The Pope, Israel PR And Christ Killed By Jews

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.

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

We need to watch our words. They can cut deeper than a knife.

Really?

Come back to me after you've actually been cut with a knife by someone with ill intent, then explain to me again how this young lady's poor choice of words cut deeper.

Are we to assign the same level of censorship to the terms gyp, go dutch, welsh on a bet, etc.? Is it horrible and racist and "cuts deeper than a knife" to recognize the general accuracy of the common sterotypes that Finns and Swedes are stolid and humorless, Scots are cheap, and Irishmen are often drunk? BTW, I carry the blood of all the groups I've mentioned here except the Finns and the Gypsies.

I have read some remarkably evil things said over the years by Jews about non-Jews. Should I extrapolate from these idiots to all Jews, as you seem to extrapolate from one non-malicious remark by an American to America in general?

Have you ever used the term "shiksa" to refer to a non-Jewish female? Are you familiar with the origin of this term? Do you consider someone using the term to be racist? Why or why not?

The Talmud has some highly unpleasant things to say about Christ and Christians. Should those passages be edited out because I'm offended? (I'm not, actually, just amused by some who can see only "offenses" committed against their group, not those their own group commits.)

To get back to "words cut deeper than a knife," what happened to "Sticks and stone can break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

To my mind the words used by others have power to really hurt me only if I grant them that power. The only reason I can think of for doing so is to find a reason to continue to be racially or ethnically offended in a world, or at least a country, that is the most hospitable to Jews in probably their entire long history.

You seem to have a remarkably odd understanding of the relationship between the Pope and the text of the Bible. The Pope has no authority or power to "edit" the text of the Bible. The Pope, according to Catholics, derives his authority from the Bible, not the other way around.

Let us assume your demand for editing of the New Testament were to be acted on. Do you seriously think it would reduce anti-semitism? Don't you think it would tie in remarkably well with the theories of those who think Jews secretly control the world? Would a secret trade in black-market "real" Bibles develop? What would you propose as punishment for those who traffic in or possess such evil literature?

There is a good bit of anti-semitism in the world today. Remarkably little of it has roots in antagonism based on Christian belief. The vast majority is either Muslim or leftist in origin. Do you really think it makes sense to go after a minor and diminishing "cause" of anti-semitism when these other causes are major and growing?

The only problem with that is that the Pope would have to admit that the "divinely inspired 'new testament'" is wrong. Despite the Catholic Church's gutting of Genesis, I don't see this happening.

It is most unbecoming for one religion to ask another to alter its internal teachings . . . outside of an attempt at conversion. But for some crazy reason, proselytization is considered A Bad Thing while dictating internal changes in other people's religions is "social justice."

Instead of asking non-Jews to make a few changes to their religions, Jews should be teaching them the Noachide Laws--period.

PS--Classifying the statement "Jew you down" with mass murder seems a bit of a stretch.

Why a moron? The Vatican and others have denounced the killing of Christ by Jews in the past.
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."

In 1964, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church declared, "We reject the charge of deicide against the Jews and condemn antisemitism." Other denominations, including the Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Alliance of Baptists, while not explicitly addressing the charge of deicide, have issued statements regretting "interpreting our sacred writings in such a way that we have created enemies of the Jewish people."

Please see my initial reply to you.

You don't seem to understand what all is involved in renouncing what has always been regarded as "holy writ." Even though it's not objectively, chrstians have always believed that it is.

One does not simply change millenia-old doctrine in this way (though, as I said, many chrstians do this with Genesis, because "we now know" so much more).

One need not be a chrstian or even sympathize with chrstians in order to see the problem with making such changes. To be fair, chrstians are equally unreasonable in making such demands of the moslems.

A religion is either true or it isn't. One doesn't make a false religion any truer by making a few internal changes. Why not promote the Noachide Laws among non-Jews? Wouldn't a world where non-Jews were Noachides be the safest possible world for Jews to live in?

Your argument is very utilitarian and very secular. You don't seem to understand the importance of religious claims, though please forgive me if I am wrong.

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