Posted on 12/14/2007 7:25:59 AM PST by Between the Lines
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - The sale of Nativity scenes with a wall running through the middle to symbolize Israel's security barrier borders on anti-Semitism, Jewish groups are saying.
The Amos Trust, a British Christian charity that works with needy communities around the world, is selling the traditional Nativity sets with a political twist, noting that the wise men won't reach the stable because of the wall. The Amos Trust says its Nativity sets are made by Palestinian carpenters from olive wood from Bethlehem.
Israel started building its security barrier -- a series of walls and fences -- in response to an upsurge in Palestinian terrorism that began in 2000. When it is complete, the barrier will stretch nearly 500 miles, dividing Israel from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas in the West Bank.
Near Bethlehem, the barrier separates the town where Jesus was born from Jerusalem.
"The security barrier has been deemed a necessary response to terrorism and indeed has saved many lives, both Jewish and Arab," said Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
"The irony is that Mary and Joseph would have been a Jewish couple, and if they were travelling through the West Bank today, [their lives would have been at risk] from the same terrorists that have targeted so many Israelis," Benjamin told Cybercast News Service.
Other Jewish leaders were dismayed as well by the politically motivated Nativity sets.
"It's a shameful, cheap gimmick and it's destroying the spirit of Christmas by politicizing it," Arieh O'Sullivan, an ADL spokesman in Jerusalem, told Cybercast News Service. "It's amazing how low people will go to make a sale."
O'Sullivan said the sets "come close to resurrecting the old anti-Semitic canard that says Jews killed Christ."
"The British have a very long history of anti-Semitism," said Morton Klein, head of the Zionist Organization of America. That, coupled with the fact that the most popular name for a newborn in England is now Mohammed, tells what is happening to England and Europe, he said.
"I'm not surprised by this type of racism against Jews and Israel," said Klein in a telephone interview.
"It's not a good idea at all to use any religious symbols or events for anti-Israel propaganda," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Aryeh Mekel told Cybercast News Service.
Many Palestinian Christians blame the security barrier for their financial troubles, which have prompted many Christians to leave Bethlehem and other Palestinian Authority areas.
Bethlehem Pastor Naim Khoury said Nativity scenes are supposed to depict a real-life event that did not include a security barrier. "It's a real story. It's not a fake story," Khoury told Cybercast News Service. "The wise men, shepherds, sheep should all be included."
David Parsons, spokesman for the pro-Israel International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, called the Nativity sets a "disgraceful political exploitation of the Bible's message.
"The message of the incarnation is too precious for any Christians to be abusing it in this way."
First things first. My sin and yours put Jesus on the cross. He was the sacrificial Lamb of God (Isaiah 53) who takes away our sin if we receive Him (John 3). (Technically, the Roman soldiers did our dirty work if you want to get petty.)
Ya’shua came for the Jews first (book of Matthew). Enough with the “Jews killed Jesus” already, it doesn’t let anyone off the hook! We all placed the nails in His hands and feet. The Nativity is open to everyone if they choose and their are no “walls” except someone’s own free will.
The Lord of the New Testament is the same as the Lord of the Old Testament. He is never changing.
Maybe the folks who came up with this outta read the book of Nehemiah.
P.S. If they don’t have a love for the Jews and the Jewish nation, then they aren’t “Christians” (Matthew 25:31-46, Matt. 13:24-30).
Bears repeating. If they don’t have a love for the Jews and the Jewish nation, then they aren’t “Christians” (Matthew 25:31-46). You will know them by their fruit...(Matthew 7:17-20)
Why is it necessary to create a Nativity scene "protesting the security barrier"? What does that have to do with Christmas or the Nativity?
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I don't know that I'd call it antisemitic. A Creche is clearly a religious symbol, to these Christians taking an anti-Israel stance is a matter of faith. Not much you can do about that.
Do you think anyone would be offended if a politically correct Nativity Scene was produced, with palestinians in apartment buildings behind the manger shooting the wise men as they arrived? In 2007, that wall would be the only reason they’d still be alive.
I don't suppose it has occured to him to blame Palestinian terrorists?
Notice that is no quote, simply authors opinion at best, an intentional lie the author chose to portray as fact at worst...
AMEN!!
P.S. If they don’t have a love for the Jews and the Jewish nation, then they aren’t “Christians” (Matthew 25:31-46, Matt. 13:24-30).
This, OTOH, I must refute, one may well be a saved Christian, but not have a full understanding of any of a million different things... It just means they are not perfect Christians... of course I've never met anyone who was perfect, other than my Lord!
Terrorists aren’t preventing tourists from going to Bethlehem, the barrier is. Yes, Israel built the barrier to keep terrorists out and grab land to create a more defensible border than the Green Line provided. Innocent bystanders on both sides continue to suffer.
Why is a piece of protest art about the barrier’s economic effect on Bethlehem generating such hysterical reactions?
No, terrorism is the cause.
Stockholm Syndrome and 1400 years of dhimmitude..
“The irony is that Mary and Joseph would have been a Jewish couple, and if they were travelling through the West Bank today, [their lives would have been at risk] from the same terrorists that have targeted so many Israelis,” Benjamin told Cybercast News Service. “
If it was known what would result from their trip, they would have been targeted for Assasination.
The Christians don’t like the wall cutting through their neighborhoods either.
I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by the behavior of Christian Arabs — until very recently, they have pretty consistently sided with the Arab muslims against Israel and the West in general.
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