(JEWISH GROUP) Jewish caricature in Ukrainian Christmas tradition resurfaces at New Jersey church, drawing criticism
It had all the trappings of a conventional Christmas pageant: the three wise men, Christmas carols, and children dressed as angels.
But there was a twist: This pageant, performed on Sunday in New Jersey, also included a Hasidic Jewish caricature, carrying a sack of coins and dancing with the devil.
Earlocks swaying, the character called Moshko entered the room to the tune of “Hava Nagila,” offered a greeting in mock Yiddish, and announced that he was selling liquor, in a brazen effort to distract the Christians from reverence about the birth of Jesus.
The pageant that took place at St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Clifton, New Jersey, is known as a vertep — a form of theater prominent in Slavic Christmas celebrations. Caricatures of Jewish figures that promote stereotypes about Jews and greed are a longstanding and frequent feature.
“Moshko” the Jew dances with the devil in a Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas pageant held in New Jersey Jan. 11. Screenshot of Facebook
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Teach them young and make sure it is "religious" that way if anyone criticizes the anti-Semitism they can screech "RELGIOUS FREEDOM". The old traditions passed down to villainize the Jews. This is one the few instances where they don't even try to modernize the anti-Semitism.