Posted on 05/21/2014 5:12:03 PM PDT by IsraelBeach
The Pope, Israel PR And Christ Killed By Jews
By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
After living in Israel for over 25 years and consulting the government on both public relations and public affairs, I may have truly found the major source of conflict against the Jews and Israel.
It took coming to the US for three years and seeing the United States as an Israeli and as an American. You see, we don't have anti-semitism in Israel. We only have war. Anti-semitism is much more covert. Much like an iceberg, only a very small part is visible to the eye. In fact, the ADL recently revealed that one of four people worldwide hold anti-semitic views. But most are silent about it and keep it to their family and friends.
It was about one year ago that I went to exchange some money at a very well known, commercial money wire company that I heard it. As I was waiting for my change, the clerk said to me: "don't worry, I won't Jew you down." I have heard of this expression being used but never had my own ears receive it. This combat solder from the IDF does not tolerate attacks on Jews. I had to ask her again what she said. "Don't worry, I won't Jew you down." With that I responded: "If you made that comment to a Jew, I think they would find it very offensive."
With that her face turned white. She was visibly embarrassed and explained that it was "just a saying." I believed her. But such a racist attack which has become "just a saying" is about as dangerous as it gets.
When you live in Israel, you read about anti-semitism. You don't experience it. When living in the US or Europe, you might just see it. But where does it come from?
As Pope Francis is about to arrive in Israel, the Israeli government, in particular, Prime Minister Netanyahu have a very special opportunity. Netanyahu should reguest that the Pope denounce any belief that the Jews killed Christ.
Actually, it is not a rumor, but is written in the New Testament.
In the Gospel of John, the phrase "the Jews" is used at least nine times to denote those who encouraged and assisted in Jesus' execution. In the Book of Matthew (27: 25-26) the Jews accept responsibility for the execution. When the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate hesitates over deciding Jesus' fate, the Jews assembled before Pilate demand that Jesus be crucified, proclaiming "His blood be on us, and on our children." It is these words that Catholics and Christians are taught. And our Islamic enemies attempt to divide Christian and Jew with these words.
We have no greater friends in the world than modern day Christians. Just look at the millions who belong to the Facebook group: "Christians United For Israel".
If the Pope can openly denounce this blood libel, and state that these gospels are not accurate, it would bring much more harmony between Jews and Christians and could eliminate much of the source of anti-semetism.
To have Pope Francis denounce Jews killed Christ would follow and reinforce a precedent. Several Christian denominations have denounced the claim that the Jews killed Christ. In 1965, the Second Vatican Council issued the Nostra Autate statement, which declare that "what happened in His [Jesus'] passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today."
If Pope Francis can openly declare to all publishers and teachers of the bible to delete those sentences which condemn the Jewish nation, then we will see a more peaceful world. Less hate, more understanding and support for the democratic State of Israel.
After all, there is no nation in the Middle East which is more democratic and tolerant to Christianity, and openly enforces the basic, human right of freedom of religion.
Joel Leyden is the publisher of the Israel News Agency and operates IsraelPr.com, JewishPr.co
Could it simply be translation error ?shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Why do you call Jesus “Christ”?
Does the author not know that it means God’s annointed ?
“That’s because “modern day Christians” understand that someone that could raise himself from the dead was not able to be held to a cross by a couple of nails. It was his love for all mankind, and all our individual sins. As we say, if you want to blame someone for Jesus’s death blame me, it was my sin he was paying for on that cross. “
Excellent! Exactly what I was taught as a child.
No kidding!
This man is an over-sensitive idiot.
My father used this expression occasionally, not because of any intent to be offensive, or for that matter because of any anti-semitic animus, but because it was a common expression when he was growing up. He told me he was actually an adult before he realized that there was a connection between the verb "to jew" and the Jewish people.
Turning my dad into some kind of anti-semite because of a simple turn of phrase that is used with no ill intent at all is ludicrous.
I also doubt the author's story. I haven't heard this expression used, at least in public and unironically, for at least a decade.
The notion that something that is just a saying, and one that is archaic, somehow tells us something significant about America is truly idiotic.
Very well said!
The author is an idiot. He is attempting to foment anti-Semitism, not combat it.
It isn't libel, if it's true. Not ALL of the Jews were complicit in Jesus's death, but some of the most important Jewish leaders of the day certainly were, and conspired with Rome to crucify Him. Just because some Jewish leaders were threatened by Jesus, and conspired to have him killed to make sure He didn't threaten them anymore, doesn't make me hate Jews of today. I frankly don't know any Christians who DO hate Jewish people, so it seems there hasn't been some sort of attempt by the Church to make me hate them.
Except the Irish. They're too drunk to care.
The only people responsible for the substitutionaryshalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
death of the Lamb of G-d are those who have accepted
Yah'shua as their savior.
Antisemitic incidents have been a problem in Israel and have come from Russian, German and other cultures at various times. Promoting idolatry in any way is wrong.
By the way, sentiments against the people of Israel will be stopped in time. Hopefully, that time will come soon. For those who are comfortable and afraid of toughening change, the coming of that time cannot be slowed. It can only be hastened by those who erroneously wish to put it off.
Very true. It was common while I was growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s to hear some say “He jew’d me out of it!” No one I knew of had any idea it had anything thing to do with the Jewish people. We thought it was slang for gypped. We didn’t even know any Jewish people outside of the Bible.
Now that there is funny.
"Gypped" is of course equally an ethnic slur, on the Gypsies.
For some reason it's a good deal more common than "jew down" and widely considered less offensive.
My boss once, in a training session, casually used the term "Jewish lightning" to refer to arson.
Unfortunately for him, there were a couple of Jewish guys in the group we were training, and they went straight to the CEO of the company with their complaints. LOL
Now that there is funny.
"Gypped" is of course equally an ethnic slur, on the Gypsies.
For some reason it's a good deal more common than "jew down" and widely considered less offensive.
My boss once, in a training session, casually used the term "Jewish lightning" to refer to arson.
Unfortunately for him, there were a couple of Jewish guys in the group we were training, and they went straight to the CEO of the company with their complaints. LOL
100% correct. The writer surely knows that the Pope cannot simply strike out sentences from the Gospels. He is trolling for reactions.
Secondly, blaming only Jews for the death of Jesus is a nice way to whitewash the blame -- truly speaking ALL of us: Jews, Christians, non-Christians etc. are the ones who killed Him with our sin
Looking at the purely temporal, then a Jewish crowd led by the Priestly council wanted this trouble-maker, possible heretic dead. They petitioned the Roman authority who actually carried out the Crucification.
Netanyahu should reguest that the Pope denounce any belief that the Jews killed Christ. -- earlier Popes have denounced the idea of blaming only Jews as "Christ killers" -- and that is correct.
The only thing worse than being a racist, is denying that one is a racist. You do not define someone by race. That it was a "common expression" is no excuse for using it. Are we to allow racist comments to become "common"?
The Nazis would also say that I was a "over-sensitive idiot". Try using this racist expression to someone wearing an Israel Defense Forces uniform.
Watch the words you use in everyday conversation and delete those words which offend or discriminate.
Educate people not to use hate speech!
Being a racist, defined by you as occasionally using a racially-originating term without malicious intent, is the absolute worse thing a person can do, except of course for denying that one is a racist.
Really?
My Dad, occasionally using such a term without ill intent, was "worse than" a child molester, a mass murderer or a rapist? Do you really care to stick to your guns that being "a racist," especially by the very mild definition you insist on, is the very worst thing a person can be?
If so, perhaps you'd care to explain this remarkable assertion?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.