Easter 'B.C.' Comic strip sparks
controversy among Jews
By Joyce Howard Price
THE
A Jewish opinion
writer has taken issue with the Jewish Anti-Defamation League for
claiming that
the Easter edition of the "B.C." comic strip by Johnny Hart, that ran in hundreds of newspapers on Easter
Sunday,
is anti‑Jewish.
"Johnny
Hart, a believing Christian whom the Guinness Book of World Records
recognizes
as the most syndicated cartoonist alive, is being crucified by no doubt
well-meaning, but thoroughly clueless, comic‑strip aficionados for ‑
Heaven help us! ‑ an Easter‑themed cartoon
that actually focuses on the spirituality of Easter and ignores
chocolate eggs
and big purple bunnies, " Binyamin L. JoIkovsky, editor in chief and
publisher of JewishWorldReviewcom, wrote in an opinion Piece published
in many
newspapers that carry "B.C."
As a
Sabbath-observant Jew rabbinical school alumnus and publisher of the
most‑accessed
Jewish Web site, I see absolutely nothing wrong with Hart's message,"
he
added.
In a telephone
interview on April 11 from his New York office, Mr. Jolkovsky said he
finds it
strange that the Anti‑Defamation League (ADL), which is recognized as
the
world's leading organization in fighting anti‑Semitism, "is now
going after comic strips that are not anti‑Semitic. "
The ADL is
protesting Mr. Hart's Easter strip, which it says portrays Christianity
as
having replaced Judaism.
"We're
concerned. We think this borders on the offensive, because Johnny Hart
is
saying in this comic, strip that Christianity now supersedes Judaism,"
Abraham Foxman, president of the New York‑based ADL, said in a
telephone
interview.
But Mr. Hart, an
evangelical Christian who sometimes uses the "B.C." cartoon to make
religious statements, denies such assertions. 'The God of Judaism and
the God
of Christianity is the same, and the people of
"This is a
holy week for both Christians and Jews, and my intent was to pay
tribute to
both. I sincerely apologize if I have offended any readers, and I also
sincerely hope that this cartoon will generate increased interest in
religious
awareness," said Mr. Hart, who declined to comment beyond the official
statement.
Mr. Jolkovsky
thinks Mr. Hart has no need to apologize.
The strip
causing the uproar features a lit seven‑branch menorah in each frame,
accompanied by the seven last words of Jesus Christ on the cross. As
each of
Jesus' final words is printed, a flame on the menorah ‑ a candelabra
used
in Jewish religious services is extinguished.
"As the candles burn, the menorah, a sacred and venerated symbol of the Jewish people, is obliterated and turns into across, the symbol of Christianity," Irv Rubin, chairman of the militant Jewish Defense League (JDL), which is also disturbed by the strip, said at the JDL Web site.
The ADL and the JDL both contend that the Easter “B.C.” strip is promoting replacement theology, or the theory that Christianity has replaced Judaism as the “chosen” religion.
Said Mr. Foxman: “The menorah has no role or
place in the Christian
religion. But Johnny Hart uses the symbol of Judaism and makes
it
disappear into a cross,” making it appear “Christianity has replaced
Judaism!”
"It's one
thing to preach your beliefs and your faith. But when you do that in a
public
arena, you need to be sensitive to other people’s religions,” he said.
"That's
ridiculous," he said. "The comic strip is simply calendar recognition
of two important religious: Passover which occurred the week before as
indicated by the menorah, and Easter Sunday which begins the day the
strip is
run, as represented by the cross!”
"Far from
being anti‑Jewish, the strip is simply a celebration of Passover ...
and
Easter,” Mr. Newcombe said.
But Mr. Foxman
of the ADL doesn't buy that. "If that were the case, why not have the
menorah, standing next to the cross? Instead, you have the words [of
Jesus],
'It is finished,' and the cross stands alone," he said.
The JDL urged
newspapers that normally carry "B.C." not to run it Easter Sunday.
In his three‑page
opinion article, Mr. Jolkovsky, former contributing editor of the
national
Jewish weekly Forward, acknowledged he
would be
"outraged" if Mr. Hart “were blaming Jewry for having killed his
savior.” But he said the cartoonist’s message is “one of love, not
hate.”
“I believe Hart
is preaching that, despite Christianity being the majority religion in
this
nation, members of other faiths need not worry as they must in other
lands.
Love thy neighbor,"
Mr. Jolkovsky said adding:
“A comic strip in honor of a holy season that
is not my own doesn’t send a chill down my spine, nor make my blood
boil, even
if it includes Jewish symbols.”
This is not the first time Mr. Hart has
sparked controversy with cartoons having religious overtones. In early
1999,
The Washington Post stopped publishing his Sunday “B.C.” strips because
of
concerns about religious content. The Washington Post then filled the
void.
A spokesman for the Los Angles Times—Which in
the past has pulled some strips with Christian themes during the Easter
season—said that the newspaper canceled all “B.C.” strips effective
April 8,
which was Palm Sunday.
Mr. Hart, in a previous interview with the
Washington Times, said he was the victim of “anti-Christian bias.”