Arguing that it was not the Jews, but the Romans, who crucified Jesus of Nazareth, Rabbi David Philipson in a sermon before his congregation maintained that an erroneous and harmful presentation of the crucifixion was being shown in the Freiburg Passion Play, which is now being presented in this city. Rabbi Philipson expressed the fear that the play would tend to weaken the feeling of good will and friendliness that has been established between the Christian and Jewish people of Cincinnati.
Andrew H. Foppe, prominent Catholic layman, a former member of the Cincinnati Civil Service Commission and a member of the staff of the Enquirer, stated yesterday that he is in complete agreement with Dr. Philipson. “It seems to me that the crucifixion is too sacred an event to be depicted as a commercial enterprise for private gain,” said Mr. Foppe.
“Here in Cincinnati the cordiality between Christians and Jews is one of the glories of our citizenship,” said Dr. Philipson. “For the past seventy years and more, rabbis have been on most cordial terms with their Christian colleagues. Prejudices have reached almost the vanishing point in the public life of our city. To have all this fine feeling jeopardized by an imported medieval commercial venture is indeed a cause for deepest regret. I can only hope that the ill effects that many of us dread will not ensue, but that the fine understanding and good will among all creeds that have given Cincinnati a unique position among the cities of the land, will continue and grow in ever greater measure.”
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.
