Posted on 04/27/2006 11:21:15 AM PDT by lizol
Jewish group slams Polish religious rite as anti-Semitic
April 27, 2006
WARSAW -- A Jewish rights group on Wednesday protested to the Polish government over an Easter ritual held at a famous Roman Catholic sanctuary in southern Poland, claiming that the ceremony was tainted by anti-Semitism.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Polish foreign minister Stefan Meller to discipline organizers of the Stations of the Cross ceremony at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a site to be visited by Pope Benedict XVI during his trip to Poland in May.
Shimon Samuels, director for International Relations at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which tracks down Nazi war criminals and fights anti-Semitism, urged Poland "to take measures to discipline the organizers in order to ensure that this anti-Semitic desecration is never repeated".
Samuels protested against costumes worn by people taking part in the ritual, which he said were "Jewish stereotypes in garb, beards and Stars of David".
The Kalwaria Zebrzydowska sanctuary hosted its annual Stations of the Cross ceremony on Good Friday, April 14, a ritual that involves scenes depicting the Passion of Christ.
The procession draws tens of thousands of the faithful. This year it was presided over by the Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Dziwisz.
"This ceremony contravenes Polish responsibility to combat anti-Semitism under its obligation to the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE]," Samuels said in a statement.
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was a favorite site of Polish-born Pope John Paul II, where he came to pray as a child and that he visited during pilgrimages to his homeland.
John Paul's successor Pope Benedict XVI is to visit the sanctuary on May 27 during his four-day trip to Poland.
Ping
So, when re-enacting history, what should be worn?
That's the point.
I've just seen on Polish TV some idiot from Wiesenthal Cetre complaining and asking something like "do you see today any Jews with such long beards?"
Stupidity at its best.
Great pictures. Thanks for posting them.
Someone should tell the Simon Wiesenthal Center to buzz off.
We Catholics have a right - a God given right, to celebrate our religion and traditions any way we please. Got it putz.
And if you think that's 'anti semitic', too bad.
ps;
Mr Samuels, I find the Jewish religion and its 'traditions' to be anti Christian, offensive to my beliefs, and hateful in nature. So who do I complain to, huh mr representative of the Simon Wiesenthal Center?
pps: I got your anti semitic right 'here'
ppss: Go p*$$ up a rope.
This is hugh and series.
I'm totally serial.
How do people dress when they re-enact the Maccabbee's at Chunnukah?
The fact is, that - following logic of Wiesenthal Centre - all the Gospel could be considered as "anti-Semitic", as it contains many fragments, describing Jewish leaders of that time in not a very positive light.
And the other way round - as you said - many things in Judaism could be considered as "anti-Christian".
I told you that the Cross is offensive to many!
I'm not sure what's going on here. The article doesn't really give enough information.
On the face of it, a simple "Passion Play" shouldn't in itself be considered anti-Semitic.
If Weisenthal feels for some reason this particular "Passion Play" is in itself anti-Semitic for some special reason, he needs to elaborate on it.
In the not too distant past, "Passion Plays" in Europe were frequently followed by riots against Jews, whipped up by fanatic "Christians" who really were just a few generations past howling pagan barabarism.
In the big picture, Judaism is a parent religion to Christianity, Christ was Jewish, and both Jews and Christians are objects of attack by the Islamic menace facing all religious beliefs in the 21st century.
"If Weisenthal feels for some reason this particular "Passion Play" is in itself anti-Semitic for some special reason, he needs to elaborate on it."
They did It:
" Samuels protested against costumes worn by people taking part in the ritual, which he said were "Jewish stereotypes in garb, beards and Stars of David". "
"do you see today any Jews with such long beards?"
Apparently the individual has not been to NYC. What's the difference what is worn today; they were reenacting the Biblical past.
I figure that since the Jews now want to interfere in the religious practices of another Nation that they should also be fair game to be required to change their own practices. Israel does not allow Christians to even offer literature in the Name of Jesus!
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