ADL condemns Jews- for- Jesus’ Holocaust video

ADL logoNEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday condemned a new video produced by the missionary group Jews for Jesus, which portrays Jesus as being among those in the selection line at the entrance to what appears to be the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

In the video, which appeared about one week ago and has already garnered more than one million views on YouTube, Jesus is shown carrying a cross as a Nazi officer standing at the infamous gates of Auschwitz sends him to the gas chambers.

The video’s tagline is, “That Jew died for you.”

“The Jews for Jesus video is a cynical abuse of the Holocaust for purposes of proselytizing,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor.  “It is deeply offensive not only to Jews who lost family members in the Holocaust, but also to Christians who would not want to see images of Jesus used for propaganda or shock value.”

Foxman added, “Jews for Jesus has taken their abuse of Holocaust imagery to a new low.  This is an outrageous cheapening of the tragedy of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished in the Holocaust for the purpose of gaining attention to the Jews for Jesus missionary cause, which is to convert Jews to the belief that Jesus is their messiah.”

In April 2001, ADL spoke out after Jews for Jesus launched an advertising campaign that used the Holocaust as a tactic to convert Jews.  The campaign featured ads in national magazines such as Newsweek, Time and Rolling Stone featuring people identified as Holocaust survivors who were quoted as saying that they were Holocaust survivors who “truly believe in Jesus.”

*
Preceding provided by Anti-Defamation League … San Diego Jewish World invites attention from sponsors who would like their messages to run beneath topical stories. Contact donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com