CHRIST KILLER!

Once more, with Feeling

Published on May 22, 2006 By Moderateman In Religion

I grew up with Sicilians, I was the only non-Italian there in our little gang of around 300 kids.

There was a time when the Italians had there own turf. may generations grew up there. Between 112th street to 125th street, from the east river to Pleasant ave, to 1st ave, to 2nd ave, to 3rd ave, A solid wall of Italians.

I was very small for my age, at 13 I was 4ft 10 inches tall and weighed in at around 90 pounds.

I had eaten in their homes, they has eaten in mine, all the families looked out for the children of any other family,

We were surrounded on one side by blacks on the other by puerto ricans, Full blown wars were not unusual. Everyone watched everyone Else's backs, this was life as I knew it.

Then the day after my 13th Birthday and My bar mitzvah, I was over at Sals house talking, Sal lived with his mother and father 5 siblings, and not one but two grandmothers.

I got along well with Mrs. Dispenza, Sals maternal grandmother, I was always treated like family when I was there.

Mrs Dispenza loved to see kids eat, I can still hear her voice "manja, manja" On this day I was wearing my mezuzah, a gift from my father on my Bar Mitzvah day, the day before.

Mrs Dispenza saw it hanging on my neck and asked in her very faltering English, What is that you are wearing< I told her what it was, she said "you Jew?" I said yes of course, Suddenly my world fell apart, Her face changed and she spit right in my face, calling me Christ Killer She told me "get out! get outta my house" Never come back, as I left running from the room I heard her once again, Christ killer" dizgratziada {sp?}

This was my very first experience with racism, bigotry, what ever you want to call it. I was crushed I ran home crying, My sister Rose was there She was alarmed when she saw the condition I was in, and asked me what happened?

I told her the whole sordid story, I added "saying I never killed anyone" Why did she do that? MY sister explained as well as she could, I did not understand any of it. That day my world changed, The Italian Kids I grew up with could no longer play with me.

I was alone, alone in a war zone. This was the first of many times I had problems for no other reason than I am a Jew."

Comments (Page 2)

Moderateman

on May 23, 2006

14 by Adventure-Dude
Tuesday, May 23, 2006

People can be quite cruel. I know there is nothing I can say nor do to make this go away. What happened, happened. Even as much as it does break my heart I cannot take it away. Thanks for opening up and sharing.

Shalom Aleichem MM.

you are welcome A D and the hurt came from her ignorance of the facts, remember that Catholics were spoon fed this kind of nasty BY THE Pope, through the Vatican then fed in not so small doses by their local priests. I forgave Mrs dispenza long ago. Z"father? forgive them for they no not what they have done"

shalom to you too.

Moderateman

on May 23, 2006

15 by kingbee
Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Romans...not Jews

The Jews played their part kingbee, the Rabbis were in a snit because they saw their POWER slipping away, the Romans used the Jews to get rid of a troublemaker {Christ} and the Jews used the Romans and roman law to get rid of "this rabble rouser" Christ.

Adventure-Dude

on May 23, 2006

I think the point is that it was no single group at 'fault' but that there were many. Even still though to associate you with many generations ago is sad. That's like the blacks going up to a white person and scrutinizing them for slavery. It's misplaced anger that shouldn't be there. The piece I don't understand is every race, every ethnicity has their black eye. Some just realize it less than others.

I think this was good to get people thinking about their own lives. The things we say out of ignorance.

Moderateman

on May 24, 2006

Reply By: Adventure-DudePosted: Tuesday, May 23, 2006I think the point is that it was no single group at 'fault' but that there were many. Even still though to associate you with many generations ago is sad. That's like the blacks going up to a white person and scrutinizing them for slavery. It's misplaced anger that shouldn't be there. The piece I don't understand is every race, every ethnicity has their black eye. Some just realize it less than others. I think this was good to get people thinking about their own lives. The things we say out of ignorance

more times than I can count I have seen slurs like this aimed at other people. someone wanted to borrow some Monet the other guy said no, the guy asking for money responded "YOU CHEAP JEW BASTARD"at A FLEA market someone trying to barter downwards saying " watch me Jew him down": What is sad about these 2 of many examples is, They could not begin to see how offensive that stuff is, what really surprised them when I spoken up "hey I don't appreciate that kind of talk. i was asked "why" The look on there faces was priceless when I told them " I amma JEW" wanna make something of it?

Chakgogka

on May 24, 2006

I've read this thread with interest and I think that Mrs Dispenza's ignorant attitude may have hurt you even more than you let on here. Here's the deal though: haven't I've also seen you on JU making it clear you just how much you hate 'faggots'? If Mrs Dispenza had ever popped into your head at those moments you might have paused for a second. Instead, let's be frank, you give a good impression of seeming to dish out the same kind of prejudice that upset you so much at an early age.

In this sad old world though we can find lesbians who are racists, anti- semitic 'brothers'from the ''hood', Jews who are homophobic, christians who hate muslims and vice versa, and all kinds of other people who cope with the shit they receive by dishing it out in their turn.

