From the AP (via Ynet)—emphasis mine:

Jackie Mason suing Jews for Jesus

Saying he's "as Jewish as a matzo ball or kosher salami," Jackie Mason filed a lawsuit against Jews for Jesus for using his name and likeness in a pamphlet.

The USD 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.

'Pamphlet good-natured'

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.

"The pamphlet uses my name, my likeness, my 'shtick' (if you will), and my very act, which is derived from my personality, to attract attention and converts," Mason said in an affidavit.

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.

Mason has starred on Broadway and in films including "Caddyshack II."

Shame on him?!?! No, shame on you, JforJ. That attitude is amazingly uncaring and disrespectful. If Jackie Mason disagrees with his image, name, and "shtick" being used in a pamphlet, it is his perogative to ask that the pamphlet be removed from circulation and destroyed. And it is JforJ's responsibility to honor his wishes, not to respond with such an amazingly uncaring response.

This is just one more exhibit in my growing list of reasons why Jews for Jesus is not a real Messianic group, does not speak for us as a community, and actually gives us a very bad name and reputation within the Jewish world. JforJ is Christian. It is a missionary organization that does not practice Judaism and is only concerned with the numbers involved in "getting Jews saved."

Jackie, I hope you win.

Labels: Messianic Judaism