Jews For Jesus Annoy the Piss Out of Jewish Straphangers
Some New York Jewish leaders are reported up in arms over a subway ad campaign urging acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. The ads were posted at subway stops and the Times Square station by the Jews for Jesus organization as part of a million-dollar campaign, the New York Post said.Several riders, on seeing the signs for the first time, voiced displeasure, finding them offensive and inappropriate, the Post said.
The transit authority told the newspaper the signs do not violate its rules that ban only discrimination on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation or certain subjects inappropriate for children.
Turns out, the conversion-happy group is putting more resources into converting New York. From the NY Times:
During previous summers in New York, a small group of Jews for Jesus missionaries concentrated on Manhattan. This year the group plans to make its presence known in all five boroughs, as well in Westchester and Rockland Counties, in northern New Jersey and on Long Island.... With a campaign budget of roughly $1.4 million, Jews for Jesus has already sent out mailings to 400,000 Jewish homes in the area and DVD's in Yiddish about Jesus to 80,000 Orthodox homes. It has launched a marketing campaign with radio spots and subway and newspaper ads featuring the slogan "Jesus for Jews."
Our "favorite" Jews for Jesus outreach is a tract that features a cartoon image of Howard Stern. We spotted one on the F Train at 42nd Street last week. [From Forward.com]
"Howard Stern - A Jew for Jesus?" it reads, pointing out similarities between Mr. Stern and the organization: Both aren't "afraid to break the old models," both "have respect for God's creation" and both care about "talking truth." A spokeswoman for Mr. Stern, who is Jewish, said he has no affiliation with the organization and thinks the ads are "trash."
Bill McCartney