If you count them all up, we're probably all part of a 'minority' somewhere along the long, whether our skin is black, or our neck is red. What keeps this sad old world going the way it does, is that too few people, when hurt by the comments of others, ever have enough sympathetic imagination to see that they in turn are often perpetuating the same thing.

This was posted in the religion forum, so it's not inappropriate to add some religious thoughts. It seems natural that we have a liking for some persons, things and situations; it seems natural that we have an aversion for some persons, things and situations. But the truth is 'like' and 'dislike' cause mental suffering for ourselves and others. So, here's a question: you are one day in a place with someone you love, someone you feel neutral about and someone you hate. The four of you are captured by bandits who need a victim for human sacrifice. Of the four of you, who would you choose?...

kingbee

on May 24, 2006

Romans used the Jews to get rid of a troublemaker {Christ} and the Jews used the Romans

altho who used whom only to wind up being used can't be overstudied, 'passion of the christ' is the only production i've ever seen in which a number of rome's finest spent so much time wailin on only one unarmed guy who not only got up and walked away afterwards...bearing a heavy wooden cross to boot.

if my ancestors were roman, i might or might not have put all my energies into making gibson pay for that kinda defamation. but since ya never know, i woulda prolly been lots less likely to unnecessarily focus additional attention on the event in question.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on May 25, 2006

myself. There is no greater love than one willing to die for another. Jesus is Love. He wants us to follow him even to death if need be. My conscience would accept no other way. It would have to be me.

Tova7

on May 25, 2006

HAHAH. You beat me to it. I was going to say this...but then add...

OF course I can't say for sure because I have done things in a pinch that made me happy later...and sometimes I've done things that made me ashamed.

It would probably depend on why I hated the person. Did they just molest my child? Did they just torture and kill my husband in front of me? IF so, well its a decision I would at least walk away from after makin.

Moderateman

on May 25, 2006

20 by Chakgogka
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

haven't I've also seen you on JU making it clear you just how much you hate 'faggots'?

no you HAVE NOT, the term I use for those i dislike is MAGGOTS. I have no problem with homosexuals, except I do not wanat them to use the term 'MARRIAGE" i AM ALL FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR\\THEM civil rights as a couple.

Moderateman

on May 25, 2006

I would choose the one I hate, even though I do not think I am fully capable of hatred anymore. Takes too much away from me.

Moderateman

on May 25, 2006

#21 by kingbee
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

author who used whom only to wind up being used can't be overstudied, 'passion of the Christ' is the only production I've ever seen in which a number of Rome's finest spent so much time wailin on only one unarmed guy who not only got up and walked away afterwards...bearing a heavy wooden cross to boot.

if my ancestors were roman, i might or might not have put all my energies into making Gibson pay for that kinda defamation. but since ya never know, i woulda really been lots less likely to unnecessarily focus additional attention on the event in question.

I really was never interested of who Murdered Christ as much as why he was murdered.

Moderateman

on May 25, 2006

#22 by KFC (Kickin For Christ)
Thursday, May 25, 2006

So, here's a question: you are one day in a place with someone you love, someone you feel neutral about and someone you hate. The four of you are captured by bandits who need a victim for human sacrifice. Of the four of you, who would you choose?...

myself. There is no greater love than one willing to die for another. Jesus is Love. He wants us to follow him even to death if need be. My conscience would accept no other way. It would have to be me.

you really believe this don't you? I think you do not have a clue what you would do with your life on the line.

tovas answer is much more real.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on May 26, 2006

you really believe this don't you? I think you do not have a clue what you would do with your life on the line.

I believe, my conscience, as I said would accept nothing less. Of course we never know unless we are in the heat of battle exactly what we would do. But I answered honestly. I'm sorry you don't accept my answer.

Years ago I would never have said this. I abhor pain and the thought of dying would make me ill, but the closer I come to Christ I appreciate more the sacrifice done on my behalf. What was done for me in no way can I repay. He was innocent, I am not nor was I ever.

I've read alot of true stories of the martyrs of the faith and I can see plainly that God gave them all an extra measure of help in their time of need. I would expect (hopefully) he would do the same for me.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on May 26, 2006

I really was never interested of who Murdered Christ as much as why he was murdered.

I believe scripture is clear on this. He died because he dared put himself in the place of God. He said he was God and to the Jewish authorities that was blasphemy and worthy of death (John 8:58). They were furious with him.

What's really interesting is the fact that the OT punishment for such a crime was stoning. But hundreds of years before his death we see OT propecy showing clearly his death was to be a crucifixion which wasn't done until later Roman times.

foreverserenity

on May 30, 2006

Oh Elie, I felt the pain and confusion for the child you were. That must have been so devastating for you. That's a horrible, horrible thing to have happened.

I'm glad you're over the pain, even though that moment will not be forgotten by you.

You know your story in a way brought back this movie to my memory "A Bronx Tale". Have you ever seen it? Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri were the main characters.

It's never easy to understand when racism rears it's ugly head, especially to a child.

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