Comments on: (Caryl) Churchill & The Jews http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2009/07/01/caryl-churchill-the-jews/ A Voice for Tikkun Olam (healing the world) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:04:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jacob Amir http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2009/07/01/caryl-churchill-the-jews/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Jacob Amir Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:26:38 +0000 http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/?p=912#comment-127 Here is an excerpty from the play: "Tell her we're better haters, tell her we're chosen people, tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her all I feel is happy it's not her." That is a typical anti-Semitic text, from the blood libel to the chosen peole trope. The Jews are presented as literally dehumanised, with the claim that they feel no pity or sorrow for the blood covered Palestinian children, they have killed. And it does not present a criticism of Israeli policies, it speaks about Jews. And the Jews are portrayed as not only monstrous child-killers but 'better haters' because they are the 'chosen people', straight out of the hallucinatory lexicons of medieval Jew-hatred. That is nothing short of anti-Semitism. And, no, the Rabbi is not an anti-Semite. Here is an excerpty from the play: “Tell her we’re better haters, tell her we’re chosen people, tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her all I feel is happy it’s not her.”
That is a typical anti-Semitic text, from the blood libel to the chosen peole trope.
The Jews are presented as literally dehumanised, with the claim that they feel no pity or sorrow for the blood covered Palestinian children, they have killed.
And it does not present a criticism of Israeli policies, it speaks about Jews. And the Jews are portrayed as not only monstrous child-killers but ‘better haters’ because they are the ‘chosen people’, straight out of the hallucinatory lexicons of medieval Jew-hatred.
That is nothing short of anti-Semitism. And, no, the Rabbi is not an anti-Semite.

]]> By: James E-J http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2009/07/01/caryl-churchill-the-jews/comment-page-1/#comment-119 James E-J Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:11:39 +0000 http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/?p=912#comment-119 I have only seen the rendition of the play on the Guardian website. While I can imagine a forum and performance that might not appear antisemitic, the Guardian failed. Its opening photo, Jews dripping seder wine onto their plates almost begs people to imagine a blood libel. Perhaps, Reb Arie, you were very cautious about how you presented the play. I do not know. However, putting on the play creates significant risk of promoting antisemitism. Does that make the play producer an antisemite? No. But history has taught us that it does not take an antisemite to build the foundation of antisemitism in society. I have only seen the rendition of the play on the Guardian website. While I can imagine a forum and performance that might not appear antisemitic, the Guardian failed. Its opening photo, Jews dripping seder wine onto their plates almost begs people to imagine a blood libel.

Perhaps, Reb Arie, you were very cautious about how you presented the play. I do not know. However, putting on the play creates significant risk of promoting antisemitism. Does that make the play producer an antisemite? No. But history has taught us that it does not take an antisemite to build the foundation of antisemitism in society.

]]> By: Craig Wiesner http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2009/07/01/caryl-churchill-the-jews/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Craig Wiesner Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:17:46 +0000 http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/?p=912#comment-106 I recently watched a one-woman-performance of this play ( which one can find online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/video/2009/apr/25/seven-jewish-children-caryl-churchill ) and really appreciate your review. I am very interested in others' perceptions of this. I recently watched a one-woman-performance of this play ( which one can find online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/video/2009/apr/25/seven-jewish-children-caryl-churchill ) and really appreciate your review. I am very interested in others’ perceptions of this.

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