarez, senior correspondent for “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.” God promised “I will make nations of you,” yet Abraham was to discover the Almighty had, at least by modern lights, an odd way of sealing the deal: circumcision. Even viewers long familiar with the story and practice may discover this segment, illustrated with a grand old painting, sets their empathetic teeth to chattering. You can almost hear Abraham saying, “Lord – are you sure?” The show features the A-List of prophets, saints, and other holy men who have either called Jerusalem home or whose visits became world-changing events, including the heavenly ascents of Jesus and Mohammed. There is perennial favorite David – harpist, psalmist, skirt-chaser and giant-slayer – who moved the Ark of the Covenant into town. “God in effect had entered his new home,” as Suarez puts it. The First Temple, the show says, may not have been as grand as sometimes thought, perhaps 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high – not much larger than some suburban garages. Solomon, who oversaw construction, was not only wise but perhaps a bit wily, according to the film. He was visited by the queen of Sheba who, in some tellings, left town bearing his child. The Second Temple would put modern-day mega-churches to shame. It was the length of five football fields and sheathed in white marble. It was also the last stop for countless sacrificial animals, illustrated by paintings featuring lots of smoke and serious faces. Jerusalem could be a very rough place to be a sheep. And to be a prince of peace. The well-known story of Jesus includes humanizing tidbits of interest to animal lovers. Not only did he overturn the money changer’s tables but freed beasts slated to be sacrificed. He chose to ride a donkey into town as a sign of humility. Yet he would soon discover that Jerusalem can be a tough and unforgiving neighborhood, a fact of life that hasn’t changed. The longstanding disputes between Christians, Jews and Muslims are cited chapter and verse, up to the present day. While there’s little new in the show it shares its subject’s timeless quality and would well serve as a holy land primer for those who don’t know much about history (a large portion of the population). Besides that, Jerusalem has little use for novelty: If it didn’t happen thousands of years ago it’s not all that important. The exception, the show reminds us, is a future event closely associated with Jerusalem: Judgment Day, which will again put the old town center stage. Suarez doesn’t suggest he knows when JD is coming down, though his reporting for this film affirms the belief that it won’t be pretty. (Dave Shiflett is a critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.) To contact the writer of this story: Dave Shiflett at dshifl@aol.com.
