Walled Nativity Scene Borders On Anti-Semitism, Jewish Leaders Say

Crosswalk ^ | Julie Stahl

[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."

[rmlew]

http://www.dhimmitude.org/d_today_christian_antizionism.html

[Convert from ECUSA]

You’re right! I wish so much that no dark days would be ahead for Israel, but sadly, especially with the current leadership they have....

But God’s Word still trumps, and those that hate Israel and are working for (whether by “diplomacy” or otherwise) Israel’s reduction/destruction, and those that cheer it on are in for a mighty rude awakening. I would not want to be in their shoes for all the money on Wall Street.

[rmlew]

What is the point if not the political appropriation of Christianity by Muslims and Arabists?

Jesus was Jewish or Chiristianity is a lie. There were no Palestinians when Jesus was born. The only occupation and walls were Roman or those created by the Edomite Herod imposed as the "King of Jews".

[rmlew]

Why is it that virtually every other post of yours is an attack on or a n apologia for an attack on Israel?

[Biggirl]

My parish community just had a couple of weeks ago its yearly visit by a salesperson that sells olivewood artwork but thankfully I did not see that Nativity set design.

[ZULU]

If they were really Wise Men, they wouldn’t be coming through Muslim territory.

[Biggirl]

I find this Nativity scene so offensive in using a holy event for political purposes.

[familyop]

Almost as many Palestinian Christians as Muslims are in favor of destroying Israel, not to mention the majority who simply refuse to recognize Israel's existence.

Palestinian poll reveals marked support of Hizbullah

[familyop]

Christians are being killed off, forcibly converted and driven out of Islamist areas of the Middle East, yet Christians in foreign nations (those in Britain being only one group example of many) complain against Israel's existence by opposing the security barrier built to stop terrorist attacks against Jewish children. I know that most Christians in our USA do not agree with the Islamo-fascist enemy and are in favor of Israel as a Nation to the extent of disagreeing with our Government's current policy (policy carried out by both political parties).

Most Americans Support Right of Jews to Live and Build in Judea-Samaria
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/927783/posts
June 10, 2003
"By a margin of nearly five to one, Americans oppose the Bush administration's demand to halt all further Jewish construction in Judea-Samaria (the West Bank) and Gaza . . . The poll, carried out by John McLaughlin & Associates, surveyed a scientific sample of 1,000 American adults on May 21, 2003.

Honest, intelligent people know what's going on. Sympathizers with Islamo-fascism are apparently recruiting those who are not so honest or intelligent.

[Salem]

"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)."

---

"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." -SJackson

Yeah, probably the same Arabs who manufactured these inflammatory nativity scenes.

---

"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!" - logic

I have to disagree with your refutation. What we are seeing in ostensibly Christian circles globally outside of American Evangelicalism is the same Jew hatred being fanned to life that led to the dilution and breakdown of cultural/moral and spiritual deterrence which permitted the Holocaust to happen—that which happened within the "Christian West"!

Nativity scenes like these are latent Jew hatred, plain and simple.

Interesting.

Looks like they would make good kindling.    

---

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There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~
The Nature Of Bruce ~

"The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets...."—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Holocaust Chronicle ~



" ... It's time we recognized the nature of the conflict. It's total war and we are all involved. Nobody on our side is exempted because of age, gender, or handicap. The Islamofacists have stolen childhood from the world."—FReeper Retief
"Palestine is the wrong name for their State. It should be called Anarchy."—FReeper sgtbono2002
"Then let's wait and see what the Arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like Arab reality to break up a Jewish fantasy."—FReeper Noachian
A student told his professor he was going to "Palestine" to "fight for freedom, peace and justice,"—Orwellian leftist code words that mean "murder Jews."

[dennisw]

Troll....idiot

[Capt. Tom]

Palestinian Christians think Israel is more of an enemy than Islam?

Siran Siran who killed Robert Kennedy was a Palestinian Christian. He wasn't alone in the Palestinian community of Christians who hated the Jews. They are basically Palestinian nationalists. Siran killed Robert Kennedy because Kennedy was perceived to be too pro Israel. -Tom

[Hildy]

tough.

[2ThumbsUp]

Ping.

[444Flyer]

I’m thinking about calling myself a “follower of Jesus of Nazareth, the one true Messiah who died on the cross for the sins of the world and desires to be believed in and received, is risen again in victory at the right hand of the Father, and is King of Kings and Lord of Lords” rather than using “Christian” which isn’t anywhere in the Bible and which everyone claims to be these days.

Only the REAL Jesus will do, don’t accept cheap imitations. (Matthew 24, John 14:6)

shalom b’Shem Yah’shua

[444Flyer]

Ping.

[444Flyer]

“But God’s Word still trumps, and those that hate Israel and are working for (whether by “diplomacy” or otherwise) Israel’s reduction/destruction, and those that cheer it on are in for a mighty rude awakening. I would not want to be in their shoes for all the money on Wall Street.”

I’m with you on that for sure. I wouldn’t want to be on God Almighty’s bad side.

“The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky.

Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” (PSALM 18:7-17 NIV)

(I love my Lord!!!)

[RaceBannon]

So, your Bible doesn’t contain ACTS 11:26?

:)

[444Flyer]

I stand corrected, Thank You. I am talking about those who proclaim to be “Christian” and aren’t at all.

[444Flyer]

Ping on #58 and #59.