Changes

'''Oberammergau''' is a town in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]], famous for its production of a [[Passion Play]] since 1634. The town and surrounding area had been struck by the [[Black Death]] ([[bubonic plague]]) in 1632, and the inhabitants vowed to God to perform the Passion Play every ten years if they were spared the worst ravages of the disease. The play is performed over a five month period in the first year of each decade, and involves almost every inhabitant of the town in some way. Besides the Passion Play, since 1932 (with breaks during [[World War II]]), Oberammergau hosts a 'living' chess game, in which pieces are 'performed' by people.

'''Oberammergau''' is a town in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]], famous for its production of a [[Passion Play]] since 1634. The town and surrounding area had been struck by the [[Black Death]] ([[bubonic plague]]) in 1632, and the inhabitants vowed to God to perform the Passion Play every ten years if they were spared the worst ravages of the disease. The play is performed over a five-month period in the first year of each decade, and involves almost every inhabitant of the town in some way. Besides the Passion Play, since 1932 (with breaks during [[World War II]]), Oberammergau hosts a 'living' chess game, in which pieces are 'performed' by people.

The [[anti-Semitic]] nature of the play drew praise from [[Adolf Hitler]] and in more recent years has drawn criticism, particularly from the [[Anti-Defamation League]]<ref>Hitler, who saw the 1934 presentation, praised it as a "precious tool" in the fight against Jews and Judaism. [http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/Oberammergau/Intro.asp ADL] Accessed June 29, 2007</ref> for its portrayal of [[Judaism|Jewish]] characters. In response to the criticism, some changes were made before the 2000 production.

The [[anti-Semitic]] nature of the play drew praise from [[Adolf Hitler]] and in more recent years has drawn criticism, particularly from the [[Anti-Defamation League]]<ref>Hitler, who saw the 1934 presentation, praised it as a "precious tool" in the fight against Jews and Judaism. [http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/Oberammergau/Intro.asp ADL] Accessed June 29, 2007</ref> for its portrayal of [[Judaism|Jewish]] characters. In response to the criticism, some changes were made before the 2000 production.