Comedian Jackie Mason is suing the organization Jews for Jesus for using his name and likeness on a pamphlet aimed at converting Jews to Christianity.
The $2 million lawsuit seeks the immediate destruction of the pamphlet, which members of the missionary group have been handing out at various points around New York City.
“While I have the utmost respect for people who practice the Christian faith, the fact is, as everyone knows, I am as Jewish as a matzo ball or kosher salami,†the 75-year-old comedian said in documents filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Founded in the 1970s, Jews for Jesus practices Judaism but regards Jesus as the Messiah.
The pamphlets feature an image of Mason next to the words “Jackie Mason … A Jew for Jesus!?†with information inside that outlines the similarities between Jews and Christians…
Susan Perlman, a spokeswoman for Jews for Jesus, said the pamphlet was “good-natured.” “Shame on him for getting so upset about this,” she said Friday.
Shame on him? Good natured? She’s got to be kidding.
Truth be told, I think he should be suing for more. Batzlacha Jackie.
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TM, one cannot help but marvel at such quick wit 😉
Now that was a quick and timely comeback!
Thanks for your opinion ck. Now why don’t you go take your medication and call your psychiatrist.
D. Lovi, why don’t you acutally read the post before you comment. The issue is Mason’s name being used without his permission or support to promote an ideal he doesn’t believe in. It’s not about whether or not you find the pamphlet offensive.
What’s offensive is Perlman’s utter insensitivity and cold-hearted trading on Mason’s fame to promote her cause. I’m sure his legal standing isn’t strong, but damn good for him to bring this into the courts and expose JFJ for the slime it is. And then her spinning it as her employing our famed Jewish sense of humor and irony to justify her actions. Which, if anyone has had any contact with these people, knows is crap.
Put yourself in Jackie’s shoes. My problem with JFJ isn’t so much their beliefs as much as it is the tactics they use.
That Judge Berman denied the PI strongly suggests the Mason lawsuit is going nowhere, and is probably vulnerable to a motion to dismiss. Blame that infernal First Amendment: a good reason for Israel to heed its religious right and reject a constitution.
Thanks for your opinion D. Lovi. Now uh… kindly fuck off you presumptuous twat.
I have read the pamphlet unlike most of the people that have posted here, and there is absolutely nothing offensive about it at all. Why dont you people try to actually read a thing before you ignorantly talk about it?
Jackie Mason Charges Against Jews For Jesus Denied By U.S. District Court
November 8, 2006
A decision by U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman was reached today in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York denying a preliminary injunction to Mr. Jackie Mason who sought to stop the distribution of one of the Jews for Jesus gospel pamphlets, entitled, “Jackie Mason, A Jew for Jesus?!”
In the eleven-page finding the Judge ruled that the pamphlet was protected speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Religious pamphlets with pop culture themes like the Mason one have been freely distributed by the organization for over 34 years and while this is a small win for Jews for Jesus, it is a big victory for gospel protected speech.
Judge Berman also addressed the two other contentions in the Mason injunction and could not find merit in them, ruling that a reader of the pamphlet could reasonably see that Jews for Jesus was not asserting that Jackie Mason was a Jew for Jesus and that the Jews for Jesus did not look to gain any commercial benefit from the pamphlet.
David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, said ‚”We never intended to hurt Jackie Mason’s feelings. To many of us Jews for Jesus, Jackie Mason is an icon who reminds us of our Yiddish-speaking grandfathers. We appreciate his good-natured humor. We thought that he would appreciate ours and were surprised by this lawsuit. Nevertheless we felt we had to defend ourselves and are gratified by the court’s decision upholding our 1st amendment rights. It is our hope that this can now be ended amicably.” A further court date is scheduled for November 16th.
J4J should realize that if Jackie isn’t Christian he might not be familiar with the New Testament ideology of “turn the other cheek”! The same verse continues, “And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” We’ll have to see if they take it to court….
So what’s a non Jewish organisation, (J4J), doing demonstrating such extreme chutzpah? As we all know J4J’ve generally got it wrong, it seems Jackie Mason is on to an easy winner as they most definitely got this one wrong too – it seems straightforward libel to me, so if tried fairly, they are bound to lose! Good luck Jackie, (can I have a share of the winnings please?)!
The real reason Jackie got so annoyed is that he’s a member of a much older organization, Jews for Zeus (http://jewsforzeus.blogspot.com/). So there.
😉
I’ve had my share of observing and interacting with the J4J types – I’m Gentile;and I’m here to witness that their methods, lack of ethics, and disdain for Gentiles that seek HaSheim within their congregations offended me as well.
On the bright side, they encouraged me to seek out Judaism on my own through schools and Synagouges; and I’m having a great time with those who truly uphold HaSheim’s commandments.
It is both a relief and a Honor.
Regards.
Go! Jackie! Go!
“The pamphlets feature an image of Mason next to the words “Jackie Mason … A Jew for Jesus!?†with information inside that outlines the similarities between Jews and Christians…”
Anyone who’s ever seen a Jackie Mason show knows that a big part of his act is describing the major differences between Jews and WASPS/Goyim/non-Jews. Whether they be work habits, eating habits (“a roach would starve in a Gentile household!”), marital habits and drinking habits.
Can’t wait to see what happens with this lawsuit.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Mason some years ago at an Italian restaurant on the Upper West side. I brazenly introduced myself. He was very gracious, sitting in a corner booth with a tall blonde straight out of “Goodfellas”.
He asked me “are you Jewish or Italian?” I replied “Jewish.” Mr. Mason furrowed his brow and then asked “then what the hell are you doing in an Italian restaurant?” The blonde laughed. I was stupid enough to explain. Mr. Mason laughed. Photos and autographs. Later he came over to my table, put his hand on my shoulder and cracked a few more jokes for my dinner group.
Shame on you Susan Perlman. The only thing “good-natured” is the guy you libeled. You found Jesus through Larry Norman (a true giant in the Christian music industry, not the street singer you claim he was). I found a sense of humor at an Italian restaurant in a “good-natured” Jewish comic legend named Jackie Mason.
These are typical J for J tactics, the lawsuit only gives them more publicity which is just what they want. They’ve done this to numerous jewish celebrities before. The AP article also misidentifies J for J as practicing Judaism, which people should really protest as it’s J for J disinformation.
Thanks, Laya, I’ve posted images from the pamphlet on my ShaBlog so you can see what the fuss is all about.
For sure, I mean, surely Natalie Portman or Scarlett Johnannson would get more business!!
If Jackie Mason has no connection to Jews for Jesus, I wonder why they would select him, out of all the Jewish celebrities, to put on the pamphlet?