Re: a Jewish connection?

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

>OK, here's the "Jewish" connection.  I have the 1917 Schirmer edition of 
>Eili Eili arranged by Kurt Schindler, who writes in the preface:
>
>"...The despairing outcry 'Eili Eili lomo asavtonu?' will be recognized as 
>the second verse of the 22nd Psalm, 'Eli Eli lama sabachthani?' which... 
>were the last words that Christ uttered..."


Of course this connotation was not in the slightest intended by this (esp. 
this!) poster, but I do want to point out--notwithstanding the normative 
usage on the part of the NYTimes, network news, and other major media--that 
any reference to, quote, "Christ" makes a reference very un-Jewish, indeed.  
"Jesus" was the historical person's name; "Christ" is not a last name, like 
Smith (or Cohen)!  It's a (Greek, I assume) rendition of the word meaning 
"Messiah" (Mashiach).

It is, obviously, absolutely basic to Jewish belief, however pluralistically 
conceived, that the man Jesus was *not* the messiah; and so Jews should, I 
think, avoid this usage ("Jesus Christ"; or "Christ") whenever possible.  
It's appropriate, obviously, to Christian media but highly *inappropriate* 
to non-Christian/secular, let alone Jewish!, media, communication, or 
correspondence.

I once corresponded with a New York Times editor who accepted this point and 
agreed with it--and averred that the paper's usage would change.  It didn't.

--Robert Cohen


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