#
#
The “Antisemitism Awareness Act” — approved by the House in a 320–91 vote on Wednesday — raised concerns over its possible application to the Bible and criticism of the Israeli government.
The bill would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s lengthy, multipart definition of “antisemitism” “for the enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws concerning education programs or activities, and for other purposes.”
One part of that definition is “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”
Others include:
“• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.”
“• Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”
“• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.”
The phrase referring to “claims of Jews killing Jesus” could include several verses of the Bible.
For instance, in Acts 4:10, Peter told the priests and Sadducees, “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead …”
In Acts 3:15, he told his fellow Jews, “You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”
Finally, in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15, Paul told the church there that “you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets.”
Continue reading →
vulture of critique 