Posted on 12/04/2006 8:41:12 PM PST by Alex Murphy
NEW YORK - Comedian Jackie Mason on Monday dropped a lawsuit in which he claimed the missionary group Jews for Jesus damaged him when it used his name and likeness in a pamphlet.
Mason appeared in federal court in Manhattan, where he accepted an apology from the group in return for dropping the lawsuit. Outside the court, Mason did a little spontaneous standup with reporters, but there was a serious tone to his wit.
"There's no such thing as a Jew for Jesus. It's like saying a black man is for the KKK," the 75-year-old Mason said. "You can't be a table and a chair. You're either a Jew or a gentile."
Jews for Jesus, founded in the 1970s, practices Judaism but regards Jesus as the Messiah.
The pamphlets featured an image of Mason next to the words "Jackie Mason ... A Jew for Jesus!?" with information inside that outlines the similarities between Jews and Christians. They were handed out around the city. Mason's $2 million lawsuit sought the pamphlets' immediate destruction.
The group's executive director, David Brickner, said in a letter to Mason dated Monday that he wanted "to convey my sincere apologies for any distress that you felt over our tract." He said the tract featuring Mason was one of hundreds of pamphlets the group regularly writes and distributes.
Brickner said he believed its publication was protected by the Constitution, but the group was willing in the interest of peace and love for Israel to retire the pamphlet.
Mason has starred on Broadway and in films including "Caddyshack II."
I think Jews for Jesus is great, but if they used Mason's likeness without permission, that isn't right.
"There's no such thing as a Jew for Jesus. It's like saying a black man is for the KKK," the 75-year-old Mason said."
OPINION: I'm sorry Mr. Mason feels that way. That's very sad and of course, incorrect.
Sorry Alex that post was meant for "all."
So Jesus was not a Jew?
Jackass.
"So Jesus was not a Jew?"
Jesus was the first Christian.
He was also a Jew.
I'm torn. I really respect Mr. Mason and I also like the J4J people. I knew a few in Chicago (my sister's friends). But what they did wasn't right. They shouldn't claim they made "converts" of people, if they didn't. This reminds me of the koranimals and their claims of converting people like Neil Armstrong, etc...
I know many people here in NYC who are Jewish and profess faith in Jesus Christ. None that I know of have ever expressed that they are "no longer Jewish".
This mindset is a lie spread by those in the Jewish faith to prevent converts.
Q: Where are you at now spiritually? Are you just plain Jewish?
A: Yes. I just am back where I was before the whole Christian thing took over my life. It's like a bad dream that I woke up from.
Q: Did you have contact with anti-missionaries?
A: No
Q: What do you think about the ministry? Is it just JFJ that's cultish or is this normal for other ministries as well?
A: I think many ministries and churches are cultish. JFJ is one of the worst.
Q: Do you think that people at the top [of JFJ] are aware of how they mistreat people and how dysfunctional this place is?
A: I think Moishe {ROSEN} loves ruining lives. He teaches his top staff to do what he does. When I see cult movies, I relate them to Jews For Jesus.
Q: Is this really what being a Christian is all about?
A: I don't think so.
Q: Were you an approved student? If so, what happened when you left in terms of your commitment (the loans that bind everyone into the worker's covenant)? Do you know of anyone who's left after being an approved student before their commitment was complete?
A: No, I was a full time missionary. Hmm.....I don't know who left while being an approved student. I heard that some people's houses and cars were wrapped up in ministry money. They had to pay back the loans, or give the houses and cars back to the ministry. Probably approved students who leave, have to pay back the loans. That is my guess.
Q: Is it true that the ministry sues former staff? It looks like you're the person in Ellen Kamentsky's book- where is she now? Did they sue her for speaking out about what happened to her? How did she recover from being "Moished"? Is she still scarred by her JFJ experience? Are you?
A: I don't think they sued her, but considered trying. Her book is all true, though. How can you sue someone who tells the truth? I think they have sued others, though. Ellen just went on to a normal life. She thinks of the whole thing as a dream, too. She has no fear of JFJ. Now that I am not a believer, I also have no fear of JFJ. I hope to keep my children away from cults and I stay away from anything that resembles one.
Q: Why is the ministry like this? Why are they so obsessed with controlling us?
A: JFJ is a cult! They say they are not since their doctrine is right on, but they are a cult.
Q: What happens to people when they leave? You had your husband, but what about those of us who are single, isn't it scary to leave the ministry? I mean, what does someone DO after they leave?
A: Many spent years recovering. Some go on with their lives, marry, get other jobs. Some let the ministry fade away. Some hurt and pretend JFJ never happened. The problem is that JFJ takes over your life. JFJ becomes your world. Life without JFJ seems impossible. Even though I was married, I felt the same way. I look now to my family for these things. I do not need to belong to a cult-like group to be happy.
Q: I have absolutely no perspective on my situation or the situation here. I don't understand it and I keep looking around and thinking, how did I end up here?
A: You sound like Ellen. You sound like me. (I mean us then.) Yes, I am the person in Ellen's book who was in the car accident. The ministry had me read that book to see if I could find any lies in it. There were none. Hope this helped. JO ANN
Jesus was a Jew, and a better one than Jackie Mason.
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