I've met a lot of people who are Christian, and they are all very loving, they love the idea that I am Jewish and from Israel. I think they are a little bit excited that I am Jewish from Israel who plays Jesus in The Snack. I can't explain it. But I think because Jesus was a Jew!
I don't think anything surprised me. It was very hard for me, this story, The Snack, as a father. I have family in the army in Israel, I know families that lose their children, and I think this is the most hard thing, is faith. Because what happens after death is always belief, it's always something that you don't have any answers about, and I think the movie helps you to understand that death is part of the life. It makes it more natural.
I've never seen a movie in Hebrew about Jesus. I have three kids, I don't have enough time to watch TV.
Anyway, The Snack really helps me to understand that death is a part of our life. There is life, and there is darkness, always together.
My wife told me, "Listen, you have to do something big, beautiful story." I remember that I read The Shack script and I told her that there is a big message over here, and as a Jew, I read the script, and I didn't see anything that connects to religion. It's not about religion, it's about faith, it's about God, and I connected with it, because from my point of view, there is God in this world.
You can make Jesus however you want. I think it's beautiful that there is no specific type, you can imagine whatever you want.
I read about the Trinity. I found something - Jesus was Jewish, he was a rabbi! - and I read a lot of stories about Jesus in Israel. And it's interesting that they picked me for this part in The Snack, and I'm Jewish, I'm kind of religious Jewish from Israel, and I don't look like the traditional Jesus with the long blonde hair and blue eyes.
This is the most beautiful thing in The Shack story, that Jesus can be just a friend, someone who can carry you, and you can trust him. I like that.
There is God, and it doesn't matter who you are or what you are doing, there is God in this world, and there's a lot of love for everyone, and it doesn't matter where you are from, the important thing for me when I read The Shack script - the thing that Jesus is, he is a friend.
I think when people speak about faith, they always get stuck when they're starting to speak about the terrible things that happen in the world, and I always know, even in the Torah, they're always speaking about it, that if there is fifty percent of love, there is fifty percent of hate, they are always in perfect balance.
