Ideals Publishing Company of Milwaukee has announced that it was placing a label on remaining inventory of a children’s Passover storybook stating that the book relates the Passover story from an inter-religious view because it includes Jesus at the Last Supper.
“Any subsequent reprints will carry this proviso,” Ideals president Donald Gottschalk said in a prepared statement issued last Thursday. Ideal “expresses regret to its friends in the Jewish community for any offense that the publishing of the book …has caused the community. It was not our intention to do this and we are sorry for causing a disruption during the Holy season,” the statement said.
The JWB Jewish Book Council in cooperation with national Jewish community relations agencies protested the publication of “The Story of Passover for Children,” a glossy, full color paperback marketed by Ideals, saying it “is misleading. We ask that it be recalled and remarketed under a title that represents what it is is: ‘A Christian Storybook of Passover for Children.’ “
According to Blu Greenberg, president of the JWB Jewish Book Council, “Nestled neatly between the recounting of the Passover story and a description of the way the holiday is traditionally celebrated in the Jewish home — is the story of Jesus, ‘a Jew from Nazareth, (who) … broke bread with friends at his last supper when Passover prayers were said.’ “
Marybeth Owens, managing editor of Ideals, told the Milwaukee Sentinel that the book probably would be retitled in future editions with a Christian emphasis on the Passover. She told the Sentinel she agreed that the book “should have had a clearer, more informative title and that it could be construed for publication strictly for the Jewish community.”
BOOKSELLERS HALT SALES
Following the alert issued by the JWB and other Jewish organizations, Barnes and Noble book chain de cided to pull the book from the shelves and to halt any further sales. Bookazine, a major book distributor, returned is unused inventory to Ideals, the JWB reported. Walden book store chain called the JWB Jewish Book Council to thank it for alerting them to the issue.
Greenberg, in reaction to Ideals, said “In its decision to relabel the story of Passover for Children, as well as its timely apology, Ideals Publishing Corporation of Milwaukee, has responded to the Jewish protest with openness, goodwill and a sense of responsibility. For this we express our appreciation. We also acknowledge gratefully the support and action of many booksellers throughout the country who withdrew these books until they could be properly labeled.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
