The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of San Francisco, recently involved in censoring an exhibit of Gaza children's art in Oakland, has now turned its sights on two Northern California conferences concerning Israel/Palestine. These events, scheduled to take place this month in Sunnyvale and Sacramento, are sponsored by Friends of Sabeel-North America and follow on two highly successful Sabeel conferences held in 2007 in Berkeley and 2010 in San Anselmo.
Sabeel is a Palestinian Christian group calling for equality and justice in Israel/Palestine through nonviolent efforts. Its work is ecumenical and interfaith. As the founder, I have now become the primary focus of JCRC attacks. In recent weeks, JCRC has sent letters to churches throughout Northern California charging me with using "abandoned anti-Semitic Christian theologies" and urging pastors to withhold support from the conferences.
At the urging of Sabeel's American colleagues in Jewish Voice for Peace, I have decided it is imperative to make a defense against these erroneous, misleading and cruel charges.
Two accusations have been leveled against me. The first claims that I said, "Judaism is tribal; Christianity is universal. Judaism is wrong and was superseded by Christianity." The second claims that I said, "Jews killed Jesus."
When I discuss the question of tribalism vs. universalism, I am talking about the lively debate within the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament to Christians). There was a dynamic debate in these Scriptures that moved religious thought from exclusivity to inclusivity, and this phenomenon pre-dated the coming of Jesus Christ by several hundred years. It was not a Christian vs. Jewish construction.
I point out the genius of the Hebrew prophets in understanding God as an inclusive God. These prophets see God as the God who cares not only about the Israelites, but also about other people and other lands. You can find this inclusiveness in the Psalms: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." In this view, no matter where one lives, one is still in the presence of God.
It is important to point out that Judaism, as it developed, was not superseded by the Christian faith but continued as a living and valid faith worthy of our full respect. Today, this faith is distorted by the exclusivist reading of extremist settlers who say, "We are interested in divine rights and not in human rights." They are selectively reading certain biblical texts that give Jewish people a higher and prior claim to the land and negate the rights of the Palestinians. Such a theology does not lend itself to peace. We choose biblical texts that promote peace for all, and many of these are found in the Hebrew Bible.
JCRC accuses me of saying that the "Jews killed Jesus," but I never use the word "Jews" in that context. I said that Jesus suffered "at the hands of evil political and religious powers two thousand years ago." This is a careful and precise statement. In all of my preaching on this topic, I have never singled out Jews as killers of Jesus. I always refer to the Roman authorities in collusion with religious leaders. And I certainly have never suggested the abhorrent idea that Jews bear collective responsibility for the death of Jesus.
Likewise, my words that relate the events of the crucifixion to modern reality are clear and specific. I place the responsibility on the Israeli government. There is no mention of "the state of Israel." My words do not delegitimize the state, which is made up of the Israeli people. They critique the "government of Israel" and its policies, which constitute the greatest obstacles to peace.
I do not believe it is right for me or for any Christian to refrain from using the crucifixion imagery that is part of the essence of our faith and is deeply meaningful for our worship and spirituality. This imagery genuinely informs our involvement on behalf of the oppressed everywhere in the world, and Israel-Palestine is no exception. I believe I need to use the imagery whenever it is appropriate and at the same time oppose anyone who abuses it by invoking it against Jews today.
The imagery of the cross as an instrument of cruelty, torture and suffering preceded Jesus' crucifixion. When I use this imagery, I am using it in the way Jesus, a Jewish Semitic man, used it. I am not using it in a novel, anti-Semitic way.
Gustavo Gutierrez, the Latin American theologian, used a picture of the crucifix for the cover of his book on liberation theology. He could not find any better image to express the suffering of his people. To my knowledge, no one has called him anti-Semitic or accused him of using Christ-killer imagery. We can also point to Jewish artist Marc Chagall's paintings of the cross. To him the crucifixion of Jesus symbolized the martyrdom of Jews everywhere.
It is important for everyone to be exact and careful when speaking about Palestine and Israel, but it is wrong to construe every criticism leveled at the government of Israel as an attack on Jews or Judaism. There are people who want to silence any criticism of Israel, and they force the impression that the state of Israel, the government of Israel, Jews, Judaism, Israelis, Zionists and Zionism are all synonymous terms and an attack on one is an attack on all. This is wrong and dangerous. Israel is a state like any other. When it governs justly, it should be commended. When it does not, it needs to be confronted and challenged.
