Madonna caused controversy with this Instagram photo. (Instagram)
(JTA) — Madonna’s Instagram photo of a Palestinian man and a Hasidic Jewish man about to kiss received nearly 66,000 Likes in one day.
The photo posted Sunday shows a Jewish man with side curls and wearing a large white knitted kippah of the Breslover Hasidic movement and an Arab man wearing a traditional Arab keffiyeh. Their eyes are closed, noses nearly touching as they lean in for a kiss.
The photo’s caption reads “This image is . ❤#rebelhearts,” which is the title of her new album.
Among the responses on Instagram: “I see two men one Muslim perhaps and one Jewish together sharing a moment of peace. Can’t we just all get along without discussing religious beliefs?” and “I’m arab, and I found this great! People have the right to be whoever they want to be and be who they really are …” and “If this pic portraying love between two human beings is ‘causing a commotion’ … YOU PEOPLE HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS. GET A LIFE!!! IT’S LOVE, IT’S HUMAN.”
Another response said, “I don’t understand all the ppl here say it’s not possible I’m Jewish from Israel my boyfriend is Arab Muslim and we live together for 3 years now!”
Others reacted negatively to the photo, with one response saying in Hebrew, “No. Simply No.” Another respondent wrote, “Israel still kill people everyday. This is beautiful but it’s not real” and “U think cuz u put a gay Israeli n a gay Palestinian together makes it ok to perform in Israel.” One commenter said, “Death to Arabs.”
Madonna has posted other controversial photos with the tag #rebelhearts.