Racism, prejudice and discrimination still exist in the world, and the Jews have endured the longest continuous manifestation of this racism. I have written that we, as Palestinians, should face Israel candidly and say that we are appalled by the Holocaust, that we should open our hearts "and with a new, magnanimous attitude we should say to the Jews, 'We will accept you and share the land with you. You have suffered for so long. Come share our land. This is God's land. We will live in it together as brothers and sisters.'"
I write this response in a spirit of humility and passion to see a just and lasting peace in our land and in every place where oppression and injustice dominate life.
This was originally published on the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem website.
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has said it is “necessary to destroy all the churches of the region,” following Kuwait’s moves to ban their construction.
Speaking to a delegation in Kuwait, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, stressed that since the tiny Gulf state was a part of the Arabian Peninsula, it was necessary to destroy all of the churches in the country, Arabic media have reported.
Saudi Arabia’s top cleric made the comment in view of an age-old rule that only Islam can be practiced in the region.
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia is the highest official of religious law in the Sunni Muslim kingdom. He is also the head of the Supreme Council of Ulema (Islamic scholars) and of the Standing Committee for Scientific Research and Issuing of Fatwas.
community to ill-treatment by Palestinian Muslims. This damaging analysis wilfully ignores the underlying political oppression that afflicts Christians and Muslims alike. In the case of Bethlehem, for instance, it is in fact the rampant construction of Israeli settlements, the chokehold imposed by the separation wall, and the Israeli government’s confiscation of Palestinian land -- largely Christian-owned land in the Bethlehem area -- that has driven many Christians to leave. At present, a mere 13% of Bethlehem-area land is left to its Palestinian inhabitants.
Oren’s article also reveals a disturbing conception of democracy itself, especially as he insists on emphasizing Israel’s democratic character. In attempting to highlight ways in which Israel supposedly seeks to protect the survival and encourage the prosperity of the Christian community, Oren implies the Israeli state’s lackof interest in ensuring the same for Muslims. Democracy is not selective. Any democratic state that bothered to implement its own ideals -- and, moreover, any ambassador to such a state -- would be ashamed of such an evidently distorted attitude toward its inhabitants and their rights.
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Part 1
Kairos Palestine Responds to Michael Oren
Bethlehem, 17 March 2012 -- Kairos Palestine, a group of Palestinian Christians who co-authored the document “A Moment of Truth,” denounces Michael Oren’s recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal(9 March 2012). In this inaccurate and manipulative text, Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the US, blames the plight of Palestinian Christians on oppression at the hands of Palestinian Muslims -- rather than at the hands of the illegal Israeli occupation itself, as is our reality.
We add our voices to several other recently published responses that have emphasized this reality and the ways in which Oren’s op-ed attempts to mask it. Indeed, contrary to his assertions, Christian persecution is caused mainly by the occupation that systematically degrades all Palestinians, restricts our movement, confiscates our land, devastates our economy, and violates our rights -- including the very basic right to a decent life.
We are particularly troubled by Oren’s attribution of migration within the Palestinian Christian
How does it feel to be a liar?
Say no more.
That in itself is enough for me to see that you aren't interested in peace. Sorry for not believing a word that you say.
The most anti-semitic people in the world are the semites. Many Arabs and Jews completely deserve each others' hatred, and they are welcome to it.
are all these events unfolding arround us Gods signs. Could all these signs be unfolding heading us to one world dictatorship with the anti christ at its head. So a man will stand up in Jerusalm his parents will be jews he will be powerfully built with curly hair and will declare himself the Messiah but every believer will know he is not the Messiah as the true Messiah is Jesus the son of the blessed virgin Mary. As before the true Messiah returns the Dajjal the anti christ must come and try to impersonate the Messiah.
http://cjcmp.org
So everything from art to seeking recourse in the halls of justice, surely the most non-violent forms of resistance, are fuel for fear-mongering by JCRC.
Many Jews in the Bay Area, like myself, rebuke the censorship efforts of JCRC, which does not represent the vast majority of people (and organizations) in the Jewish community.. We turn for wisdom on the issue of Israel-Palestine to people of compassion like Rev. Ateek, who articulates a vision of inclusivity and sharing the land that resonates with the prophetic tradition of
justice: "Do not do unto others that which is hateful to you."